Collapse to view only § 776. Payment of survivor benefits
- § 771. Definitions
- § 772. Annuity of the Comptroller General
- § 773. Election of survivor benefits
- § 774. Survivor annuities
- § 775. Refunds
- § 776. Payment of survivor benefits
- § 777. Annuity increases
- § 778. Dependency and disability decisions
- § 779. Use of appropriations
§ 771. DefinitionsIn this subchapter—
(1) “dependent child” means an unmarried dependent child (including a stepchild or adopted child) who is—
(A) under 18 years of age;
(B) incapable of self-support because of physical or mental disability; or
(C) between 18 and 22 years of age and is a student regularly pursuing a full-time course of study or training in residence in a high school, trade school, technical or vocational institute, junior college, college, university, or comparable recognized educational institution. For the purposes of this subchapter, a child whose 22nd birthday occurs before July 1 or after August 31 of a calendar year, and while such child is regularly pursuing such a course of study or training, is deemed to have become 22 years of age on the first day of July after that birthday. A child who is a student is deemed not to have ceased to be a student during an interim period between school years if the interim period is not more than 5 months and if such child shows to the satisfaction of the General Counsel of the Government Accountability Office that such child has a bona fide intention of continuing in the same or a different school during the school semester (or other period into which the school year is divided) immediately after the interim period.
(2) “surviving spouse” means a surviving spouse of an individual who was a Comptroller General or retired Comptroller General and the spouse—
(A) was married to the individual for at least 1 year immediately before the individual died; or
(B) has not remarried before age 55 and is the parent of issue by the marriage.
(3) service as a Comptroller General equals the number of years and complete months an individual is Comptroller General.
(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 902; Pub. L. 100–426, title II, § 202, Sept. 9, 1988, 102 Stat. 1600; Pub. L. 108–271, § 8(b), July 7, 2004, 118 Stat. 814.)
§ 772. Annuity of the Comptroller General
(a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a Comptroller General serving a complete term as Comptroller General or who retires under section 703(e)(1) of this title is entitled to receive an annuity for life equal to the pay the Comptroller General is receiving on completion of the term or at the time of retirement. An annuity of a Comptroller General who completes a term before becoming 65 years of age is reduced by .25 percent for each complete month the Comptroller General is under 65 years of age.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a Comptroller General becoming permanently disabled shall be retired and is entitled to receive an annuity for life equal to—
(1) the pay of the Comptroller General at the time of retirement if the Comptroller General served at least 10 years; or
(2) 50 percent of the pay if the Comptroller General served less than 10 years.
(c) A Comptroller General who, when appointed, is or has been subject to subchapter III of chapter 83 or chapter 84 of title 5 remains subject to such subchapter III or such chapter 84 (as the case may be) unless the Comptroller General elects in writing to receive an annuity under this section. An election is irrevocable and must be made within 10 years and 60 days after the start of service as Comptroller General. A Comptroller General electing to receive an annuity under this section is entitled to a refund of the lump-sum credit to the account of the Comptroller General in the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund.
(d) A Comptroller General (except a Comptroller General remaining subject to subchapter III of chapter 83 of title 5) shall—
(1) deposit with the Government Accountability Office for redeposit in the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts as a contribution to the annuity—
(A) 3.5 percent of the pay received as Comptroller General before deductions are made under clause (2)(A) of this subsection plus 3 percent interest compounded every December 31 on the amount to be deposited, if electing survivor benefits under this subchapter; or
(B) 8 percent of the pay received as Comptroller General before deductions are made under clause (2)(B) of this subsection plus 3 percent interest compounded every December 31 on the amount to be deposited, if not electing survivor benefits under this subchapter; and
(2) have—
(A) 3.5 percent of the pay received as Comptroller General deducted as a contribution to the annuity if electing survivor benefits under this subchapter; or
(B) 8 percent of the pay received as Comptroller General deducted as a contribution to the annuity if not electing survivor benefits under this subchapter.
(e) A Comptroller General receiving benefits under this section may not receive retirement or disability benefits under another law of the United States.
(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 902; Pub. L. 100–426, title II, § 203, Sept. 9, 1988, 102 Stat. 1600; Pub. L. 108–271, § 8(b), July 7, 2004, 118 Stat. 814.)
§ 773. Election of survivor benefits
(a) To provide survivor benefits, a Comptroller General may elect in writing to reduce the pay and annuity of the Comptroller General. An election shall be made within 6 months of taking office or, if an election is made under section 772(c) of this title, by the 60th day after making an election under section 772(c).
