2020 US Code
Title 22 - Foreign Relations and Intercourse
Chapter 52 - Foreign Service
Subchapter VIII - Foreign Service Retirement and Disability
Part I - Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System
Sec. 4069b-1 - Survivor benefits for certain former spouses

Any individual who was a former spouse of a participant or former participant on February 14, 1981, shall be entitled, to the extent of available appropriations, and except to the extent such former spouse is disqualified under subsection (b), to a survivor annuity equal to 55 percent of the greater of—

If an election has been made with respect to such former spouse under section 4159 or 4046(f) of this title, then the survivor annuity under subsection (a) of such former spouse shall be equal to the full amount of the participant's or former participant's annuity referred to in subsection (a) less the amount of such election.

A former spouse shall not be entitled to a survivor annuity under this section if—

(1) The entitlement of a former spouse to a survivor annuity under this section—

(2)(A) A survivor annuity under this section shall not be payable unless appropriate written application is provided to the Secretary, complete with any supporting documentation which the Secretary may by regulation require, within 30 months after the effective date of this section. The Secretary may waive the 30-month application requirement under this subparagraph in any case in which the Secretary determines that the circumstances so warrant.

(B) Upon approval of an application provided under subparagraph (A), 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 the effective date of this section.

The Secretary shall—

Nothing in this section shall be construed to impair, reduce, or otherwise affect the annuity or the entitlement to an annuity of a participant or former participant under this subchapter.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §832, as added Pub. L. 100–238, title II, §204(a), Jan. 8, 1988, 101 Stat. 1771.)

For the effective date of this section, referred to in subsecs. (d)(1)(A)(i), (ii)(II), (2) and (e)(1), see Effective Date note set out below.

Another section 832 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 was enacted by Pub. L. 100–204 and is classified to section 4069c of this title.

Section effective 90 days after Jan. 8, 1988, see section 261(a) of Pub. L. 100–238, set out as an Effective Date of 1988 Amendment note under section 4054 of this title.