---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 5582"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "5582"
heading: "Designation of beneficiary; order of precedence"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/5582"
units:
  - "Part III — Employees"
  - "Subpart D — Pay and Allowances"
  - "Chapter 55 — Pay Administration"
  - "Subchapter VIII — Settlement of Accounts"
---

# §5582. Designation of beneficiary; order of precedence

- (a) The employing [agency](/usc/5/5541.md?p=1) shall notify each [employee](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2) of his right to designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive [money due](/usc/5/5581.md?p=2), and of the disposition of [money due](/usc/5/5581.md?p=2) if a beneficiary is not designated. An [employee](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2) may change or revoke a designation at any time under regulations promulgated—
  - (1) by the [Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=8) of the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) of Personnel Management or his designee, in the case of an [employee](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2) of an [executive agency](/usc/5/6501.md?p=2);
  - (2) jointly by the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or their designee, in the case of an [employee](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2) of the legislative branch; and
  - (3) by the Chief Justice of the [United States](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-18) or his or her designee, in the case of an [employee](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2) of the judicial branch.
- (b) In order to facilitate the settlement of the [accounts](/usc/5/8401.md?p=1) of deceased [employees](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2), [money due](/usc/5/5581.md?p=2) an [employee](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2) at the time of his death shall be paid to the [person](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-1) or [persons](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-1) surviving at the date of death, in the following order of precedence, and the payment bars recovery by another [person](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-1) of amounts so paid:

  First, to the beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by the [employee](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2) in a writing received in the employing [agency](/usc/5/5541.md?p=1) before his death.

  Second, if there is no designated beneficiary, to the widow or widower of the [employee](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2).

  Third, if none of the above, to the child or children of the [employee](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2) and descendants of deceased children by representation.

  Fourth, if none of the above, to the parents of the [employee](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2) or the [survivor](/usc/5/8401.md?p=28) of them.

  Fifth, if none of the above, to the duly appointed legal representative of the estate of the [employee](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2).

  Sixth, if none of the above, to the [person](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-1) or [persons](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-1) entitled under the laws of the domicile of the [employee](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2) at the time of his death.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 495; Pub. L. 104–316, title I, § 103(c), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3828.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and<br>Statutes at Large |
| (a) | 5 U.S.C. 61j. | Aug. 3, 1950, ch. 518, § 5, 64 Stat. 396. |
| (b) | 5 U.S.C. 61f. | Aug. 3, 1950, ch. 518, § 1, 64 Stat. 395. |

Subsection (a) is restated for clarity. The word “officers” is omitted as included in “employee”.

In subsection (b), so much of the first 35 words of former section 61f as states the application is carried into the definition of “employee” in section 5581(1). The word “officer” is omitted as included in “employee”.

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–316 substituted “An employee may change or revoke a designation at any time under regulations promulgated—” for “An employee may change or revoke a designation at any time under such regulations as the Comptroller General of the United States may prescribe.” in introductory provisions and added pars. (1) to (3).