Q. If a federal government employee gets divorced before retiring and his ex-spouse is covered by FEHB under Spouse Equity, and after retiring the former employee remarries, is he allowed to cover his new spouse under FEHB? In other words, does the fact that his ex-spouse is cover under FEHB by Spouse Equity prevent the former employee from covering his new spouse under FEHB in retirement? On a similar note, what if he divorces after retirement, his ex-spouse is covered by Spouse Equity and then he remarries? Is the new spouse eligible to be covered under the retiree’s FEHB?
Browsing: divorce
Q. I am under CSRS offset. I am going to retire in three years at age 62. I know my government pension will be reduced by $213 when I turn 62. According to my Social Security statement, I should receive $888 if I collect at age 62. It states: “At your current earnings rate, if you continue working until 66, you will receive $1,366 a month.” What happens if I don’t collect Social Security at age 62 and wait until full retirement age? Will I receive $1,366 a month minus the $213 offset reduction, minus the windfall elimination provision? (I…
Q. I worked in the civil service program for 34 years and retired in 1998. I named my wife as the survivor annuitant. In August 2005, she and I divorced. Even though the annuity was not mentioned in the divorce documents, I did not change the designation. Now I have been residing with a significant other for more than six years. I would like to marry this woman and name her as the annuitant for my federal retirement. With no mention of the annuity in the divorce documents, can I make this change? If so, and since I have continually…
Q. I retired from the Air Force in 2003 after 26+ years of active service. I am divorced and split the retirement 50/50 with my ex-wife. I’m a GS employee with 10 years under FERS. Can I buy back my time? If so, would it even be beneficial to do so?
Q. I was divorced from a Postal Service worker in 2000 and he finally retired recently. Where do I go to get my portion of the annuity that was in the settlement? A. You’ll have to call the Office of Personnel Management at 1-888-767-6738 or 1-724-794-2005 and talk to a benefits specialist.
Q. I have worked for the Veterans Affairs Department as a civilian for more than five years. My wife always handled the health care insurance under her company’s program, so I never took advantage of mine. We are now in our 18th month of divorce and I would like to go on my health care program under my benefits at VA. My human resources department says I need a divorce decree to be able to get coverage. My wife is about to lose her job, so I am worried that I may be without coverage. What should I do? A.…
Q. I am getting ready to retire in two to four years. I was divorced in 2000 and need to know what type of documentation I will need. In a Sept. 17 article, you indicated that some of the problem areas included failure to answer the court order question.” A. When you fill out your retirement application, you’ll need to check the box under Marital Information and attach a certified copy of the court order(s) and any amendments. You’ll find that box in Section E of the SF 2801 (CSRS) and Section C of the 3107 (FERS).
Q. I retired in 1995 from the Army after 15 years and two days under the early retirement option offered. I have been working for the federal government for over 16 years. I have not bought back any military service; I draw a military pension and disability pay. I divorced my spouse in 2006; she waived all rights to my current federal annuity, Thrift Savings Plan, etc., but does receive half of my military pension and the other half as spousal maintenance outlined in the divorce decree. Would it be legal to buy back my military service credit and convert…
Q: My father passed away at age 79 on Oct. 29. He and my mother divorced Jan. 31, 1985, and she never remarried. He remarried, but his wife passed away Jan. 26, 2009. He has two adult children from his first marriage. Would his former spouse be entitled to any benefits before his children? There is no beneficiary and no court order on file. A: She wouldn’t be entitled to any retirement benefits. Whether she would have title to any Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance benefits would depend on who he had designated as his beneficiary.
Q: I retired from the U.S. Postal Service in 2000 after being divorced in 1997. I gave my ex-wife 100 percent survivor benefits; she recently turned 55. I remarried in 2004 and sent the proper forms needed to add my current wife to my Federal Employees Health Benefits plan. I now have the American Postal Workers Union (472) plan, and I assumed that if I died, my present wife would be able to keep the plan. After talking with the Office of Personnel Management, I was told that I need to have my present wife named as survivor beneficiary for…