The Civilian Benefits Center counsels the survivors of deceased Department of
the Navy civilian employees regarding survivor benefits and assists with claim
processing. If no survivors are eligible for a monthly annuity, any
contributions remaining in the retirement fund are paid to the beneficiary
designated on a valid
SF 2808, Designation of Beneficiary CSRS or, if there is no valid SF 2808 on file, by
order of precedence.
Spousal Survivor Annuity
If an employee completed at least 18 months of creditable civilian service and died while subject to CSRS deductions, the current
spouse will be eligible to receive a monthly survivor annuity provided that:
- There is no court order awarding the total survivor annuity to a former
spouse.
- The current spouse meets one of the following requirements:
- The spouse and the employee were married for at least 9
months.
- A child was born of the marriage.
- The death of the employee was accidental.
If a former spouse was awarded only a part of the total survivor annuity, the
current spouse will receive the remainder.
The survivor annuity:
- Begins on the day after the employee’s death unless the
entitlement to an annuity depends on the birth of a posthumous
child, in which case the annuity begins on the day after the
child is born.
- Ends on the last day of the month that precedes either the
month in which the spouse dies or, if the spouse is younger than
age 55, the month in which he or she remarries. If the
remarriage occurs after January 1, 1995, and the spouse was
married for at least 30 years to the individual on whose service
the survivor annuity is based, the survivor annuity will not be
terminated.
- Is calculated based on the employee’s years of
creditable service, high-3 average salary, and CSRS annuity
computation formula. The survivor annuity is calculated by
multiplying the amount the employee would have received in
disability retirement as of the date of his or her death by 55
percent. Creditable service includes all creditable civilian
service performed as a Federal employee, any honorable active
military service, and any unused sick leave.
Survivor Benefits for Children
A monthly annuity is payable to a child if the employee completed at least 18
months of creditable civilian service and died while subject to CSRS deductions.
The child must be unmarried, dependent on the employee at the time of death, and
meet one of the following age criteria:
- Younger than age 18.
- Age 18 to 22 and a full-time student.
- Older than age 18 and incapable of self-support due to a
disability incurred before age 18.
The provisions for a child’s monthly survivor annuity include the following:
- For employee deaths that occur between December 1, 2011, and November 30, 2012, the survivor annuity is payable as follows:
- Single Orphan Rate. When the child has a living parent who
was married to the employee, the annuity is the lesser of
$486.00 per month per child or $1,460.00 per month divided by
the number of eligible children.
- Double Orphan Rate. When the child has no living parent who
was married to the employee, the annuity is the lesser of
$584.00 per month per child or $1,752.00 per month divided by
the number of eligible children.
- The annuity begins on the day after the employee’s death, or in the case
of a posthumous child, on the day following the child’s birth.
- If the child is younger than age 18, the annuity ends on the last day of
the month preceding the month in which the child marries, dies, or becomes 18
years old.
- If the child is older than age 18 and attends school, the annuity ends on
the last day of the month that precedes the month in which the child:
- Marries.
- Dies.
- Ceases to be a student.
- Transfers to a nonrecognized school.
- Begins attending school less than full-time.
- Fails to submit proof, upon request, that he/she is
attending school full-time.
- Enters military service or a government service academy.
- Becomes 22 years old.