Deceased Employee Benefits
Deceased Employees Covered Under CSRS
Monthly Survivor Benefits
Surviving Spouse
If a CSRS employee dies, recurring monthly payments may be made to the surviving
spouse if he/she completed at least 18 months of creditable service and was
covered under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) at the time of death.
To qualify for the monthly benefit
- The surviving spouse must have been married to the employee for at least
nine months
If the death occurred before nine months, a survivor annuity may still be payable
if
- the employee’s death was accidental, or
- there was a child born of the marriage.
Former Spouse
Recurring monthly payments may be made to the former spouse of a deceased employee
under a court order. A former spouse must also meet the nine month marriage
requirement. For additional information about court-ordered benefits,
refer to the pamphlet, ‘Court-Ordered
Benefits for Former Spouses’ [258 KB].
Children
Unmarried children who are dependent upon the employee may receive monthly
benefits until they reach age 18, marry, or die. Monthly survivor annuity
payments for a child can continue after age 18, if the child is a full-time
student attending a recognized school. Benefits can continue until age 22.
Unmarried disabled dependent children may receive recurring monthly benefits,
if the disability occurred before age 18.
We consider a child dependent if he/she:
- was born of the marriage to the retiree;
- is an adopted child who meets all of the following conditions-
- the child lived with the deceased retiree, and
- the deceased filed a petition to adopt the child, and
- the child was adopted by the surviving spouse after the retiree died.
- Is a stepchild or recognized child born out of wedlock who was living with
the retiree in a parent-child relationship when the retiree died; or
- Is a recognized child born out of wedlock for whom a judicial determination
of support has been obtained.
We consider the child dependent if there is proof that the deceased made regular
and substantial contributions to the child’s support.
If Death Occurs After Leaving Federal Employment Under CSRS
and Before Retirement
Under these circumstances, there are no recurring monthly benefits payable
under CSRS.
Lump Sum Benefits
If no survivor annuity is payable upon the employee/former employee’s
death, a lump sum may be payable of the unpaid balance of retirement contributions
made by the employee. This lump sum is payable under the order
of precedence.
Deceased Employees Covered Under FERS
Basic Employee Death Benefit
Surviving Spouse
If an employee dies with at least 18 months of creditable civilian service
under FERS, and he/she:
- was married to the deceased for at least nine months, or
- If the death occurred nine months of marriage, a survivor annuity may still
be payable if-
- the employee’s death was accidental, or
- there was a child born of the marriage to the employee.
The spouse may be eligible for the Basic Employee Death Benefit, which is equal to 50% of the employee‘s final
salary (average salary, if higher), plus $15,000 (increased by Civil Service Retirement System cost-of-living
adjustments beginning 12/1/87). The $15,000 has increased to $29,722.95 for deaths on/after December 1, 2008.
Former Spouse
The Basic Employee Death Benefit may be payable to a former spouse (in whole
or in part), if a qualifying court order is on file at OPM and the former spouse
was married to the deceased for a total of at least nine months and did not
remarry before reaching age 55.
Monthly Survivor Benefits
Surviving Spouse
If a FERS employee dies, recurring monthly payments may be made to the surviving
spouse if the deceased employee completed at least 10 years of creditable service
(18 months of which must be civilian service)
To qualify for the monthly benefit-
- The surviving spouse must have been married to the employee for at least
nine months
If the death occurred before nine months, a survivor annuity may still be payable
if-
- the employee’s death was accidental, or
- there was a child born of the marriage.
Former Spouse
Recurring monthly payments may be made to the former spouse of a deceased employee
under a court order. A former spouse must also meet the nine month marriage
requirement. For additional information about court-ordered benefits,
refer to the pamphlet, ‘Court-Ordered
Benefits for Former Spouses’ [258 KB].
Children
Unmarried children who are dependent upon the employee may receive monthly
benefits until they reach age 18, marry, or die. Monthly survivor annuity payments
for a child can continue after age 18, if the child is a full-time
student attending a recognized school. Benefits can continue until age 22.
Unmarried disabled dependent children may receive recurring monthly benefits,
if the disability occurred before age 18.
We consider a child dependent if he/she:
- was born of the marriage to the retiree;
- is an adopted child who meets all of the following conditions-
- the child lived with the deceased retiree, and
- the deceased filed a petition to adopt the child, and
- the child was adopted by the surviving spouse after the retiree died.
- Is a stepchild or recognized child born out of wedlock who was living with
the retiree in a parent-child relationship when the retiree died; or
- Is a recognized child born out of wedlock for whom a judicial determination
of support has been obtained.
We consider the child dependent if there is proof that the deceased made regular
and substantial contributions to the child’s support.
The combined benefit of all the children is reduced by the total amount of
child’s insurance benefits that are payable (or would, upon proper application,
be payable) under Title II of the Social Security Act for the same month to
all children of the deceased (including those of a former marriage who may not
be living with the current spouse) based on the total earnings of the deceased.
In many cases, the FERS children’s benefit is reduced to $0.
Lump Sum Benefits
If no survivor annuity is payable upon the employee/former employee’s
death, a lump sum may be payable of the unpaid balance of retirement contributions
made by the employee. This lump sum is payable under the order
of precedence.
If Death Occurs After Leaving Federal Employement
Under FERS and Before Retirement
Monthly Survivor Annuity
Surviving Spouse
If a former employee who dies with at least 10 years of creditable service
(5 years of which must be creditable civilian service) is survived by a spouse
who was married to the deceased at the time of his/her separation from Federal
civilian service AND who:
- was married to the deceased for at least nine months, or
- If the death occurred before nine months of marriage,
- the employee’s death was accidental, or
- there was a child born of the marriage to the employee;
the spouse may be eligible for a monthly survivor benefit. The benefit
begins on the date the deceased former employee would have been eligible for
an unreduced annuity, unless the survivor chooses to have it begin at a lower
rate on the day after the employee’s death. The former employee
would have been eligible for an unreduced annuity aat age 62 with a minimum
of 10 years of creditable service and less than 20 years of service, at age
60 with 20 or more years of service, or at his/her Minimum Retirement Age (MRA),
according to the following schedule, with 30 years of service:
1947 or prior |
55 years |
1948 |
55 years, 2 months |
1949 |
55 years, 4 months |
1950 |
55 years, 6 months |
1951 |
55 years, 8 months |
1952 |
55 years, 10 months |
1953 to 1964 |
56 years |
1965 |
56 years, 2 months |
1966 |
56 years, 4 months |
1967 |
56 years, 6 months |
1968 |
56 years, 8 months |
1969 |
56 years, 10 months |
After 1969 |
57 years |
Instead of a survivor annuity, the eligible spouse can elect to receive a lump
sum payment of the contributions remaining to the deceased person’s credit
in the retirement fund.
Former Spouse
The monthly survivor benefit may be paid in whole or in part to a former spouse
if a qualifying court order is on file at OPM.
Children
No monthly benefits are payable to children of deceased former FERS employees
if the death occurs after leaving Federal employment under FERS and before retirement.
Lump Sum Benefit
If a former employee dies and no survivor annuity is payable, the retirement
contributions remaining to the deceased person’s credit in the Civil Service
Retirement and Disability Fund, plus applicable interest, are payable.
This lump sum is payable under the order
of precedence.