---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 U.S.C. § 4069a–1"
title: "22"
title_heading: "Foreign Relations and Intercourse"
number: "4069a–1"
heading: "Retirement benefits for certain former spouses"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/4069a-1"
units:
  - "Chapter 52 — Foreign Service"
  - "Subchapter VIII — Foreign Service Retirement and Disability"
  - "Part I — Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System"
---

# §4069a–1. Retirement benefits for certain former spouses

- (a) **Eligibility; percentage of benefits—** Any individual who was a [former spouse](/usc/22/4044.md?p=6) of a [participant](/usc/22/4071a.md?p=5) or former [participant](/usc/22/4071a.md?p=5) on February 14, 1981, shall be entitled, to the extent of available appropriations, and except to the extent such [former spouse](/usc/22/4044.md?p=6) is disqualified under [subsection (b)](#b), to benefits—
  - (1) if married to the [participant](/usc/22/4071a.md?p=5) throughout the creditable service of the [participant](/usc/22/4071a.md?p=5), equal to 50 percent of the benefits of the [participant](/usc/22/4071a.md?p=5); or
  - (2) if not married to the [participant](/usc/22/4071a.md?p=5) throughout such creditable service, equal to that [former spouse](/usc/22/4044.md?p=6)’s [pro rata share](/usc/22/4071a.md?p=6) of 50 percent of such benefits.
- (b) **Disqualification—** A [former spouse](/usc/22/4044.md?p=6) shall not be entitled to benefits under this section if—
  - (1) the [former spouse](/usc/22/4044.md?p=6) remarries before age 55; or
  - (2) the [former spouse](/usc/22/4044.md?p=6) was not married to the [participant](/usc/22/4071a.md?p=5) at least 10 years during service of the [participant](/usc/22/4071a.md?p=5) which is creditable under this subchapter with at least 5 years occurring while the [participant](/usc/22/4071a.md?p=5) was a member of the Foreign Service.
- (c) **Period of entitlement; construction with other provisions; application approval and payment—**
  - (1) The entitlement of a [former spouse](/usc/22/4044.md?p=6) to benefits under this section—
    - (A) shall commence on the later of—
      - (i) the day the [participant](/usc/22/4071a.md?p=5) upon whose service the benefits are based becomes entitled to benefits under this subchapter; or
      - (ii) the first day of the month in which the divorce or annulment involved becomes final; and
    - (B) shall terminate on the earlier of—
      - (i) the last day of the month before the [former spouse](/usc/22/4044.md?p=6) dies or remarries before 55 years of age; or
      - (ii) the date of the benefits of the [participant](/usc/22/4071a.md?p=5) terminates.
  - (2) Notwithstanding [paragraph (1)](#c-1), in the case of any [former spouse](/usc/22/4044.md?p=6) of a disability [annuitant](/usc/22/4044.md?p=1)—
    - (A) the benefits of the [former spouse](/usc/22/4044.md?p=6) shall commence on the date the [participant](/usc/22/4071a.md?p=5) would qualify on the basis of his or her creditable service for benefits under this subchapter (other than a disability annuity) or the date the disability annuity begins, whichever is later, and
    - (B) the amount of benefits of the [former spouse](/usc/22/4044.md?p=6) shall be calculated on the basis of benefits for which the [participant](/usc/22/4071a.md?p=5) would otherwise so qualify.
  - (3) Benefits under this section shall be treated the same as an annuity under [section 4054(a)(7) of this title](/usc/22/4054.md?p=a-7) for purposes of [section 4046(h) of this title](/usc/22/4046.md?p=h) or any comparable provision of law.
  - (4)
    - (A) Benefits under this section shall not be payable unless appropriate written application is provided to the [Secretary](/usc/22/3902.md?p=10), complete with any supporting documentation which the [Secretary](/usc/22/3902.md?p=10) may by regulation require, within 30 months after the effective date of this section. The [Secretary](/usc/22/3902.md?p=10) may waive the 30-month application requirement under this subparagraph in any case in which the [Secretary](/usc/22/3902.md?p=10) determines that the circumstances so warrant.
    - (B) Upon approval of an application provided under [subparagraph (A)](#c-4-A), the appropriate benefits shall be payable to the [former spouse](/usc/22/4044.md?p=6) with respect to all periods before such approval during which the [former spouse](/usc/22/4044.md?p=6) was entitled to such benefits under this section, but in no event shall benefits be payable under this section with respect to any period before the effective date of this section.
- (d) **“Benefits” defined—** For the purpose of this section, the term “benefits” means—
  - (1) with respect to a [participant](/usc/22/4071a.md?p=5) or former [participant](/usc/22/4071a.md?p=5) subject to this part, the annuity of the [participant](/usc/22/4071a.md?p=5) or former [participant](/usc/22/4071a.md?p=5); and
  - (2) with respect to a [participant](/usc/22/4071a.md?p=5) or former [participant](/usc/22/4071a.md?p=5) subject to part II, the benefits of the [participant](/usc/22/4071a.md?p=5) or former [participant](/usc/22/4071a.md?p=5) under that part.
- (e) **Effect of section on annuity—** Nothing in this section shall be construed to impair, reduce, or otherwise affect the annuity or the entitlement to an annuity of a [participant](/usc/22/4071a.md?p=5) or former [participant](/usc/22/4071a.md?p=5) under this subchapter.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, § 831, as added Pub. L. 100–238, title II, § 204(a), Jan. 8, 1988, 101 Stat. 1770.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

For the effective date of this section, referred to in subsec. (c)(4), see Effective Date note set out below.

### Codification

Another section 831 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 was enacted by Pub. L. 100–204 and is classified to section 4069b of this title.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective 90 days after Jan. 8, 1988, see section 261(a) of Pub. L. 100–238, set out as an Effective Date of 1988 Amendment note under section 4054 of this title.