CFR Subpart V

CFR Subpart V
in effect

5 C.F.R. § 831.2201 Purpose.

This subpart explains the benefits available to employees and Members who elect an alternative form of annuity under section 8343a of title 5, United States Code.

5 C.F.R. § 831.2202 Definitions.

In this subpart— Alternative form of annuity means the benefit elected under § 831.2204. Current spouse annuity has the same meaning as in § 831.603. Date of final adjudication means the date 30 days after the date of the first regular monthly payment as defined in § 831.603. Former spouse annuity has the same meaning as in § 831.603. Lump-sum credit has the same meaning as in 5 U.S.C. 8331(8). Present value factor has the same meaning in this subpart as defined in § 831.603. Time of retirement has the same meaning as in § 831.603.

5 C.F.R. § 831.2203 Eligibility.

(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b), (c), and (h) of this section, an employee or Member whose annuity entitlement commences after June 5, 1986, under any provision of subchapter III of chapter 83 of title 5, United States Code (other than section 8337 of that title), may elect an alternative form of annuity instead of any other benefits under the subchapter. (b) An employee or Member who, at the time of retirement has a former spouse who is entitled to a portion of the employee's or Member's retirement benefits or a former spouse annuity under a court order acceptable for processing as defined by § 838.103 of this chapter or under a qualifying court order as defined in § 838.1003 of this chapter may not elect an alternative form of annuity. (c) An employee or Member who is married at the time of retirement may not elect an alternative form of annuity unless the employee's or Member's spouse specifically consents to the election before the date of final adjudication. OPM may waive spousal consent only under the conditions prescribed by § 831.618. (d) The election of an alternative form of annuity and evidence of spousal consent must be filed on a form prescribed by OPM. The form will require that a notary public or other official authorized to administer oaths certify that the current spouse presented identification, gave consent to the specific election as executed by the retiree, signed or marked the form, and acknowledged that the consent was given freely in the notary's or official's presence. (e) An election of the alternative form of annuity must be in writing and received by OPM on or before the date of final adjudication. After the date of final adjudication, an election of the alternative form of annuity is irrevocable. (f) Except as provided in paragraph (g), an annuitant who dies before the date of final adjudication is deemed to have made an affirmative election under paragraph (a) with a fully reduced annuity to provide a current spouse annuity, regardless of any election completed under § 831.614, and the lump-sum credit will be paid in accordance with the order of precedence established under 5 U.S.C. 8342(c). (g) If an annuitant described in paragraph (f) has completed an election under § 831.611(a) or (b)— (1) The lump-sum credit will be paid in accordance with the order of precedence established under 5 U.S.C. 8342(c); and (2) The election under § 831.611(a) or (b) will be honored. (h)(1)(i) An individual whose annuity commences after December 1, 1990, and before October 1, 1994, may elect an alternative form of annuity only if that individual is— (A) An employee or Member who meets the conditions and fulfills the requirements described in § 831.2207(c) (2) and (3); or (B) An employee who is separated involuntarily other than for cause on charges of misconduct or delinquency; (ii) An individual whose annuity commences on or after October 1, 1994, may elect an alternative form of annuity only if that individual is an employee or Member who meets the conditions and fulfills the requirements described in § 831.2207(c) (2) and (3). (2) For the purpose of paragraph (h)(1)(i)(B) of this section, the term “employee” does not include— (i) Members of Congress; (ii) Individuals in positions in the Executive Schedule under sections 5312 through 5317 of title 5, United States Code; (iii) Presidential appointees under section 105(a)(1), 106(a)(1), or 107 (a)(1) or (b)(1) of title 3, United States Code, if the maximum basic pay for such positions is at or above the rate for Executive Schedule, level V; (iv) Noncareer appointees in the Senior Executive Service or noncareer members of the Senior Foreign Service; and (v) Any individual in a position that is excepted from the competitive service because of its confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character. (3) Notwithstanding paragraph (h)(1) of this section, an employee whose annuity commences after December 1, 1990, and before December 2, 1991, may elect an alternative form of annuity if that individual— (i)(A) Was ordered to active military duty (other than for training) before December 1, 1990, in connection with Operation Desert Shield; or (B) Is an employee of the Department of Defense who is certified by the Secretary of Defense to have performed, after November 30, 1990, duties essential to support Operation Desert Shield, and the certification is submitted to OPM in a form prescribed by OPM; and (ii) Would have been eligible, as of November 30, 1990, to elect an alternative form of annuity under paragraph (a) of this section.

