SUBCHAPTER III—PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM
§2151. Application of Federal Employees' Retirement System to Agency employees
(a) General rule
Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c), all employees of the Agency, any of whose service after December 31, 1983, is employment for the purpose of title II of the Social Security Act [
(b) Exception for pre-1984 employees
Participants in the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System who were participants in such system on or before December 31, 1983, and who have not had a break in service in excess of one year since that date, are not subject to
(c) Nonapplicability of FERS to certain employees
(1) The provisions of
(A) any individual who separates, or who has separated, from Federal Government service after having been an employee of the Agency subject to subchapter II of this chapter; and
(B) any employee of the Agency having at least 5 years of civilian service which was performed before January 1, 1987, and is creditable under subchapter II of this chapter (determined without regard to any deposit or redeposit requirement under subchapter III of
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to an individual who has elected under regulations prescribed under
(3) An individual described in paragraph (1) shall be deemed to be an individual excluded under
(d) Election to become subject to FERS
An employee who is designated as a participant in the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System after December 31, 1987, pursuant to
(1) shall not be effective unless it is made during the six-month period beginning on the date on which the employee is so designated;
(2) shall take effect beginning with the first pay period beginning after the date of the election; and
(3) shall be irrevocable.
(e) Special rules
The application of the provisions of
(
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Social Security Act, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (b), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531,
Prior Provisions
A prior section 301 of
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective on first day of fourth month beginning after Oct. 24, 1992, see section 805 of
§2152. Special rules relating to section 2013 criteria employees
(a) In general
Except as otherwise provided in this section, in the application of
(b) Voluntary and mandatory retirement
The provisions of
(c) Recall
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2),
(2) Contributions during recall service shall be made as provided in
(3) When an employee recalled under this subsection reverts to a retired status, the annuity of such employee shall be redetermined under the provisions of
(d) Employees disabled on duty
(1) Definitions
In this subsection—
(A) the term "affected employee" means an employee of the Agency covered under subchapter II of
(i) is performing service in a position designated under subsection (a);
(ii) while on duty in the position designated under subsection (a), becomes ill or is injured as a direct result of the performance of such duties before the date on which the employee becomes entitled to an annuity under
(iii) because of the illness or injury described in clause (ii), is permanently unable to render useful and efficient service in the employee's covered position, as determined by the Director; and
(iv) is appointed to a position in the civil service that is not a covered position but is within the Agency; and
(B) the term "covered position" means a position as—
(i) a law enforcement officer described in
(ii) a customs and border protection officer described in
(iii) a firefighter described in
(iv) an air traffic controller described in
(v) a nuclear materials courier described in
(vi) a member of the United States Capitol Police;
(vii) a member of the Supreme Court Police;
(viii) an affected employee; or
(ix) a special agent described in
(2) Treatment of service after disability
Unless an affected employee files an election described in paragraph (3), creditable service by the affected employee in a position described in paragraph (1)(A)(iv) shall be treated as creditable service in a covered position for purposes of this chapter and
(3) Break in service
Paragraph (2) shall only apply if the affected employee transitions to a position described in paragraph (1)(A)(iv) without a break in service exceeding 3 days.
(4) Limitation on treatment of service
The service of an affected employee shall no longer be eligible for treatment under paragraph (2) if such service occurs after the employee is transferred to a supervisory or administrative position related to the activities of the former covered position of the employee.
(5) Opt out
An affected employee may file an election to have any creditable service performed by the affected employee treated in accordance with
(
Applicability of Amendment
For provisions relating to delayed applicability of amendment by
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 302 of
Amendments
2022—Subsec. (d).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2022 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Section effective on first day of fourth month beginning after Oct. 24, 1992, see section 805 of
Regulations
For provisions relating to promulgation of regulations to carry out the amendments made by
§2153. Special rules for other employees for service abroad
(a) Special computation rule
Notwithstanding any provision of
(b) Computation
(1) Service abroad
The portion of the annuity relating to such service abroad shall be computed as provided in
(2) Other service
The portions of the annuity relating to other creditable service shall be computed as provided in section 8415 of such title that is applicable to such service under the conditions prescribed in
(
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 303 of
Amendments
2012—Subsec. (b)(1).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective on first day of fourth month beginning after Oct. 24, 1992, see section 805 of
§2154. Special rules for former spouses
(a) General rule
Except as otherwise specifically provided in this section, the provisions of
(b) Definitions
For purposes of this section:
(1) Employee
The term "employee" means an employee of the Agency who is subject to
(2) Qualified former spouse
The term "qualified former spouse" means a former spouse of an employee or retired employee who—
(A) in the case of a former spouse whose divorce from such employee became final on or before December 4, 1991, was married to such employee for not less than 10 years during periods of the employee's service which are creditable under
(B) in the case of a former spouse whose divorce from such employee becomes final after December 4, 1991, was married to such employee for not less than 10 years during periods of the employee's service which are creditable under
(3) Pro rata share
The term "pro rata share" means the percentage that is equal to (A) the number of days of the marriage of the qualified former spouse to the employee during the employee's periods of creditable service under
(4) Spousal agreement
The term "spousal agreement" means an agreement between an employee, former employee, or retired employee and such employee's spouse or qualified former spouse that—
(A) is in writing, is signed by the parties, and is notarized;
(B) has not been modified by court order; and
(C) has been authenticated by the Director.
