5 CFR § 839.602 - What if I don't make an election?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t5/s839.602"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "5 CFR § 839.602 - What if I don't make an election?"
title_number: 5
title_name: "Administrative Personnel"
section_number: "839.602"
section_name: "What if I don't make an election?"
chapter_name: "OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS"
part_number: "839"
part_name: "CORRECTION OF RETIREMENT COVERAGE ERRORS UNDER THE FEDERAL ERRONEOUS RETIREMENT COVERAGE CORRECTIONS ACT"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "Title II, Pub. L. 106-265, 114 Stat. 770."
regulatory_source: "66 FR 15609, Mar. 19, 2001, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "839"
---


# 839.602 What if I don't make an election?

(a) If your qualifying retirement coverage error was not previously corrected and you fail to make an election within the time limit under § 839.611(a), your retirement coverage is summarized in the following chart:

| If you are in: | And you belong in: | You areconsidered to have elected: |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CSRS or CSRS Offset | FERS | CSRS Offset. |
| FERS | CSRS, CSRS Offset or Social Security-Only | FERS. |
| CSRS or CSRS Offset | Social Security-Only | CSRS Offset. |

(b) If your qualifying retirement coverage error was previously corrected and you fail to make an election within the time limit under § 839.611(b), you are considered to have elected to remain in your current retirement plan.