---
kind: "section"
citation: "50 U.S.C. § 2121"
title: "50"
title_heading: "War and National Defense"
number: "2121"
heading: "Voluntary contributions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/50/2121"
units:
  - "Chapter 38 — Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability"
  - "Subchapter II — Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System"
  - "Part I — Voluntary Contributions"
---

# §2121. Voluntary contributions

- (a) **Authority for voluntary contributions—**
  - (1) **In general—** Under such regulations as may be prescribed by the [Director](/usc/50/2001.md?p=2), a participant may voluntarily contribute additional sums in multiples of one percent of the participant’s basic pay, but not in excess of 10 percent of such basic pay.
  - (2) **Interest—** The voluntary contribution account in each case is the sum of unrefunded contributions, plus interest—
    - (A) for periods before January 1, 1985, at 3 percent a year; and
    - (B) for periods on or after January 1, 1985, at the rate computed under [section 8334(e) of title 5](/usc/5/8334.md?p=e),

    compounded annually to the date of election under [subsection (b)](#b) or the date of payment under [subsection (d)](#d).

- (b) **Treatment of voluntary contributions—** Effective on the date of retirement and at the election of the participant, the participant’s account shall be—
  - (1) returned in a lump sum;
  - (2) used to purchase an additional life annuity;
  - (3) used to purchase an additional life annuity for the participant and to provide for a cash payment on the participant’s death to a beneficiary; or
  - (4) used to purchase an additional life annuity for the participant and a life annuity commencing on the participant’s death payable to a beneficiary, with a guaranteed return to the beneficiary or the beneficiary’s legal representative of an amount equal to the cash payment referred to in [paragraph (3)](#b-3).

  In the case of a benefit provided under paragraph [(3)](#b-3) or [(4)](#b-4), the participant shall notify the [Director](/usc/50/2001.md?p=2) in writing of the name of the beneficiary of the cash payment or life annuity to be paid upon the participant’s death.

- (c) **Value of benefits—** The benefits provided by subsection [(b)(2)](#b-2), (3), or (4) shall be actuarially equivalent in value to the payment provided for in [subsection (b)(1)](#b-1) and shall be calculated upon such tables of mortality as may be from time to time prescribed for this purpose by the [Director](/usc/50/2001.md?p=2).
- (d) **Lump-sum payment—** A voluntary contribution account shall be paid in a lump sum at such time as the participant dies or separates from the [Agency](/usc/50/2001.md?p=1) without entitlement to an annuity. In the case of death, the account shall be paid in the order of precedence specified in [section 2071(c) of this title](/usc/50/2071.md?p=c).
- (e) **Benefits in addition to other benefits—** Any benefit payable to a participant or to the participant’s beneficiary with respect to the additional contributions provided under this section shall be in addition to benefits otherwise provided under this subchapter.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 88–643, title II, § 281, as added Pub. L. 102–496, title VIII, § 802, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3239.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 281 of Pub. L. 88–643, title II, Oct. 13, 1964, 78 Stat. 1053; Ex. Ord. No. 12443, § 3, Sept. 27, 1983, 48 F.R. 44751; Pub. L. 99–335, title V, § 501(2), June 6, 1986, 100 Stat. 622, related to voluntary contributions and was set out as a note under section 403 of this title prior to the general amendment of Pub. L. 88–643 by section 802 of Pub. L. 102–496.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective on first day of fourth month beginning after Oct. 24, 1992, see section 805 of Pub. L. 102–496, set out as a note under section 2001 of this title.