(5) Court order
The term "court order" means any court decree of divorce, annulment or legal separation, or any court order or court-approved property settlement agreement incident to such court decree of divorce, annulment, or legal separation.
(c) Entitlement of qualified former spouse to retirement benefits
(1) Entitlement
(A) In general
Unless otherwise expressly provided by a spousal agreement or court order governing disposition of benefits payable under subchapter II or V of
(B) Amount of share
The share referred to in subparagraph (A) equals—
(i) 50 percent, if the qualified former spouse was married to the employee throughout the entire period of the employee's service which is creditable under
(ii) a pro rata share of 50 percent, if the qualified former spouse was not married to the employee throughout such creditable service.
(2) Annuity supplement
The benefits payable to an employee under subchapter II of
(3) Disqualification upon remarriage before age 55
A qualified former spouse shall not be entitled to any benefit under this subsection if, before the commencement of any benefit, the qualified former spouse remarries before becoming 55 years of age.
(4) Commencement and termination
(A) Commencement
The benefits of a qualified former spouse under this subsection commence on the later of—
(i) the day on which the employee upon whose service the benefits are based becomes entitled to the benefits; or
(ii) the first day of the second month beginning after the date on which the Director receives written notice of the court order or spousal agreement, together with such additional information or documentation as the Director may prescribe.
(B) Termination
The benefits of the qualified former spouse and the right thereto terminate on—
(i) the last day of the month before the qualified former spouse remarries before 55 years of age or dies; or
(ii) the date on which the retired employee's benefits terminate (except in the case of benefits subject to paragraph (5)(B)).
(5) Payments to retired employees
(A) Calculation of survivor annuity
Any reduction in payments to a retired employee as a result of payments to a qualified former spouse under this subsection shall be disregarded in calculating—
(i) the survivor annuity for any spouse, former spouse (qualified or otherwise), or other survivor under
(ii) any reduction in the annuity of the retired employee to provide survivor benefits under subsection (d) of this section or under
(B) Reduction in basic pay upon recall to service
If a retired employee whose annuity is reduced under paragraph (1) is recalled to service under
(6) Special rules for disability annuitants
Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (4), in the case of any qualified former spouse of a disability annuitant—
(A) the annuity of such former spouse shall commence on the date on which the employee would qualify, on the basis of the employee's creditable service, for benefits under subchapter II of
(B) the amount of the annuity of the qualified former spouse shall be calculated on the basis of the benefits for which the employee would otherwise qualify under subchapter II of
(7) Pro rata share in case of employees transferred to FERS
Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(B), in the case of an employee who has elected to become subject to
(A) 50 percent of the employee's annuity under subchapter III of
(B) if applicable, 50 percent of the employee's benefits under
(8) Treatment of pro rata share under title 26
For purposes of title 26, payments to a qualified former spouse under this subsection shall be treated as income to the qualified former spouse and not to the employee.
(d) Qualified former spouse survivor benefits
(1) Entitlement
(A) In general
Subject to an election under
(B) Amount of share
The share referred to in subparagraph (A) equals—
(i) 100 percent, if the qualified former spouse was married to the employee throughout the entire period of the employee's service which is creditable under
(ii) a pro rata share of 100 percent, if the qualified former spouse was not married to the employee throughout such creditable service.
(2) Survivor benefits
(A) The survivor benefits payable under this subsection to a qualified former spouse shall include the amount payable under
(B) Any calculation under
(3) Disqualification upon remarriage before age 55
A qualified former spouse shall not be entitled to any benefit under this subsection if, before commencement of any benefit, the qualified former spouse remarries before becoming 55 years of age.
(4) Restoration
If the survivor annuity payable under this subsection to a surviving qualified former spouse is terminated because of remarriage before becoming age 55, the annuity shall be restored at the same rate commencing on the date such remarriage is dissolved by death, divorce, or annulment, if—
(A) such former spouse elects to receive this survivor annuity instead of any other survivor benefit to which such former spouse may be entitled under subchapter IV of
(B) any lump sum paid on termination of the annuity is returned to the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund.
(5) Modification of court order or spousal agreement
A modification in a court order or spousal agreement to adjust a qualified former spouse's share of the survivor benefits shall not be effective if issued after the retirement or death of the employee, former employee, or annuitant, whichever occurs first.
(6) Effect of termination of qualified former spouse's entitlement
After a qualified former spouse of a retired employee remarries before becoming age 55 or dies, the reduction in the retired employee's annuity for the purpose of providing a survivor annuity for such former spouse shall be terminated. The annuitant may elect, in a signed writing received by the Director within 2 years after the qualified former spouse's remarriage or death, to continue the reduction in order to provide or increase the survivor annuity for such annuitant's spouse. The annuitant making such election shall pay a deposit in accordance with the provisions of
(7) Pro rata share in case of employees transferred to FERS
Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(B), in the case of an employee who has elected to become subject to
(A) 50 percent of the employee's annuity under subchapter III of
(B) if applicable—
(i) 50 percent of the employee's annuity under
(ii) the survivor benefits referred to in subsection (d)(2)(A),
multiplied by the proportion that the number of days of marriage during the period of the employee's creditable service on and after the effective date of the election to transfer bears to the employee's total creditable service after such effective date.
