[muawiyah]

Re CSRS/FERS retirement ~ the spouse gets the spousal benefit if you die on the job. You don’t have to make an election beforehand. It’s only when you retire that you have to make the election.

[genefromjersey]

Thanks. I’m in a state system,which works a bit differently.
We were forced to make an election-or refuse the election:decision generally irrevocable.