Post-Retirement

To qualify for spouse equity as a former spouse:

1. You must have been divorced during a Federal employee’s employment or annuitant’s receipt of annuity;
2. You must have been covered as a family member under the Federal employee or annuitant's enrollment at least one day during the 18 months before your divorce or annulment. Note: this requirement is met if both you and the Federal employee or annuitant had FEHB enrollments).
3. You must have a qualifying court order that awards you a portion of your former spouse’s annuity and/or a survivor annuity.
4. You must not have remarried before age 55, A court order that awards a portion of your former spouse's retirement annuity will enable you to continue FEHB coverage until your former spouse dies.

A court order that awards a survivor annuity allows you to continue FEHB coverage for the duration of your life if you continue to meet the requirements. You may receive a survivor annuity:

• if your former spouse made an election when they retired and voluntarily elected to allow you to keep the survivor benefit at the time of divorce; or
• if you divorced after their retirement and were awarded a survivor benefit in a court order.

If you were married to a CIA or Foreign Service employee, you should contact your former spouse's employing office for guidance.