5 C.F.R. § 831.2204 Alternative forms of annuities available.

(a) An employee or Member who is eligible to make an election under § 831.2203 may elect to receive his or her lump-sum credit plus an annuity computed in accordance with section 8339 of title 5, United States Code, for which they qualify (including any reduction for survivor benefits) and reduced under § 831.2205. (b) A retired employee or Member who elected an alternative form of annuity is subject to all provisions of subchapter III of chapter 83 of title 5, United States Code, as would otherwise apply to a retired employee or Member who did not elect an alternative form of annuity, except that an individual who elected an alternative form of annuity is not eligible to apply for disability annuity under section 8337 of such subchapter.

5 C.F.R. § 831.2205 Computation of alternative form of annuity.

(a) To compute the beginning rate of annuity payable to a retiree who elects an alternative form of annuity, OPM will first compute the monthly rate of annuity otherwise payable under subchapter III of chapter 83 of title 5, United States Code, including all reductions provided under the subchapter other than those in § 8343a. That monthly rate is then reduced by an amount equal to the retiree's lump-sum credit divided by the present value factor for the retiree's attained age (in full years) at the time of retirement. The reduced monthly rate is then rounded to the next lowest dollar and becomes the rate of annuity payable. (b) OPM will publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing any proposed adjustments in present value factors at least 30 days before the effective date of the adjustments.

5 C.F.R. § 831.2206 Election to pay deposit or redeposit for civilian service.

(a) If an employee or Member who elects an alternative form of annuity owes a deposit or redeposit for civilian service, and elects to pay that deposit or redeposit before the date of final adjudication, OPM will compute the annuity as if the deposit or redeposit had been made and will deem that deposit or redeposit to be included in the lump-sum credit for the purpose of computing the reduction in annuity under § 831.2205. (b) The amount of a deposit or redeposit deemed paid under paragraph (a) of this section will include any interest owed by the employee or Member under 5 U.S.C. 8334. (c) For the purpose of paragraph (a) of this section, “redeposit” does not include a redeposit owed for service for which credit is allowed pursuant to § 831.303(c)(1).

5 C.F.R. § 831.2207 Partial deferred payment of the lump-sum credit if annuity commences after January 3, 1988, and before October 1, 1989.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, if the annuity of an employee or Member commences after January 3, 1988, and before October 1, 1989, the lump-sum credit payable under § 831.2204 is payable to the individual, or his or her survivors, according to the following schedule: (1) Sixty percent of the lump-sum credit is payable at the time of retirement, and (2) Forty percent is payable, with interest determined under section 8334(e)(3) of title 5, United States Code, one year after the time of retirement. (b) If an employee or Member whose annuity commences after January 3, 1988, and before October 1, 1989, dies before the date of final adjudication, that individual is subject to § 831.2203 (f) or (g), but the lump-sum credit will be paid in accordance with the schedule in paragraph (a) of this section. (c) An annuitant is exempt from the deferred payment schedule under paragraph (a) of this section if the individual— (1) Separates involuntarily, other than for cause on charges of delinquency or misconduct, or (2) Has, at the time of retirement, a life-threatening affliction or other critical medical condition. (3)(i) For the purpose of this section, life-threatening affliction or other critical medical condition means a medical condition so severe as to reasonably limit an individual's probable life expectancy to less than 2 years. (ii) The existence of one of the following medical conditions is prima facie evidence of a life threatening affliction or other critical medical condition: (A) Metastatic and/or inoperable neoplasms. (B) Aortic stenosis (severe). (C) Class IV cardiac disease with congestive heart failure. (D) Respiratory failure. (E) Cor pulmonale with respiratory failure. (F) Emphysema with respiratory failure. (G) [Reserved] (H) Severe cardiomyopathy—Class IV. (I) Aplastic anemia. (J) Uncontrolled hypertension with hypertensive encephalopathy. (K) Cardiac aneurysm not amenable to surgical treatment. (L) Agranulocytosis. (M) Severe hepatic failure. (N) Severe Hypoxic brain damage. (O) Severe portal hypertension with esophageal varices. (P) AIDS (Active—Not AIDS Related Complex or only seropositivity). (Q) Life threatening infections (encephalitis, meningitis, rabies, etc.). (R) Scleroderma with severe esophageal involvement. (S) Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (rapidly progressive). (T) Hemiplegia with life threatening complications. (U) Quadriplegia with life threatening complications. (iii) Evidence of the existence of a life-threatening affliction or other critical medical condition must be certified by a physician and sent to OPM on or before the date the annuitant elects to receive an alternative form of annuity. For the purpose of this section, “physician” has the same meaning given that term in § 339.102 of this chapter. (iv) If a medical condition other than those listed in paragraph (c)(3)(ii) of this section is claimed as a basis for exemption from the deferred payment schedule, OPM will review the physician's certification to determine whether the cited condition is life-threatening or critical. (v) The cost of providing medical documentation under this paragraph rests with the employee or Member, unless OPM exercises its choice of physician.

