5 U.S.C. § 8705 | Death claims; order of precedence; escheat

(a)

section 8706(b) of this titleFirst, to the beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by the employee in a signed and witnessed writing received before death in the employing office or, if insured because of receipt of annuity or of benefits under subchapter I of chapter 81 of this title as provided by , in the Office of Personnel Management. For this purpose, a designation, change, or cancellation of beneficiary in a will or other document not so executed and filed has no force or effect.

Second, if there is no designated beneficiary, to the widow or widower of the employee.

Third, if none of the above, to the child or children of the employee and descendants of deceased children by representation.

Fourth, if none of the above, to the parents of the employee or the survivor of them.

Fifth, if none of the above, to the duly appointed executor or administrator of the estate of the employee.

Sixth, if none of the above, to other next of kin of the employee entitled under the laws of the domicile of the employee at the date of his death.

Except as provided in subsection (e), the amount of group life insurance and group accidental death insurance in force on an employee at the date of his death shall be paid, on the establishment of a valid claim, to the person or persons surviving at the date of his death, in the following order of precedence:

(b)

If, within 1 year after the death of the employee, no claim for payment has been filed by a person entitled under the order of precedence named by subsection (a) of this section, or if payment to the person within that period is prohibited by Federal statute or regulation, payment may be made in the order of precedence as if the person had predeceased the employee, and the payment bars recovery by any other person.

(c)

section 8709(b) of this title If, within 2 years after the death of the employee, no claim for payment has been filed by a person entitled under the order of precedence named by subsection (a) of this section, and neither the Office nor the administrative office established by the company concerned pursuant to has received notice that such a claim will be made, payment may be made to the claimant who in the judgment of the Office is equitably entitled thereto, and the payment bars recovery by any other person.

(d)

If, within 4 years after the death of the employee, payment has not been made under this section and no claim for payment by a person entitled under this section is pending, the amount payable escheats to the credit of the Employees’ Life Insurance Fund.

(e)

(1)

Any amount which would otherwise be paid to a person determined under the order of precedence named by subsection (a) shall be paid (in whole or in part) by the Office to another person if and to the extent expressly provided for in the terms of any court decree of divorce, annulment, or legal separation, or the terms of any court order or court-approved property settlement agreement incident to any court decree of divorce, annulment, or legal separation.

(2)

For purposes of this subsection, a decree, order, or agreement referred to in paragraph (1) shall not be effective unless it is received, before the date of the covered employee’s death, by the employing agency or, if the employee has separated from service, by the Office.

(3)

A designation under this subsection with respect to any person may not be changed except—

(A)

with the written consent of such person, if received as described in paragraph (2); or

(B)

by modification of the decree, order, or agreement, as the case may be, if received as described in paragraph (2).

(4)

The Office shall prescribe any regulations necessary to carry out this subsection, including regulations for the application of this subsection in the event that two or more decrees, orders, or agreements, are received with respect to the same amount.

Pub. L. 89–554Sept. 6, 196680 Stat. 594 Pub. L. 90–83, § 1(91)Sept. 11, 196781 Stat. 219 Pub. L. 95–454, title IX, § 906(a)(2)Oct. 13, 197892 Stat. 1224 Pub. L. 95–583, § 1(b)Nov. 2, 197892 Stat. 2481 Pub. L. 105–205, § 1July 22, 1998112 Stat. 683(, , ; , , ; , (3), , ; , , ; , , .)

Historical and Revision Notes
	5 U.S.C. 2093.	Aug. 17, 1954, ch. 752, § 4, 68 Stat. 738. Aug. 28, 1962, Pub. L. 87–611, § 1, 76 Stat. 406.

Historical and Revision Notes

1966 Act

5 U.S.C. 2093.

Aug. 17, 1954, ch. 752, § 4, 68 Stat. 738.

Aug. 28, 1962, Pub. L. 87–611, § 1, 76 Stat. 406.

section 2094(c) of this titleIn subsection (c), the words “Employees’ Life Insurance Fund” are substituted for “fund created pursuant to ”.

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

1967 Act
Section of title 5	Source (U.S. Code)	Source (Statutes at Large)
8705(a)	5 App.: 2093.	Mar. 23, 1966, Pub. L. 89–373, § 1, 80 Stat. 78.

5 U.S.C. 2091(a)In subsection (a), “Civil Service Commission” is substituted for “Commission” on authority of former .

In subsection (c), “Commission” is substituted for “Civil Service Commission” for consistency of style. The full title of the Commission is set forth the first time it is used in a section.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 105–205, § 1(1)1998—Subsec. (a). , substituted “Except as provided in subsection (e), the” for “The”.

Pub. L. 105–205, § 1(2)Subsec. (e). , added subsec. (e).

Pub. L. 95–5831978—Subsec. (a). struck out “or (c)” after “section 8706(b)”.

Pub. L. 95–454 substituted “Office of Personnel Management” for “Civil Service Commission”.

Pub. L. 95–454Subsec. (c). substituted “Office” for “Commission” wherever appearing.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1978 Amendments

Pub. L. 95–583Nov. 2, 1978section 3 of Pub. L. 95–583 section 8706 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

Pub. L. 95–454Oct. 13, 1978section 907 of Pub. L. 95–454 section 1101 of this titleAmendment by effective 90 days after , see , set out as a note under .