(e) Qualified former spouse Thrift Savings Plan benefit
(1) Entitlement
(A) In general
Unless otherwise expressly provided by a spousal agreement or court order governing disposition of the balance of an account in the Thrift Savings Fund under subchapter III of
(B) Amount of share
The share referred to in subparagraph (A) equals 50 percent of the employee's account balance in the Thrift Savings Fund that accrued during the period of marriage. For purposes of this subsection, the employee's account balance shall not include the amount of any outstanding loan.
(2) Payment of benefit
(A) Time of payment
The entitlement of a qualified former spouse under paragraph (1) shall be effective on the date the divorce of the qualified former spouse and employee becomes final. The qualified former spouse's benefit shall be payable after the date on which the Director receives the divorce decree or any applicable court order or spousal agreement, together with such additional information or documentation as the Director may require.
(B) Method of payment
The qualified former spouse's benefit under this subsection shall be paid in a lump sum.
(C) Limitation
A spousal agreement or court order may not provide for payment to a qualified former spouse under this subsection of an amount that exceeds the employee's account balance in the Thrift Savings Fund.
(D) Death of qualified former spouse
If the qualified former spouse dies before payment of the benefit provided under this subsection, such payment shall be made to the estate of the qualified former spouse.
(E) Bar to recovery
Any payment under this subsection to an individual bars recovery by any other individual.
(3) Closed account
No payment under this subsection may be made by the Director if the date on which the divorce becomes final is after the date on which the total amount of the employee's account balance has been withdrawn or transferred, or the date on which an annuity contract has been purchased, in accordance with
(f) Preservation of rights of qualified former spouses
An employee may not make an election or modification of election under
(g) Payment of share of lump-sum credit
Whenever an employee or former employee becomes entitled to receive the lump-sum credit under
(h) Payment to qualified former spouses under court order or spousal agreement
In the case of any employee or retired employee who has a qualified former spouse who is covered by a court order or who is a party to a spousal agreement—
(1) any right of the qualified former spouse to any retirement benefits under subsection (c) and to any survivor benefits under subsection (d), and the amount of any such benefits;
(2) any right of the qualified former spouse to any Thrift Savings Plan benefit under subsection (e), and the amount of any such benefit; and
(3) any right of the qualified former spouse to any payment of a lump-sum credit under subsection (g), and the amount of any such payment;
shall be determined in accordance with that spousal agreement or court order, if and to the extent expressly provided for in the terms of the spousal agreement or court order that are not inconsistent with the requirements of this section.
(i) Applicability of CIARDS former spouse benefits
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), in the case of an employee who has elected to become subject to
(2) For the purposes of computing such former spouse's benefits under
(A) the retirement benefits shall be equal to the amount determined under subsection (c)(7)(A); and
(B) the survivor benefits shall be equal to 55 percent of the full amount of the employee's annuity computed in accordance with section 302(a) of the Federal Employees' Retirement System Act of 1986 or regulations prescribed under
(3) Benefits provided pursuant to this subsection shall be payable from the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability Fund.
(
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Section 302(a) of the Federal Employees' Retirement System Act of 1986, referred to in subsecs. (c)(7)(A), (B), (d)(7)(A), (B)(i), and (i)(2)(B), is section 302(a) of
Prior Provisions
A prior section 304 of
Amendments
2023—Subsec. (c)(1)(B)(i).
Subsec. (c)(5)(A)(ii).
1993—Subsec. (i)(1).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1993 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Section effective on first day of fourth month beginning after Oct. 24, 1992, see section 805 of
§2155. Administrative provisions
(a) Finality of decisions of Director
(b) Exception
Notwithstanding subsection (a),
(
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 305 of
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective on first day of fourth month beginning after Oct. 24, 1992, see section 805 of
§2156. Regulations
(a) Requirement
The Director shall prescribe in regulations appropriate procedures to carry out this subchapter. Such regulations shall be prescribed in consultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management and the Executive Director of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board.
(b) Congressional review
The Director shall submit regulations prescribed under subsection (a) to the congressional intelligence committees before they take effect.
(
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 306 of
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective on first day of fourth month beginning after Oct. 24, 1992, see section 805 of
§2157. Transition regulations
(a) Regulations
The Director shall prescribe regulations providing for the transition from the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System to the Federal Employees' Retirement System provided in
(b) Congressional review
The Director shall submit regulations prescribed under subsection (a) to the congressional intelligence committees before they take effect.
(
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Sections 301 through 304 of the Federal Employees' Retirement System Act of 1986, referred to in subsec. (a), are sections 301 to 304 of
Prior Provisions
A prior section 307 of
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective on first day of fourth month beginning after Oct. 24, 1992, see section 805 of