#### § 161.19 Benefits for former spouses.

(a) *20/20/20 former spouses.* Unremarried former spouses of a uniformed services member or retired member, married to the member or retired member for a period of at least 20 years, during which period the member or retired member performed at least 20 years of service that is creditable in determining the member's or retired member's eligibility for retired or retainer pay, or equivalent pay pursuant to [10 U.S.C. 1408](https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/10/1408) and [1072(2)(F)](https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/10/1072), and the period of the marriage and the service overlapped by at least 20 years are eligible for benefits as shown in Tables 24 and 25 to this subpart. The benefit eligibility period begins on qualifying date of divorce from the uniformed services member.

(1) *20/20/20 former spouses of an active duty, regular retired, or a non-regular retired sponsor at age 60.* 20/20/20 former spouses of an active duty, regular retired, or a non-regular retired sponsor at age 60 are eligible for benefits as shown in Table 24 to this subpart.

Table 24 to Subpart C of Part 161—Benefits for 20/20/20 Former Spouses of Active Duty, Regular Retired, and Non-Regular Retired Members at Age 60

| | CHC | DC | C | MWR | E |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Former Spouse: | | | | | |
| Unremarried | 1, 2 | 1 | Yes | Yes | Yes. |
| Remarried | No | No | No | No | No. |
| Unmarried | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes. |
| | | | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Notes:** | | | | | |
| 1. Yes, if the former spouse certifies in writing that the former spouse has no medical coverage under an employer-sponsored health plan. | | | | | |
| 2. Yes, if: | | | | | |
| a. Not entitled to Medicare Part A hospital insurance through the SSA. | | | | | |
| b. Entitled to Medicare Part A hospital insurance and enrolled in Medicare Part B medical insurance with the exception of those individuals who qualify in accordance with section 706 of [Public Law 111-84](https://www.govinfo.gov/link/plaw/111/public/84). | | | | | |

(2) *20/20/20 former spouses of a National Guard, Reserve member, or Retired Reserve member under age 60.*

(i) In the case of former spouses of National Guard, Reserve, or Retired Reserve members or former members who are entitled to retired pay at age 60, but have not yet reached age 60, the former spouse is only entitled to commissary, MWR, and exchange benefits as shown in Table 25 to this subpart. When the Retired Reserve member or former member attains or would have attained, age 60, the former spouse will be entitled to benefits as shown in Table 24 to this subpart.

(ii) In the case of former spouses of National Guard members or Reserve members ordered to active duty, or Retired Reserve members under age 60 recalled to active duty, they continue to receive benefits as shown in Table 25 to this subpart if the orders are for a period of 30 days or less. If the National Guard member, Reserve member, or recalled Retired Reserve member is on active duty orders in excess of 30 days, the former spouse will receive benefits as shown in Table 24 to this subpart.

Table 25 to Subpart C of Part 161—Benefits for 20/20/20 Former Spouses for Retired Reserve Under Age 60

| | CHC | DC | C | MWR | E |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Former Spouse: | | | | | |
| Unremarried | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes. |
| Remarried | No | No | No | No | No. |
| Unmarried | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes. |

(b) *20/20/15 former spouses.* Unremarried former spouses described in [paragraph (a)(1)](/on/2024-09-16/title-32/section-161.19#p-161.19(a)(1)) of this section, with the period of overlap of marriage and the member's creditable service at least 15 years, but less than 20 years, are not eligible for the commissary, MWR, or exchange benefits.

(1) *20/20/15 former spouses of an active duty, regular retired, or a non-regular retired sponsor at age 60.* 20/20/15 former spouses of an active duty, regular retired, or a non-regular retired sponsor at age 60 are eligible for benefits as shown in Table 26 to this subpart.

