Title 5 › PART III — EMPLOYEES › Subpart G — Insurance and Annuities › CHAPTER 84 — FEDERAL EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM › SUBCHAPTER II — BASIC ANNUITY › § 8418
If someone makes certain survivor choices within 2 years after the event, they must put into the Fund an amount the Office figures to match how much their annuity would have been cut if that choice had been in effect since retirement (or a later date in one case). The Office will add interest at 6 percent per year to that amount. The Office can let the person pay by reducing their future annuity. The cut should, as closely as possible, equal the deposit in present value. Total annuity cuts to pay these deposits cannot exceed 25 percent of the annuity as calculated under sections 8415 or 8452, including adjustments under section 8462. The reduction starts when the choice takes effect, is permanent, does not change if the marriage ends or the former spouse’s claim ends, and is in addition to any other required reductions. These rules do not apply if the person first made a choice under section 8420 and that earlier choice later becomes void under certain parts of the other rules. The Office must make rules that let a survivor make a deposit under this rule.
Full Legal Text
Government Organization and Employees, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
5 U.S.C. § 8418
Title 5, Government Organization and Employees
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102