Q: Although the death of the employee is always discussed, the death of a spouse for which you are paying to have an annuity in case of your death, is hardly ever mentioned. If your spouse dies (no children) and you have a spousal annuity, what should you do? Can you have the annuity stopped? If it can be stopped, and you don’t report (I guess to OPM ?) do they refund you the overpayment for the pay periods post death of your spouse?
If that is in fact what you do (report to OPM) is there any time limit on reporting the death of a spouse to receive an adjustment to drop the spouse annuity option?
A: Upon presenting evidence of your spouse’s death to OPM, they will restore you to an unreduced pension. No refund is made.
