FERS Survivor Benefits

What are the Survivor Benefits Under FERS?

Under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) in the United States, survivor benefits are designed to provide financial support to the surviving family members of federal employees who pass away. These benefits help ease the financial burden on the family during a difficult time.

It's important to note that survivor benefits under FERS can vary based on individual circumstances, including the length of federal service, marital status, and specific details of the employee's situation. Survivors should contact the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) or their agency's human resources department for precise information regarding survivor benefits and eligibility criteria.

Basic employee death benefit

Surviving Spouse: If an employee dies with at least 18 months of creditable civilian service under FERS, a survivor annuity may be payable if:

• The surviving spouse was married to the deceased for at least nine months, or

• 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 $32,423.56 for deaths after December 1, 2016.

Former Spouse: The Basic Employee Death Benefit may be payable to a former spouse (in whole or in part), if a qualifying court order, awarding a benefit, 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(PDF file).’

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.

A child is considered a 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.

• The child is. considered a 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.

Applying for benefits

Again, it is important to note that the specific requirements and benefits associated with survivor benefits may vary, and eligibility criteria are subject to change. Additionally, the information on this page is not exhaustive. If you are in the circumstance where you are in need of applying for survivor benefits, it's recommended that you consult with your agency's HR department, OPM or a certified Federal Retirement Consultant (FRC) for detailed and up-to-date information. The above information is summarized for easier reading, for the full OPM report and explanation of your survivor benefits, please visit the OPM website.

FERS Survivor Benefits