Retirement and Survivor Annuities for Former Spouses of Federal Employees

Abstract

[Excerpt] A former spouse of a federal employee may be entitled to a share of the employee’s retirement annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS) if this has been authorized by a state court decree of divorce, annulment, or legal separation. An employee also may voluntarily elect a survivor annuity for a former spouse. A state court can award a former spouse a share of the employee’s retirement annuity, a survivor annuity, or both. A court also can award a former spouse of a federal employee a portion of the employee’s Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) account balance as part of a divorce settlement. This report will be updated as legislative developments warrant.