Retirement benefit problem
Dear Ms. Savage,
I am an 86-year-old woman who just lost her 89-year-old husband last Sunday, 3/23/26.
Reviewing documents in his file, preparing for notice of his passing to the CSRS (Civil Service Retirement System), it shows that his retirement application signed 6/25/86 indicates that he chose: “A reduced annuity with survivor annuity for my spouse equal to” 55% of $5000 a year rather than… 55% pf all my annuity.
I also found a document that I signed, showing this as well.
At the time he was very concerned that I would be covered by his health insurance when his retirement application was finalized. Other than that, there should have been no reason to have cut me off from the support he wanted me to have.
Any thoughts that could help me with this?
Terry Says
I am so sorry for your loss. There is no way to go back and revise that decision. I suspect that it was a tradeoff for a significantly higher benefit while he was alive. And that’s why you probably both agreed to it. Now, however, you’ll receive less. At least you had all those years of much higher benefits.
Now, with this lower level of income, you probably qualify for many senior benefits. I don’t know where you live but contact your state department on aging.
If you’re in Illinois, start here: https://ilaging.illinois.gov/benefitsaccess.html
