TITLE 5 - ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL

CHAPTER I - OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

SUBCHAPTER B - CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS

PART 843 - FEDERAL EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM - DEATH BENEFITS AND EMPLOYEE REFUNDS

subpart c - CURRENT AND FORMER SPOUSE BENEFITS

843.303 - Marriage duration requirements.

  (a) The current spouse of a retiree, an employee, or a separated employee can qualify for a current spouse annuity or the basic employee death benefit only if (1) The current spouse and the retiree, employee, or separated employee had been married for at least 9 months, as explained in paragraph (b) of this section; or (2) A child was born of the marriage, as explained in paragraph (c) of this section; or (3) The death of the retiree, employee, or separated employee was accidental as explained in paragraph (d) of this section.

  (b) For satisfying the 9-month marriage requirement of paragraph (a)(1) of this section, the aggregate time of all marriages between the spouse applying for a current spouse annuity and the retiree, employee, or separated employee is included.

  (c) For satisfying the child-born-of-the-marriage requirement of paragraph (a)(2) of this section, any child, including a posthumous child, born to the spouse and the retiree, employee, or separated employee is included. This includes a child born out of wedlock if the parents later married or of a prior marriage between the same parties.

  (d)(1) A death is accidental if it results from homicide or from bodily injuries incurred solely through violent, external, and accidental means. The term accidental does not include a death caused by or the result of intentional self-destruction or intentionally self-inflicted injury, while sane or insane.

  (2) A State judicial or administrative adjudication of the cause of death for criminal or insurance purposes is conclusive evidence of whether a death is accidental.

  (3) A death certificate showing the cause of death as accident or homicide is prima facie evidence that the death was accidental.

[52 FR 2074, Jan. 16, 1987, as amended at 52 FR 23014, June 17, 1987]