Q. I noticed on one of your blog postings that you stated the minimum annuity you can leave a spouse is $1. I’ve been told by my personnel office that the minimum is $3,600. Which is correct?
A. What I stated is correct. Your personnel office was misreading what OPM has written on the subject. The reduction in an employee’s annuity is “2.5 percent of the amount up to $3,600 elected as the base for the survivor annuity [emphasis added].” The reduction is 10 percent for any amount elected over $3,600. Go to www.opm.gov/retire/pubs/handbook/C050.pdf and scroll down to Section 50A3-1-3D
