FERS Survivor Benefit Question

[Stoplight]

Okay, so like many others, I've decided to retire this year. I'm FERS, MRA + 30 years service (4 years military deposit). I've been reading until I'm bug-eyed, and crunching numbers like crazy, but here's a question I haven't really been able to find a definitive answer to :

If you select a 50% (or 25%) survivor benefit (Wife), and she dies before me, can you adjust your FERS basic pension back up to "no survivor benefit" ?

I've found some stuff that indicates you can adjust if you remarry, but it's not clear that you can adjust if you don't !

Her teacher pension has what they call a "pop up" provision option, where if I die, her pension reverts back to a "no survivor" deduction. Just curious what the rules are with FERS...seems to me like that 10% hit could buy a lot of life insurance !

Thanks for any input...this Board is a wonderful resource !

Stoplight...

[clester]

My understanding is that you can change survivor to 0. Why would they be able to take it out of pay if you don't have a survivor.

[Stoplight]

My understanding is that you can change survivor to 0. Why would they be able to take it out of pay if you don't have a survivor.

Because they can ???

I agree...it doesn't SEEM like they should/could, but I haven't found that clearly explained anywhere.

Many thanks for the reply, and your contributions to these retirement threads !

Stoplight...

[clester]

Because they can ???

I agree...it doesn't SEEM like they should/could, but I haven't found that clearly explained anywhere.

Many thanks for the reply, and your contributions to these retirement threads !

Stoplight...

from chapter 52 fers handbook.

I believe this applies

Any reduction in an annuity to provide a current spouse survivor annuitywill terminate on the first day of the month after the current spouse dies.

[Stoplight]

from chapter 52 fers handbook.

I believe this applies

Any reduction in an annuity to provide a current spouse survivor annuitywill terminate on the first day of the month after the current spouse dies.

Now that, there, seems pretty clear to me !

Thanks for looking it up and posting...now I can get back to filling out my SF 3107


Stoplight...

[clester]

Your welcome. Congrats on retirement. I'm loving mine. Just need to find something to stay busy. I'm getting a BS in Physics at a local university. Just for fun.

[nasa1974]

Stoplight, Congratulations. I am going to retire this year as well. Right now June 1st but just might go April 3rd. Got to chrunch some numbers again. CSRS 38 years with NASA and 3.5 USAF.

[Stoplight]

Your welcome. Congrats on retirement. I'm loving mine. Just need to find something to stay busy. I'm getting a BS in Physics at a local university. Just for fun.

Thanks, clester ! Getting a BS in Physics...just for fun ? Now THAT'S pretty hard core for a person who is supposed to be relaxing in his/her "Golden Years" I'll bet you get a lot of stares from your Profs...

I hear ya about staying busy...that's something I've seen and heard over and over. I started a list of things I'd like to do (not HAVE to do !), and the list is already pretty long...some making a few $$$, most not...the Wife jumped into volunteer work with the USO, and she loves it...she says the 18 and 19 year old soldiers aren't too much different than her last 4th grade class...except these Kids shave, are more polite, and are heavily armed

I'm thinking of learning a new language...took some German in High School, but Spanish is probably a better bet right now...

Stoplight, Congratulations. I am going to retire this year as well. Right now June 1st but just might go April 3rd. Got to chrunch some numbers again. CSRS 38 years with NASA and 3.5 USAF.

Thanks, too, Nasa ! I've selected 30 April as my date...it's interesting to see all the variations that the Folks here have with their retirement plans, and their specific situations ! I just missed being under CSRS, coming back to the Feds in 6/84. BTW, I was active duty USAF, too...1978 - 1982. I was at Edwards AFB when the first Shuttle came back from space...something I'll never forget !

Stoplight...

[nasa1974]

Thanks, too, Nasa ! I've selected 30 April as my date...it's interesting to see all the variations that the Folks here have with their retirement plans, and their specific situations ! I just missed being under CSRS, coming back to the Feds in 6/84. BTW, I was active duty USAF, too...1978 - 1982. I was at Edwards AFB when the first Shuttle came back from space...something I'll never forget !

Stoplight...

Wow!! Yeah I was in 70-74. 9 months at Chanute AFB training for Minuteman Missiles and then stationed F.E. Warren AFB, Cheyenne, WY.

[Stoplight]

Wow!! Yeah I was in 70-74. 9 months at Chanute AFB training for Minuteman Missiles and then stationed F.E. Warren AFB, Cheyenne, WY.

A "Pocket Rocket" Guy, eh ? I was a lowly non-rated Engineer in the Civil Engineer career field...spent some time TDY at the Army's beautiful Dugway Proving Grounds, UT, setting up facilities for the GLCM test program...

Stoplight...