Single life or survivor option: which pays more?
A survivor option pays you less each month so your spouse keeps getting part of your pension after you die. Whether it comes out ahead depends on who lives longer, and by how much. Enter the amounts from your retirement system's estimate to see the trade-off in dollars.
Your numbers
Use the monthly amounts from your official estimate. Oregon PERS, Washington DRS, CalPERS and OPM all show each option.
| If you die at | Total paid, single life | Total paid, survivor option | Better choice |
|---|
Totals add up every monthly payment to you and then to your spouse, in today's dollars, without raises or taxes.
What else to weigh
- The choice is usually permanent. Most systems let you change only in a short window after your first payment, or if your spouse dies first and the plan has a "pop-up" feature.
- Health insurance can depend on it. Under FERS, a spouse generally needs a survivor annuity to keep FEHB coverage after you die. Check your system's retiree health rules.
- Social Security changes too. When one spouse dies, the household keeps only the larger of the two Social Security benefits. See survivor benefits.
- Life insurance instead? Some people take the single-life pension and buy life insurance for their spouse. It only works if the policy stays affordable and in force for as long as needed. Our guide on single life or survivor pension explains the risks.
Plan-specific guides: Oregon PERS options · Washington DRS options · FERS survivor annuity.
An illustration, not advice. Nobody knows how long they'll live. Talk with your spouse, and ask your retirement system to explain each option before you choose.