(b) A Comptroller General electing to provide survivor benefits shall—
(1) have 4.5 percent of the pay received as Comptroller General and 5 percent of the annuity of the Comptroller General deducted; and
(2) deposit with the Government Accountability Office for redeposit in the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts—
(A) 4.5 percent of the pay and annuity received as Comptroller General before the deductions begin;
(B) 4.5 percent of basic pay received as a member of Congress or for other civilian service on which a surviving spouse’s annuity is computed under section 774(d) of this title; and
(C) 4 percent interest before January 1, 1948, and 3 percent interest after December 31, 1947, compounded every December 31, on amounts deposited.
(c) This subchapter does not prevent a surviving spouse or dependent child from receiving another annuity while receiving an annuity under section 774 of this title. However, service used in computing an annuity under section 774 may not be used in computing the other annuity.
(d) The reduction in the Comptroller General’s annuity under subsection (b)(1) for the purpose of providing survivor benefits shall be terminated for each full month after the death of the spouse.
(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 903; Pub. L. 100–426, title II, § 204, Sept. 9, 1988, 102 Stat. 1600; Pub. L. 108–271, § 8(b), July 7, 2004, 118 Stat. 814.)
§ 774. Survivor annuities
(a) In this section—
(1) “allowable military service” means honorable active service of not more than 5 years in an armed force (including service in the National Guard when ordered to active duty for the United States Government), when the service is not creditable in computing another annuity.
(2) “other prior allowable service” means civilian service as an officer or employee of the Government or District of Columbia government not covered by subsection (d)(1) of this section.
(3) “congressional employee” has the same meaning given that term in section 2107 of title 5.
(b) A survivor annuity shall be paid under this subchapter when a Comptroller General—
(1) makes an election under section 773 of this title;
(2) dies in office or while receiving an annuity under section 772 of this title;
(3) had at least 18 months of civilian service at death computed under subsections (a) and (d) of this section; and
(4) had deductions or deposits under section 773 of this title made for the last 18 months of civilian service.
(c) If the Comptroller General or retired Comptroller General is survived—
(1) only by a spouse, the surviving spouse shall receive an annuity computed under subsection (d) of this section beginning on the death of the Comptroller General or retired Comptroller General or when the spouse is 50 years of age, whichever is later;
(2) by a spouse and a dependent child, the surviving spouse shall receive an immediate annuity computed under subsection (d) of this section and each dependent child shall receive an immediate annuity equal to the smaller of—
(A) 10 percent of the average annual pay computed under subsection (d)(1) of this section; or
(B) 20 percent of the average annual pay computed under subsection (d)(1) of this section, divided by the number of dependent children; or
(3) only by a dependent child, each dependent child shall receive an immediate annuity equal to the smaller of—
(A) the annuity a surviving spouse would be entitled to receive under clause (2) of this subsection, divided by the number of dependent children;
(B) 20 percent of the average annual pay computed under subsection (d)(1) of this section; or
(C) 40 percent of the average annual pay computed under subsection (d)(1) of this section, divided by the number of dependent children.
(d) The annuity of a surviving spouse is equal to—
(1) 1.5 percent of the average annual pay (based on the 3 years of highest pay received as Comptroller General and other prior allowable service) times—
(A) the number of years of—
(i) service as Comptroller General or a member of Congress; and
(ii) prior allowable military service; and
(B) not more than 15 years of prior allowable service as a congressional employee; plus
(2) .75 percent of the average pay computed under clause (1) of this subsection times the number of years of other allowable service.
(e) A surviving spouse’s annuity may not be more than 50 percent nor less than 25 percent of the average annual pay computed under subsection (d)(1) of this section. If a Comptroller General does not make the deposit under section 773(b) of this title, a surviving spouse’s annuity shall be credited with the service during which a deposit was not made, unless the spouse elects not to have the service credited. However, the annuity shall be reduced by 10 percent of the amount of the unpaid deposit, computed on the date the Comptroller General or retired Comptroller General dies.
(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 904; Pub. L. 100–426, title II, § 205, Sept. 9, 1988, 102 Stat. 1600.)
§ 775. Refunds
(a) A Comptroller General separated from office before becoming entitled to receive an annuity under section 772 of this title is entitled to a lump-sum refund of the amount deducted from pay or deposited as a contribution under section 772, plus 3 percent interest on the amount compounded every December 31.
(b) A Comptroller General making an election under section 773 of this title who is separated from office before becoming entitled to an annuity under section 772 of this title is entitled to a lump-sum refund of the amount deducted under section 773 of this title, plus 4 percent interest before January 1, 1948, and 3 percent interest after December 31, 1947, compounded every December 31 until the separation date.
