Planning
The Survivor Benefit Decision Is a Household Decision
Talk through the income each person would need if the other died first. Consider housing, health costs, debt, and whether either person has other dependable income.
Write down the tradeoff between current retirement income and survivor protection so the decision is made deliberately, not as a last-minute form choice.
FEBA provides educational information, not individualized legal, tax, or financial advice. Review your own situation with the appropriate qualified professional.
Written by
K. Shawn McCoy
Founder & President, FEBA
Shawn brings 37 years in financial services and more than 15 years dedicated exclusively to federal employee benefits. He has educated more than 38,000 federal employees through workshops nationwide and founded FEBA to make the federal benefits system easier to understand.