If you are married at the time of your death and are receiving a pension based on your former employment, reduced benefits will be paid to your spouse if you elected the J&S annuity option. If you did not elect the J&S option, your benefits will stop. If you are significantly younger than your spouse, the J&S option may not be the best choice for your pension. With an age difference you are likely to outlive your husband, thus he would not be able to benefit from the option, and you would be receiving reduced benefits during your lifetime.

If you are a widow and receive benefits from your deceased spouse's pension or you are unmarried, your benefits will stop at your death because no one else is eligible to receive them.