Title 5, Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-110

§8416 Survivor Reduction for a Current Spouse

Title 5 › PART III — EMPLOYEES › Subpart G — Insurance and Annuities › CHAPTER 84 — FEDERAL EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM › SUBCHAPTER II — BASIC ANNUITY › § 8416

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

If a worker or Member is married when they retire, their pay will be cut to pay a survivor annuity for the spouse unless both the retiree and the spouse sign and file a written waiver with the Office. A retiree can waive the survivor annuity without the spouse’s signature only if the spouse can’t be found or there are special, serious reasons why asking the spouse would be wrong. Such a waiver generally can’t be changed later, except as explained below. If a retired person who was married at retirement later remarries, they have 2 years after that remarriage (or 2 years after the death or remarriage of a former spouse who had survivor rights) to choose, in writing, to cut their annuity to provide a survivor annuity for the new spouse. That cut starts on the first day of the second month after the Office gets the election, but not sooner than 9 months after the remarriage. If the retiree was unmarried at retirement and later marries, they have 2 years to make a similar choice; that change takes effect on the first day of the first month that begins at least 9 months after the marriage. If a retiree who was married at retirement had waived the spouse’s rights, they can, within 18 months of retirement, undo that by paying into the Fund before the 18 months end an amount equal to the extra payments plus costs (including interest at 6% per year). The reduction percentage and legal rights will be the same as if the election had been made at retirement. The Office must tell people when these options and deadlines apply.

Full Legal Text

Title 5, §8416

Government Organization and Employees, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)If an employee or Member is married at the time of retiring under this chapter, the reduction described in section 8419(a) shall be made unless the employee or Member and the spouse jointly waive, by written election, any right which the spouse may have to a survivor annuity under section 8442 based on the service of such employee or Member. A waiver under this paragraph shall be filed with the Office under procedures prescribed by the Office.

(2)Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an employee or Member who is married at the time of retiring under this chapter may waive the annuity for a surviving spouse without the spouse’s consent if the employee or Member establishes to the satisfaction of the Office (in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Office)—

(A)that the spouse’s whereabouts cannot be determined; or

(B)that, due to exceptional circumstances, requiring the employee or Member to seek the spouse’s consent would otherwise be inappropriate.

(3)Except as provided in subsection (d), a waiver made under this subsection shall be irrevocable.

(b)(1)Upon remarriage, a retired employee or Member who was married at the time of retirement (including an employee or Member whose annuity was not reduced to provide a survivor annuity for the employee’s or Member’s spouse or former spouse as of the time of retirement) may irrevocably elect during such marriage, in a signed writing received by the Office within 2 years after such remarriage or, if later, within 2 years after the death or remarriage of any former spouse of such employee or Member who was entitled to a survivor annuity under section 8445 (or of the last such surviving former spouse, if there was more than one), a reduction in the employee’s or Member’s annuity under section 8419(a) for the purpose of providing an annuity for such employee’s or Member’s spouse in the event such spouse survives the employee or Member.

(2)The election and reduction shall be effective the first day of the second month after the election is received by the Office, but not less than 9 months after the date of the remarriage.

(3)An election to provide a survivor annuity to an individual under this subsection—

(A)shall prospectively void any election made by the employee or Member under section 8420 with respect to such individual; or

(B)shall, if an election was made by the employee or Member under section 8420 with respect to a different individual, prospectively void such election if appropriate written application is made by such employee or Member at the time of making the election under this subsection.

(4)Any election under this subsection made by an employee or Member on behalf of an individual after the retirement of such employee or Member shall not be effective if—

(A)the employee or Member was married to such individual at the time of retirement; and

(B)the annuity rights of such individual based on the service of such employee or Member were then waived under subsection (a).

(c)(1)An employee or Member who is unmarried at the time of retiring under this chapter and who later marries may irrevocably elect, in a signed writing received by the Office within 2 years after such employee or Member marries or, if later, within 2 years after the death or remarriage of any former spouse of such employee or Member who was entitled to a survivor annuity under section 8445 (or of the last such surviving former spouse, if there was more than one), a reduction in the current annuity of the retired employee or Member, in accordance with section 8419(a).

(2)The election and reduction shall take effect the first day of the first month beginning 9 months after the date of marriage. Any such election to provide a survivor annuity for an individual—

(A)shall prospectively void any election made by the employee or Member under section 8420 with respect to such individual; or

(d)(1)An employee or Member—

(A)who is married on the date of retiring under this chapter, and

(B)with respect to whose spouse a waiver under subsection (a) has been made,

may, during the 18-month period beginning on such date, elect to have a reduction made under section 8419 in order to provide a survivor annuity under section 8442 for such spouse.

(2)(A)An election under this subsection shall not be effective unless the amount described in subparagraph (B) is deposited into the Fund before the expiration of the 18-month period referred to in paragraph (1).

(B)The amount to be deposited under this subparagraph is equal to the sum of—

(i)the difference (for the period between the date on which the annuity of the former employee or Member commences and the date on which reductions pursuant to the election under this subsection commence) between the amount paid to the former employee or Member from the Fund under this chapter and the amount which would have been paid if such election had been made at the time of retirement; and

(ii)the costs associated with providing for the election under this subsection.

The amount to be deposited under clause (i) shall include interest, computed at the rate of 6 percent a year.

(3)An annuity which is reduced pursuant to an election by a former employee or Member under this subsection shall be reduced by the same percentage as was in effect under section 8419 as of the date of the employee’s or Member’s retirement.

(4)Rights and obligations under this chapter resulting from an election under this subsection shall be the same as the rights and obligations which would have resulted had the election been made at the time of retirement.

(5)The Office shall inform each employee and Member who is eligible to make an election under this subsection of the right to make such election and the procedures and deadlines applicable in making any such election.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

5 U.S.C. § 8416

Title 5, Government Organization and Employees

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110