22 CFR § 20.3 - Qualifications.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t22/s20.3"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "22 CFR § 20.3 - Qualifications."
title_number: 22
title_name: "Foreign Relations"
section_number: "20.3"
section_name: "Qualifications."
chapter_name: "DEPARTMENT OF STATE"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "PERSONNEL"
part_number: "20"
part_name: "BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN FORMER SPOUSES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "22 U.S.C. 3901"
regulatory_source: "53 FR 39457, Oct. 7, 1988, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "20"
---


# 20.3 Qualifications.

To be eligible for retirement or survivor benefits under this part, a former spouse must—

(a) Have been a former spouse on February 14, 1981;

(b) After becoming a former spouse, not have remarried before attaining age 55;

(c) In the case of any retirement benefit under § 20.5; elect this benefit instead of any survivor annuity for which the former spouse may simultaneously be eligible under this or another retirement system for Government employees; and

(d) Submit an application to the Department of State by June 22, 1990, in accordance with § 20.9 unless that date is extended as authorized by that section. The deadline for submission of an application for survivor benefits under § 20.5 will be deemed to have been met if the former spouse submits an application for retirement benefits within the deadline.