An unpaid survivor annuity is paid only to the relatives of the employee according to the following priorities:
- The widow(er) of the employee who was living with the employee at the time of death. If there is no qualified widow(er), the unpaid survivor annuities can be paid to:
- the employee's children. A step-child cannot qualify for payment. If no children survive the employee, the unpaid annuity can be paid to:
- the employee's grandchildren. If no grandchildren survive the employee, the unpaid annuity can be paid to:
- the employee's parents. If no parents survive the employee, the unpaid annuity can be paid to:
- the brothers and sisters of the employee.
If there is more than one person in the category of people to whom the unpaid survivor annuities is being paid, the unpaid survivor annuities will be split equally among all the qualified people in that category.