When you retire under FERS, one choice on your retirement application decides whether your spouse keeps receiving part of your pension after you die. It also affects whether your spouse can keep federal health coverage. It is easy to treat as a box to tick, and hard to change later.
OPM calls the FERS pension an "annuity", so its forms talk about a "survivor annuity". It is the same pension, not a separate product you buy.
The survivor benefit choices
According to OPM, a married FERS retiree chooses among:
| Choice | Your spouse receives after your death | Cost to you while you are living |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum survivor benefit | 50% of your pension | Your own pension is 10% lower |
| Partial survivor benefit | 25% of your pension | Your own pension is 5% lower |
| No survivor benefit | Nothing from your pension | No reduction |
The percentages are of your full pension before the reduction. Your current spouse must consent to any choice less than the maximum.
Why it matters for health coverage
The survivor benefit also decides whether your spouse can keep FEHB. OPM says a surviving spouse can continue FEHB if they receive a survivor benefit from your pension (or the Basic Employee Death Benefit) and you were enrolled in Self Plus One or Self and Family coverage on the date of death.
Without a survivor benefit, a spouse who relies on your FEHB plan can lose it when you die. For many couples that is the deciding factor, more than the monthly payment itself.
If an employee dies while still working
FERS also pays benefits when an employee dies before retiring. According to OPM:
- Basic Employee Death Benefit: with at least 18 months of creditable civilian service, a spouse may receive 50% of the employee's final salary (or average salary, if higher) plus a fixed amount adjusted each year. OPM lists $45,377.35 for deaths after December 1, 2026. Confirm the amount that applies to the date of death.
- Monthly survivor benefit: with at least 10 years of creditable service (18 months of it civilian), a monthly payment to the spouse from the employee's earned pension may also be payable.
Questions to talk through at home
- If you died first, how would your spouse cover the bills without your pension?
- Does your spouse depend on your FEHB plan, or have their own coverage?
- Can you afford a pension that is 10% (or 5%) lower for the years you are both living?
- How much life insurance will you still have after 65? Most FEGLI coverage shrinks after you are retired and 65 unless you pay extra to keep it; see keeping FEGLI after you retire.
Some couples choose the full survivor benefit for the health coverage and income it protects. Others compare its cost with private life insurance on the retiree. Either way, it is worth deciding together, well before the retirement application is due.
Sources
- OPM, Survivor benefits, checked October 25, 2026
- OPM FAQ: How is the amount of my benefits as a surviving spouse determined?, checked October 7, 2026