(a) Entitlement

A member of the Service—

(1) who is retired under section 4007(c)(2) of this title; or

(2) who is retired under section 4007(c)(1) or 4008(b) or 4010a of this title—

(A) after becoming eligible for voluntary retirement under section 4051 of this title or any other applicable provision of chapter 84 of title 5, or

(B) from the Senior Foreign Service or while assigned to class 1 in the Foreign Service Schedule,


shall receive retirement benefits in accordance with section 4046 of this title or section 4071d of this title, as appropriate.

(b) Computation of amount; refund; death of member

Terms Used In 22 USC 4009

  • Annuity: A periodic (usually annual) payment of a fixed sum of money for either the life of the recipient or for a fixed number of years. A series of payments under a contract from an insurance company, a trust company, or an individual. Annuity payments are made at regular intervals over a period of more than one full year.
  • Foreign Service: means the Foreign Service of the United States. See 22 USC 3902
  • Secretary: means the Secretary of State, except that (subject to section 3921 of this title) with reference to the exercise of functions under this Act with respect to any agency authorized by law to utilize the Foreign Service personnel system, such term means the head of that agency. See 22 USC 3902
  • State: means a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any other territory or possession of the United States. See 1 USC 7

Any member of the Service (other than a member to whom subsection (a) applies) who is retired under section 4007(c)(1) or 4008(b) or 4010a of this title shall receive—

(1) one-twelfth of a year’s salary at his or her then current salary rate for each year of service and proportionately for a fraction of a year, but not exceeding a total of one year’s salary at his or her then current salary rate, payable without interest from the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund in 3 equal installments, such installments to be paid on January 1 of each of the first 3 calendar years beginning after the retirement of the member (except that in special cases, the Secretary of State may accelerate or combine such installments); and

(2)(A) for those participants in the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System, a refund as provided in section 4055 of this title of the contributions made by the member to the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund, except that in lieu of such refund a member who has at least 5 years of service credit toward retirement under the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System (excluding military and naval service) may elect to receive an annuity, computed under section 4046 of this title, commencing at age 60; and (B) for those participants in the Foreign Service Pension System, benefits as provided in section 4071 of this title.


In the event that a member of the Service has elected to receive retirement benefits under paragraph (2) and dies before reaching age 60 (for participants in the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System) or age 62 (for participants in the Foreign Service Pension System), his or her death shall be considered a death in service within the meaning of section 4049 of this title.