5 C.F.R. § 831.2208 Partial deferred payment of the lump-sum credit if annuity commences after December 2, 1989, and before October 1, 1995.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, if the annuity of a retiree commences after December 2, 1989, and before October 1, 1994, the lump-sum credit payable under § 831.2204 is payable to the individual, or his or her survivors, according to the following schedule: (1) Fifty percent of the lump-sum credit is payable at the time of retirement, and (2) Fifty percent is payable, with interest determined under section 8334(e)(3) of title 5, United States Code, 1 year after the time of retirement, except if the payment date of the amount specified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section was after December 4, 1989, payment with interest will be made in the calendar year following the calendar year in which the payment specified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section was made. (b) If a retiree whose annuity commences after December 2, 1989, and before October 1, 1994, and who is otherwise entitled to a computation under this subpart, dies before the date of final adjudication, that individual is subject to § 831.2203 (f) or (g), but the lump-sum credit will be paid in accordance with the schedule in paragraph (a) of this section. (c)(1) A retiree is exempt from the deferred payment schedule under paragraph (a) of this section if the individual meets the conditions, and fulfills the requirements, described in § 831.2207(c). (2)(i) A retiree who is exempt from the deferred payment schedule may waive that exemption by notifying OPM, in writing, on or before the date he or she elects to receive the alternative form of annuity. (ii) Paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section does not apply to an individual whose annuity commences after December 1, 1990, if that individual's eligibility to elect an alternative form of annuity is pursuant to § 831.2203(h)(1)(i)(A). (iii) A waiver under paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section cannot be revoked.

5 C.F.R. § 831.2209 Redetermined annuity after reemployment.

(a) For purposes of this section, “lump-sum credit” does not include— (1) The amount by which the lump-sum credit attributable to service performed before the annuitant's first retirement was reduced by annuity payments that were not reimbursed by the employing agency under section 8344(a) of title 5, United States Code, or (2) Any part of the lump-sum credit attributable to service performed before the annuitant's first retirement that has already been paid to the annuitant pursuant to an election or an alternative form of annuity. (b) An annuitant who meets the requirements for a redetermined annuity under subpart H, and who meets all requirements of § 831.2203, may elect an alternative form of annuity. (c) To compute the beginning rate of the redetermined annuity payable to an annuitant who elects an alternative form of annuity, OPM will first compute the monthly rate payable under subchapter III of chapter 83 of title 5, United States Code, including all reductions provided under the subchapter other than those in section 8343a. That monthly rate is then reduced by the sum of— (1)(i) Any reduction that was computed under § 831.2205 at the time of the annuitant's prior retirement, increased by— (ii) All cost-of-living adjustments under section 8340 of title 5, United States Code that applied to the annuitant before the commencing date of the redetermined annuity, and (2) An amount equal to the annuitant's lump-sum credit, divided by the present value factor for the annuitant's attained age on the date the redetermined annuity commences. (d) The beginning rate of a redetermined annuity payable to an annuitant who does not elect, or is not eligible to elect, an alternative form of annuity will be reduced in accordance with paragraph (c)(1) of this section.

Starting a business? Corpus forms LLCs in all 50 states and DC.