Title 5 › Part III— EMPLOYEES › Subpart G— Insurance and Annuities › Chapter 84— FEDERAL EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM › Subchapter II— BASIC ANNUITY › § 8418
If someone chooses the survivor option under sections 8416(b) or 8416(c) or section 8417(b) and must make that choice within 2 years after the triggering event, they must put a deposit into the Fund. The Office will decide the deposit amount to match how much less the annuity would have been if that choice had been in effect since retirement (or, for 8416(b), since the prior reduction ended under 8419(b)(1) or (2)). Interest is added at 6 percent per year. The Office will let the person pay the deposit by lowering their annuity. The cut should, as much as possible, equal the deposit in present value, but total cuts to pay deposits cannot be more than 25 percent of the annuity calculated under section 8415 or 8452 (including adjustments under 8462). The reduction starts when the survivor choice takes effect, is permanent, and does not change if the marriage later ends or the former spouse’s right ends. Rules in (a) and (b) do not apply if the person already chose under section 8420 and that choice later becomes void under section 8416(b)(3) or 8416(c)(2). The Office must also write rules so a survivor can make a deposit.
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Government Organization and Employees — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
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Reference
Citation
5 U.S.C. § 8418
Title 5 — Government Organization and Employees
Last Updated
Apr 3, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60