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Marriage, Death and Your Survivor Annuity

POD

Thorn in the Side
DOD
Tue May 6, 2008 10:03 AM

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I wish the article had said what Anne McTonnell did with the money, since she apparently thought Ms. Waters should get it. She may have given it to Ms. Waters.

Anyway, this highlights something we in Western society have forgotten: Marriage is a business relationship. Romance is personal, but marriage involves legal rights and restrictions, property rights, inheritance - things that require a lawyer to straighten out if they aren't kept straight to begin with. Ms. Waters made the same kind of mistake most of us make, thinking that "love" solves all problems, that intentions are as good as deeds. She should have required that McTonnell give her copies of documents naming her beneficiary, before using up so many of her own resources - time, freedom, money, all the things that one invests in a marriage-type relationship - on him.

Re: POD

HR Specialist
NASA
Tue May 6, 2008 6:04 PM
Nicely put. The courts have confirmed that "business is business." Employees, if you haven't viewed your SF2823 (for FEGLI), your SF1152 (for Unpaid Compensation) and your SF2802 or SF3102 (for any CSRS or FERS lump-sum retirement benefit) you need to do so! With the advent of the electronic Personnel Folder (eOPF) employees are able to view all their documents from their desk, without having to visit the HR office. Now that it is so easy, what's your excuse?

spousal & ex-spousal right to annuity

atty
SSA
Wed May 7, 2008 9:41 AM

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Comments are so right! Marriage is not just a religious issue - it is goverened by law of each state. Minister or other may perform ceremony, but NOT without a license from the state. Annnuities are governed by the rules established for that annuity so for your wishes to be followed, changes must be made accordingly and it is the employees responsibility to know what is required and do it. If divorce is pending or granted, get those papers in unless you want to have $$$ left to ex. Annuity is similar to any other insurance policy - you can name whomever you wish as beneficiary, but if you change your mind, change it before you die!

Separation Agreement and Divorce Decree

Social Insurance Specialist
SSA
Thu May 8, 2008 3:49 PM

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I hope they checked the separation agreement and/or divorce settlement and divorce decree to see if the deceased's annuity was already paid to the ex-wife as a part of the divorce settlement.

Spouse Annuity

Federal employee
VA
Sat May 10, 2008 10:26 AM

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My ex spouse was a retired federal employee. We diovrced after 20 years of marriage and he died less than two years later. I was designated to recieve the spouse annuity and there was no other spouse (former or current). OPM denied the claim because the divorce did not specifically stipulate that the annuity was to remain intact (a court order is required). Perhaps the difference is between CSRS and FERS retirees.

Survivor Annuity

Program Management Analyst
IRS
Mon May 12, 2008 10:22 AM

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This should be a lesson to those that are in a relationship. It is a must that you do the paperwork first. He should have changed designated beneficiary right after the divorce. Twenty years is a long time to end up with nothing.

Marriage, Death and Your Survivor Annuity

Program Management Analyst
IRS
Mon May 12, 2008 10:43 AM

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Right after my divorce, I changed all my paper work. My exspouse name was removed from everything. Men and women, please make all necessary changes with your personnel office after a divorce or marriage. It is not fair to your current spouse or partner to end up with nothing. It would really be a shame if there were children involved. I do think that some polices and procedures need to be modified. There are more people now days in a common-law type relationship or partner type relationship than an actual marriage. The govenment should possibly accept partners and common-law type relationships.

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