Surviving Spouse
To qualify for a survivor annuity, your spouse must have been married to you a total of 9 months. That requirement does not apply, though, if there is a child born of the marriage or your death is accidental.
If your surviving spouse qualifies, he or she will receive annually 55 percent of the amount you would have received if you had retired at the time of your death (this is called the "earned annuity") or the lesser of: 22 percent of your highest 3 years' average salary or 55 percent of the amount your annuity would have been if you had continued working until age 60 at the same "high-3."
A spouse's survivor annuity begins on the day after your death. (It may be paid to a person other than your present spouse if a qualifying court order has awarded the entire survivor annuity to a former spouse.) It ends at the end of the month preceding the month in which the survivor dies or remarries before age 55.
If your surviving spouse remarries before age 55 and the annuity terminates, the survivor annuity may be restored if the remarriage ends by death, annulment, or divorce.
Children
Children qualify for survivor annuities if they are under 18 and unmarried. A child 18 or older may also qualify for a survivor annuity if incapable of self-support because of a disability incurred prior to age 18. In addition, a son or daughter 18 or older may be eligible for a survivor annuity up to age 22 if he or she is a full-time student at a high school, college, or other recognized educational institution. Each child of a surviving spouse or former spouse will be entitled to a monthly benefit of $310. Each child who has no surviving parent or whose surviving parent was never married to you, will be entitled to a monthly benefit of $372. These amounts are reduced proportionately if more than three children are eligible for survivor annuities. The amounts of children's benefits (like retiree and spouse annuities) are periodically increased by cost of living increases.
The rates quoted above are applicable from December 1, 1994, through November 30, 1995.
The survivor annuity to each qualified child begins the day after your death and ends when the child reaches 18 (unless a student or disabled child as described above), marries, or dies. The survivor annuity to student ends when he or she marries, dies, attains age 22, or ceases to be a full-time student. The survivor annuity to a disabled child ends if the child becomes capable of self-support, marries, or dies.
A child's annuity will be paid to his or her guardian if a court has appointed one. If no guardian is appointed, OPM may make the payment to the person who has the care and custody of the child.
Thank you for your clarification and the daughter will not receive any portion of his retirement upon his death. NSNR