--- kind: "section" citation: "5 U.S.C. § 8708" title: "5" title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees" number: "8708" heading: "Government contributions" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/8708" units: - "Part III — Employees" - "Subpart G — Insurance and Annuities" - "Chapter 87 — Life Insurance" --- # §8708. Government contributions - (a) For each period in which an [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) is insured under a policy of insurance purchased by the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) of Personnel Management under [section 8709 of this title](/usc/5/8709.md), a sum equal to one-half the amount which is withheld from the [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) of the [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) under [section 8707 of this title](/usc/5/8707.md) shall be contributed from the appropriation or [fund](/usc/5/8401.md?p=6) which is used to [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) him. - (b) When an [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) is paid by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, the Chief Administrative Officer may contribute the sum required by [subsection (a)](#a) of this section from the applicable [accounts](/usc/5/8401.md?p=1) of the House of Representatives. - (c) When the [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) is an elected official, the sum required by [subsection (a)](#a) of this section is contributed from an appropriation or [fund](/usc/5/8401.md?p=6) available for payment of other salaries of the same [office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) or establishment. - (d) - (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, for each period in which an [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) continues life insurance after retirement or while in receipt of compensation under subchapter I of [chapter 81](/usc/5/chptIII/sptG/ch81.md) of this title because of disease or injury to the [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2), as provided under [section 8706(b) of this title](/usc/5/8706.md?p=b), a sum equal to one-half of the amount which is withheld from the [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2)’s annuity or compensation under [section 8707 of this title](/usc/5/8707.md) shall be contributed by the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) from annual appropriations which are authorized to be made for that purpose and which may be made available until expended. - (2) Contributions under this subsection— - (A) shall not be made other than with respect to individuals who retire, or commence receiving compensation, after December 31, 1989; - (B) shall not be made with respect to any individual for months after the calendar month in which such individual becomes 65 years of age; and - (C) shall, in the case of any individual who elects coverage under subparagraph (B) of [section 8706(b)(3) of this title](/usc/5/8706.md?p=b-3), be equal to the amount which would apply under this subsection if such individual had instead elected coverage under [subparagraph (A)](/usc/5/8706.md?p=b-3-A) of such section. - (3) The [United States](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-18) Postal [Service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) shall [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) the contributions required under this subsection with respect to any individual who— - (A) first becomes an [annuitant](/usc/5/8401.md?p=2) by reason of retirement from employment with the [United States](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-18) Postal [Service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) after December 31, 1989; or - (B) commences receiving compensation under subchapter I of [chapter 81](/usc/5/chptIII/sptG/ch81.md) of this title (because of disease or injury to the individual) after December 31, 1989, if the [position](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-3) last held by the individual before commencing to receive such compensation was within the [United States](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-18) Postal [Service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26). ## Source credit (Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 595; Pub. L. 90–206, title IV, § 403, Dec. 16, 1967, 81 Stat. 647; Pub. L. 95–454, title IX, § 906(a)(2), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1224; Pub. L. 101–303, § 2, May 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 250; Pub. L. 104–186, title II, § 215(18), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1746.) ## Notes | Historical and Revision Notes | | | | --- | --- | --- | | Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and
Statutes at Large | | (a), (c) | 5 U.S.C. 2094(b). | Aug. 17, 1954, ch. 752, § 5(b), 68 Stat. 738. | | (b) | 2 U.S.C. 128. | Aug. 5, 1955, ch. 568, § 101 (4th par. under “Administrative Provisions”), 69 Stat. 513. | 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. (b). Pub. L. 104–186 substituted “Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, the Chief Administrative Officer may contribute the sum required by subsection (a) of this section from the applicable accounts of the House of Representatives.” for “Clerk of the House of Representatives, the Clerk may contribute the sum required by subsection (a) of this section from the contingent fund of the House.” 1990—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 101–303 added subsec. (d). 1978—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–454 substituted “Office of Personnel Management” for “Civil Service Commission”. 1967—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 90–206 substituted provisions setting the sum to be withheld at one-half the amount withheld from the pay of the employee under section 8707 of this title for provisions setting the sum to be withheld at a rate to be determined by the Commission not to exceed one-half of the amount withheld under section 8707 of this title. ### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries ### Effective Date of 1978 Amendment Amendment by Pub. L. 95–454 effective 90 days after Oct. 13, 1978, see section 907 of Pub. L. 95–454, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title. ### Effective Date of 1967 Amendment Amendment by Pub. L. 90–206 effective on first day of first pay period which begins on or after sixtieth day following December 16, 1967, see section 405(a) of Pub. L. 90–206, set out as a note under section 8704 of this title. ### Retroactive Effect of 1967 Amendment Amendment by Pub. L. 90–206 to have no effect in case of an employee who died, was finally separated, or retired prior to Dec. 16, 1967, see section 405(c) of Pub. L. 90–206, set out as a note under section 8704 of this title.