Table 26 to Subpart C of Part 161—Benefits for 20/20/15 Former Spouses of Active Duty, Regular Retired, and Non-Regular Retired at Age 60

| | CHC | DC | C | MWR | E |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Former Spouse: | | | | | |
| Unremarried | 1, 2, 3 | 1, 3 | No | No | No. |
| Remarried | No | No | No | No | No. |
| Unmarried | No | No | No | No | No. |
| | | | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Notes:** | | | | | |
| 1. Yes, if former spouse certifies in writing that the former spouse has no medical coverage under an employer-sponsored health plan. | | | | | |
| 2. Yes, if: | | | | | |
| a. Not entitled to Medicare Part A hospital insurance through the SSA; or | | | | | |
| b. Entitled to Medicare Part A hospital insurance and enrolled in Medicare Part B medical insurance or qualified as an exception in accordance with section 706 of [Public Law 111-84](https://www.govinfo.gov/link/plaw/111/public/84). | | | | | |
| 3. Yes, if the: | | | | | |
| a. Final decree of divorce, dissolution, or annulment of the marriage was before April 1, 1985; or | | | | | |
| b. Marriage ended on, or after, September 29, 1988, entitlements shall exist for 1 year, beginning on the date of the divorce, dissolution, or annulment pursuant to [10 U.S.C. 1076](https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/10/1076) and [1072(2)(H)](https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/10/1072). | | | | | |

(2) *20/20/15 former spouses of a Retired Reserve member under age 60.*

(i) In the case of former spouses of Retired Reserve members or former members who are entitled to retired pay at age 60, but have not yet reached age 60, the former spouse has no entitlement prior to the Retired Reserve member or former member reaching age 60. The benefit eligible period is 1 year from the date of divorce. If any period of eligibility extends beyond the Retired Reserve or former member's 60th birthday then the former spouse will receive benefits as shown in Table 26 to this subpart for that period.

(ii) In the case of former spouses of Reserve members or Retired Reserve members under age 60 recalled to active duty on orders for a period of 30 days or less they are not entitled to any benefits as shown in Table 27 to this subpart. If the Reserve member or recalled Retired Reserve member is on active duty orders in excess of 30 days, the former spouse will receive benefits as shown in Table 26 to this subpart if they are within 1 year from the date of divorce from the uniformed service member.

Table 27 to Subpart C of Part 161—Benefits for 20/20/15 Former Spouses of a Retired Reserve Member Under Age 60

| | CHC | DC | C | MWR | E |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Former Spouse: | | | | | |
| Unremarried | No | No | No | No | No. |
| Remarried | No | No | No | No | No. |
| Unmarried | No | No | No | No | No. |

(c) *10/20/10 former spouses.* Unremarried former spouses of a member or retired member, married to the member or retired member for a period of at least 10 years to a member or retired member who performed at least 20 years of service that is creditable in determining the member's or retired member's eligibility for retired or retainer pay, when the period of overlap of marriage and the member's creditable service was at least 10 years and the former spouse is in receipt of an annuity as a result of the member being separated from the service due to misconduct involving dependent abuse pursuant to [10 U.S.C. 1408(h)](https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/10/1408), are eligible for benefits as shown in Table 28 to this subpart.

Table 28 to Subpart C of Part 161—Benefits for 10/20/10 Former Spouses

| | CHC | DC | C | MWR | E |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Former Spouse: | | | | | |
| Unremarried | 1, 2 | 1, 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes. |
| Remarried | No | No | No | No | No. |
| Unmarried | 1, 2 | 1, 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes. |
| | | | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Notes:** | | | | | |
| 1. Yes, if: | | | | | |
| a. Not entitled to Medicare Part A hospital insurance through the SSA. | | | | | |
| b. Entitled to Medicare Part A hospital insurance and enrolled in Medicare Part B medical insurance or qualified as an exception in accordance with section 706 of [Public Law 111-84](https://www.govinfo.gov/link/plaw/111/public/84). | | | | | |
| 2. The spouse must have been married to the uniformed service member for at least 10 years, the uniformed service member must have completed 20 creditable years for retired pay, and they must have been married at least 10 years during the 20 years of creditable service (see [§ 161.18](/on/2024-09-16/title-32/section-161.18), paragraph (a)(1)). The uniformed services shall prescribe specific procedures to verify the eligibility of an applicant. | | | | | |