Exploring Survivor Benefits for Ex-Spouses and Surviving Spouses of Federal Government Employees
Welcome back to our ongoing series, “Everything About Survivor Benefits.” In this sixth installment, we delve into the intricacies of survivor benefits for ex-spouses and surviving spouses of federal government employees.
Ex-Spouse Benefits: If you’re the ex-spouse of a deceased federal government employee, you may be entitled to a monthly payment under a court order. However, to qualify, your marriage to the deceased employee must have lasted for at least 9 months. Further details on court-ordered benefits for former spouses can be found on OPM.gov.
Surviving Spouse Benefits (CSRS): For surviving spouses of employees covered under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), a monthly payment could be available if the deceased spouse completed at least 18 months of creditable civilian service. Additionally, the marriage must have lasted for at least 9 months to qualify for the monthly benefit.
Surviving Spouse Benefits (FERS): Under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), surviving spouses could receive a basic employee death benefit and a monthly payment. To be eligible, the deceased spouse must have completed at least 18 months of creditable civilian service, and the marriage must have lasted for at least 9 months. Moreover, for the monthly payment benefit, the deceased spouse must have completed at least 10 years of creditable service, including 18 months of creditable civilian service.
Other Benefits and Considerations: Regardless of whether the employee was covered under CSRS or FERS, a survivor annuity may still be payable if the employee’s death occurred before 9 months under specific circumstances. If a former spouse was awarded part of the total survivor annuity, the remaining portion will be paid to the surviving spouse if the former spouse loses entitlement due to death or remarriage before age 55. Additionally, if the employee’s death was job-related, workers’ compensation benefits may also be payable.
Health Insurance Continuation: Families can continue their health insurance after the employee’s death if the employee was enrolled in a self and family plan at the time of death and a monthly survivor benefit is payable. Alternatively, if a monthly benefit is not payable, the family members will have a one-time opportunity to enroll in private health coverage.
Stay tuned for the next installment of our series, where we’ll continue to explore the various aspects of survivor benefits. Until then, feel free to explore our previous posts for more valuable information!