Maryann A. Wood v. Office of Personnel Management

DYK, Circuit Judge.

Maryann A. Wood applied for a former spouse survivor annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. She claimed entitlement to that benefit on the ground that it had been elected by Bernard Wood, her deceased former spouse and a retired federal employee, or, if not formally elected, that the government’s failure to give the required notice excused Mr. Wood’s failure to make a formal election. The Merit Systems Protection Board (the “Board”) held that Mrs. Wood was not entitled to the benefit because a formal election letter was not submitted to the Office of Personnel…