§4047 Payment of Annuity

Summary

Annuity payments start on the first day of the month after you leave the Service or after your pay stops and you meet the age and service rules. But for people who are retired and eligible under section 4009(a), retired under section 4053, involuntarily separated (unless removed for cause), retiring for disability under section 4048, or who worked 3 days or less in their final month, payments begin the day after separation or the day after pay stops. A survivor’s annuity won’t be paid until the survivor applies and gives the proof the Secretary of State asks for. If no application or proof is given while the person is alive, nothing is paid to the estate. You can refuse all or part of an annuity by signing a written waiver and you can cancel that waiver later in writing; payments won’t be made during the waiver. The Secretary of State won’t try to recover an overpayment if the person had no fault and recovery would be unfair or impossible. The Secretary must offer alternative annuity choices, including options that pay the lump-sum credit (no interest) plus a lifetime annuity, and for married people an option that also provides a survivor annuity. Alternatives should be roughly actuarially equal to the normal annuity under section 4046(a). Married people need their spouse’s waiver under section 4046(b)(1)(B) to choose alternatives, and those with a former spouse who is entitled need that former spouse’s waiver under section 4046(b)(1)(C). A married person who chooses may, within 18 months of retirement, make the election under section 4046(n) if they meet its deposit rule. Any lump-sum credit from an election does not stop other benefits under this part.