(c) A lump-sum refund of the amounts deducted under sections 772 and 773 of this title, plus interest of 4 percent before January 1, 1948, and 3 percent after December 31, 1947, compounded every December 31 until the date of death, shall be paid under subsection (d) of this section if—
(1) a Comptroller General dies in office before completing 5 years of civilian service under section 774 of this title or after completing 5 years of civilian service but without a survivor entitled to an annuity under section 774(b) and (c) of this title; or
(2) if a retired Comptroller General dies without a survivor entitled to an annuity under section 774(b) and (c) of this title.
(d) If a Comptroller General or retired Comptroller General dies before a refund is made under this section, the refund shall be paid in the following order of precedence:
(1) to a beneficiary the Comptroller General or retired Comptroller General designated in writing if the designation was received by the Government Accountability Office before the death of the Comptroller General or retired Comptroller General.
(2) to a surviving spouse.
(3) to the children and to a descendant of a deceased child by representation.
(4) to the parents equally or, if only one surviving parent, to that survivor.
(5) to the executor or administrator of the estate of the Comptroller General or retired Comptroller General.
(6) to the next of kin that the General Counsel of the Government Accountability Office decides is entitled to the refund under the laws of the domicile of the Comptroller General or retired Comptroller General at the time of death.
(e) The General Counsel is not subject to section 771(1) and (2) of this title when making a decision about a surviving spouse or child under subsection (c) or (d) of this section.
(f) If the annuities of all individuals entitled to survivor annuities under this subchapter end before the amount of annuities paid equals the amount deducted under sections 772 and 773 of this title, plus interest of 4 percent before January 1, 1948, and 3 percent after December 31, 1947, compounded every December 31 until the date of death, the remainder shall be paid under subsection (d) of this section.
(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 905; Pub. L. 108–271, § 8(b), July 7, 2004, 118 Stat. 814.)
§ 776. Payment of survivor benefits
(a) An annuity under section 774 of this title accrues monthly and is paid monthly on the first business day of the month after the month in which an annuity accrues.
(b)
(1) A surviving spouse’s annuity ends when the spouse remarries before age 55 or dies.
(2) A dependent child’s annuity ends when the child becomes 18 years of age (unless the child is then a student as described in section 771(1)(C) of this title), marries, or dies, whichever is earliest. However, if a child is not self-supporting because of a physical or mental disability, an annuity ends when the child recovers, marries, or dies.
(3) If a surviving spouse dies and a dependent child survives, the child’s annuity is recomputed under section 774(c)(3) of this title.
(4) When a dependent child’s annuity ends, the annuity of another dependent child is recomputed as if the child whose annuity has ended did not survive a Comptroller General or retired Comptroller General.
(c) An accrued annuity unpaid when the annuity of a survivor ends—
(1) for a reason except death, shall be paid to the survivor; and
(2) when a survivor dies, shall be paid in the following order of precedence:
(A) to the executor or administrator of the estate of the individual.
(B) if there is no executor or administrator, then after 30 days after the date of death, to an individual the General Counsel of the Government Accountability Office decides is legally entitled to the payment.
(d)
(1) A payment under subsection (c)(2)(B) of this section or section 775(d) of this title is a bar to recovery by another individual.
(2) A benefit under this section and sections 773–775 of this title is not assignable or subject to legal process.
(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 906; Pub. L. 100–426, title II, § 206, Sept. 9, 1988, 102 Stat. 1601; Pub. L. 108–271, § 8(b), July 7, 2004, 118 Stat. 814.)
§ 777. Annuity increases
(a) An annuity payable under this subchapter shall be increased at the same time that, and by the same percent as the percentage by which, annuities are increased under section 8340(b) of title 5.
(b) An annuity under section 772 of this title may not be more than the basic pay of the Comptroller General. A surviving spouse’s annuity may be increased under this section without regard to any limitation set forth in section 774(e) of this title.
(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 906; Pub. L. 100–426, title II, § 207, Sept. 9, 1988, 102 Stat. 1601.)
§ 778. Dependency and disability decisions
The General Counsel of the Government Accountability Office shall decide a question of dependency, disability, or dependency and disability under sections 773–776 of this title. A decision under this section is final.
(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 907; Pub. L. 108–271, § 8(b), July 7, 2004, 118 Stat. 814.)
§ 779. Use of appropriations
Annuities and refunds under this subchapter shall be paid by the Comptroller General from appropriations of the Government Accountability Office.
(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 907; Pub. L. 108–271, § 8(b), July 7, 2004, 118 Stat. 814.)