What to Do as a Federal Employee if Your Spouse Passes Away

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What to Do as a Federal Employee if Your Spouse Passes Away

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“You can never eliminate the emotional weight of loss, but you can ease the financial uncertainty with preparation.”

Losing a spouse is one of life’s most painful experiences. For federal employees, that grief is often complicated by the confusion of navigating federal benefits and survivor entitlements. Whether you’re still working or already retired, it’s essential to understand how a death impacts your benefits—or your spouse’s—so you can protect your family’s financial future.

This guide walks you through the steps you need to take based on your situation, especially if you are part of the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).

Step 1: Clarify Your Role

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Are you: A federal employee whose spouse has passed away?

The surviving spouse of a federal employee who has passed away?

Each scenario triggers different benefits and responsibilities.

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If You’re a Federal Employee and Your Spouse Has Passed Away
✅ Notify Your Human Resources Department
Report the death and update your records:

FEHB (Health Insurance): Adjust coverage if your spouse was on your plan.

FEDVIP (Dental/Vision): Update or reduce coverage.

FEGLI (Life Insurance): Change beneficiaries if your spouse was listed.

TSP (Thrift Savings Plan): Review and update beneficiary designations.

Emergency Contacts: Keep records up to date.

✅ Review Your Retirement Plan
If you previously elected a Survivor Benefit for your spouse, you may be able to:

Remove the election (if you’re still working).

Request an annuity recomputation (if you’re retired and your spouse predeceased you).

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Learn more at OPM’s site.

If You’re the Surviving Spouse of a Federal Employee
Scenario A: The Federal Employee Died While Still Working
You may be eligible for:

1. Lump Sum Death Benefit
Includes:

50% of final salary

A fixed lump sum (approx. $32,000 in 2025)
Example: Final salary $100,000 → you receive $82,000 total.

Requirements:

At least 18 months of creditable federal service.

Marriage of 9+ months (unless there was a child or accidental death).

2. Monthly Survivor Annuity
If your spouse had 10+ years of service, you may qualify for monthly income:

Based on what they would’ve received had they retired.

You get 50% of that pension for life.

Example:
$100,000 high-3 salary × 20 years × 1% = $20,000 annual pension
→ You receive $833/month.

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More info: FERS Survivor Info

Scenario B: The Federal Employee Died After Retirement
Your benefits depend on the survivor election they made during retirement:

50% Survivor Benefit → You get half their pension.

25% Survivor Benefit → You get one-quarter.

No Benefit Selected → You receive nothing from their annuity.

Survivor elections also impact FEHB continuation. Without a survivor benefit, health insurance ends.

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Additional Federal Benefits to Know
TSP (Thrift Savings Plan): If named a beneficiary, you can transfer funds to a special account or IRA.

FEGLI Life Insurance: Check if you're listed as the beneficiary.

Social Security: If eligible, you may also qualify for survivor benefits through SSA.

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Final Thoughts: Preparation Is the Best Protection
It’s painful to think about losing a spouse—but preparing today can make all the difference tomorrow. Here’s what you can do now:

Review your beneficiaries (TSP, FEGLI).

Understand your survivor benefit options under FERS.

Most importantly, have these conversations with your spouse now.

Need help understanding your options? We can walk you through it.

📅 Schedule a consultation today to get clarity on your federal benefits—before a crisis happens.

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