Protecting spouses

Federal

Defined contribution plan account holders should have to obtain written spousal consent to take payment from the account in a form other than a joint-and-survivor annuity. Similar spousal protections also should be enacted for individual retirement accounts (IRAs) funded by rollovers or other transfers of plan distributions. 

Spousal rights for all defined benefit plans in cases of widowhood or divorce under the Retirement Equity Act of 1984 and the Pension Protection Act of 2006 should be further enhanced.