FERS and Deceased Employees

John Faith
June 20, 2014

FERS And Deceased Employees

The Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) has special provisions for surviving spouses of deceased federal employees. When an employees dies who has at least 18 months of creditable service within FERS, survivors might be entitled to an annuity based on the service of the deceased employee if:

-the deceased was married to the surviving spouse for a minimum of nine months;

-death was accidental; or

-the deceased employee’s marriage produced a child;

If any of the above exists, the surviving spouse may be eligible for the Basic Employee Death Benefit (BEDB). The Basic Employee Death Benefit is equivalent to 50 percent of the federal employee’s final salary or the average salary if it is higher, plus $15,000 which is increased by the Civil Service Retirement System COLA which began December 1, 1987. It should be noted that the $15,000 increased to $30,792.98 for federal employees under FERS who died on or after December 1, 2011.

It is always a good idea to know what benefits are available to you in retirement and how those benefits work in retirement during your lifetime and in the event of your death.

P. S. Always Remember to Share What You Know.

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