Are Civil Service Retirement System death benefits the same as Federal Employees Retirement System death benefits?

Answer:

• No. There is a significant difference. CSRS is limited to a maximum Survivor Benefit of 55% of the decedent's basic pay at the time of death.

The FERS benefit is considerably greater.

• Maximum Survivor Benefit of 50% of the decedent's basic pay at the time of death
• Basic Employee Death Benefit (BEDB) in two parts.

Part One: a single sum equal to $29,722.95 (death in year 2012)

Part Two: a single sum equal to one-half of Basic Pay at time of death

Remember that the BEDB, is only payable to an active employee.