US Code

Public Law 119-83 (04/13/2026)

50 U.S.C. § 2034

Survivor annuity for certain other former spouses

(a)

Survivor annuity

(1)

In general

An individual who was a former spouse of a participant or retired participant on , shall be entitled, except to the extent such former spouse is disqualified under subsection (b), to a survivor annuity equal to 55 percent of the greater of—
(A)
section 2031(a) of this title the unreduced amount of the participant’s or retired participant’s annuity, as computed under ; or
(B)
section 2143 of this title the unreduced amount of what such annuity as so computed would be if the participant, former participant, or retired participant had not elected payment of the lump-sum credit under .
(2)

Reduction in survivor annuity

section 2033 of this titleA survivor annuity payable under this section shall be reduced by an amount equal to any survivor annuity payments made to the former spouse under .

(b)

Limitations

A former spouse is not entitled to a survivor annuity under this section if—
(1)
the former spouse remarries before age 55, except that the entitlement of the former spouse to such a survivor annuity shall be restored on the date such remarriage is dissolved by death, annulment, or divorce; or
(2)
the former spouse is less than 50 years of age.
(c)

Commencement and termination of annuity

(1)

Commencement of annuity

The entitlement of a former spouse to a survivor annuity under this section shall commence—
(A)
in the case of a former spouse of a participant or retired participant who is deceased as of , beginning on the later of—
(i)
the 60th day after such date; or
(ii)
the date on which the former spouse reaches age 50; and
(B)
in the case of any other former spouse, beginning on the latest of—
(i)
the date on which the participant or retired participant to whom the former spouse was married dies;
(ii)
the 60th day after ; or
(iii)
the date on which the former spouse attains age 50.
(2)

Termination of annuity

The entitlement of a former spouse to a survivor annuity under this section terminates on the last day of the month before the former spouse’s death or remarriage before attaining age 55. The entitlement of a former spouse to such a survivor annuity shall be restored on the date such remarriage is dissolved by death, annulment, or divorce.

(d)

Application

(1)

Time limit; waiver

A survivor annuity under this section shall not be payable unless appropriate written application is provided to the Director, complete with any supporting documentation which the Director may by regulation require. Any such application shall be submitted not later than . The Director may waive the application deadline under the preceding sentence in any case in which the Director determines that the circumstances warrant such a waiver.

(2)

Retroactive benefits

Upon approval of an application provided under paragraph (1), the appropriate survivor annuity shall be payable to the former spouse with respect to all periods before such approval during which the former spouse was entitled to such annuity under this section, but in no event shall a survivor annuity be payable under this section with respect to any period before .

(e)

Restoration of annuity

Notwithstanding subsection (d)(1), the deadline by which an application for a survivor annuity must be submitted shall not apply in cases in which a former spouse’s entitlement to such a survivor annuity is restored under subsection (b)(1) or (c)(2).

Pub. L. 88–643, title II, § 224Pub. L. 102–496, title VIII, § 802106 Stat. 3217 Pub. L. 103–178, title II, § 202(a)(6)107 Stat. 2026 (, as added , , ; amended , , .)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

section 224 of Pub. L. 88–643Pub. L. 99–569, title III, § 302(a)100 Stat. 3192 Pub. L. 100–453, title III, § 302(b)(1)102 Stat. 1907 Pub. L. 101–193, title III, § 304(a)103 Stat. 1703 Pub. L. 102–88, title III, § 307(a)105 Stat. 432 Pub. L. 102–183, title III, § 304105 Stat. 1264 section 403 of this titlePub. L. 88–643section 802 of Pub. L. 102–496A prior , as added , , ; amended , , ; , , ; , , ; , , , related to survivor annuities for certain other former spouses and was set out as a note under prior to the general amendment of by .

Amendments

Pub. L. 103–1781993—Subsec. (c)(1)(B)(i). substituted “retired participant” for “former participant”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1993 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–178section 202(b) of Pub. L. 103–178section 2001 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date

section 805 of Pub. L. 102–496section 2001 of this titleSection effective on first day of fourth month beginning after , see , set out as a note under .