§ 1650.60 - Spousal rights pertaining to post-employment withdrawals.

(a) The spousal rights described in this section only apply to post-employment withdrawals when the participant's vested TSP account balance exceeds $3,500.

(b) The spouse of a CSRS participant is entitled to notice when the participant applies for a post-employment withdrawal, unless the participant was granted an exception under § 1650.63 to the spouse notification requirement within 90 days of the date the withdrawal form is processed by the TSP. The participant must provide the TSP record keeper with the spouse's correct address. The TSP record keeper will send the required notice by first class mail to the most recent address provided by the participant.

(c) The spouse of a FERS participant has a right to a joint and survivor annuity with a 50 percent survivor benefit, level payments, and no cash refund when the participant elects a post-employment withdrawal. The participant may make a different withdrawal election only if his or her spouse waives the right to this annuity. To show that the spouse has waived the right to this annuity, the participant must submit to the TSP record keeper Form TSP-70, Withdrawal Election, or Form TSP-11-C, Spouse Information and Waiver, signed by his or her spouse. Once a form containing the spouse's waiver has been submitted to the TSP record keeper, the spouse's waiver is irrevocable for purposes of that form.