Surviving same-sex spouses of federal retirees and employees who married before a 2013 Supreme Court decision overturned part of the Defense of Marriage Act can apply or re-apply for death benefits through June 26, 2015. This is under an Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regulation issued after the Court’s decision.
The benefit also applies to those same-sex spouses who applied previously for such benefits but were denied before the Supreme Court ruling. OPM said it will evaluate whether or not those same-sex spouses may now be entitled to a survivor annuity or lump-sum death benefits.
NTEU members or surviving spouses of members who wish to apply for benefits will need to provide to OPM copies of their marriage certificate and annuitant’s death certificate, the deceased federal employee’s name, date of birth, and the annuitant’s CSA/CSF number or Social Security number.
-Colleen Kelley NTEU President