---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 C.F.R. § 20.3"
title: "22"
number: "20.3"
heading: "Qualifications."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/22/20.3"
---

# §20.3. Qualifications.


To be eligible for retirement or survivor benefits under this part, a former spouse must—

- (a) Have been a former spouse on February 14, 1981;
- (b) After becoming a former spouse, not have remarried before attaining age 55;
- (c) In the case of any retirement benefit under [§ 20.5](/cfr/22/20.5.md); elect this benefit instead of any survivor annuity for which the former spouse may simultaneously be eligible under this or another retirement system for Government employees; and
- (d) Submit an application to the Department of State by June 22, 1990, in accordance with [§ 20.9](/cfr/22/20.9.md) unless that date is extended as authorized by that section. The deadline for submission of an application for survivor benefits under [§ 20.5](/cfr/22/20.5.md) will be deemed to have been met if the former spouse submits an application for retirement benefits within the deadline.

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 22 U.S.C. 3901 et seq.

### Source

Source: 53 FR 39457, Oct. 7, 1988, unless otherwise noted.