Foreign Address Update for 

Mailed Check (FAUMC)

The Foreign Address Update for 

Mailed Check (FAUMC) is required 

annually from annuitant’s 

receiving a check in the mail outside 

the United States if they don’t need 

to submit a School Certification or a 

Survivor Benefit Plan-Marriage 

Status Update. The FAUMC 

replaces the ROE.

Due the first day of the month 

of annuitant’s birthday.

School Certification

The DD Form 2788 Child Annuitant’s School Certification and the 

Child Annuitant’s Certification for 

Previous Attendance Letter are 

required annually to confirm full-time 

school attendance and marital 

status for continued eligibility for the 

Survivor Benefit Plan. Note: School 

Certification requirements did not 

change. 

Due the first day of the month 

annuitant’s school year ends.

SBP = Department of Defense (DoD) Survivor Benefit Plan

DFAS = Defense Finance and Accounting Service; the DoD agency 

that processes Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) payments

Survivor Benefit Plan-Marital 

Status Update (SBP-MSU) 

The Survivor Benefit Plan-Marital 

Status Update (SBP-MSU) is 

required annually to confirm marital 

status and continued eligibility for 

the Survivor Benefit Plan. The 

SBP-MSU replaces the COE.

Due the first day of the month 

of annuitant’s birthday.

Annual Verification Types (as of August 2023)

What Changed in 2023

*Please see our webpage for FAQs: https://www.dfas.mil/managesbp*

DFAS simplified the eligibility verification process for SBP annuitants as of August 2023. 

Now, SBP annuitants who need to verify their continued eligibility for SBP annuity payments will only need to provide 

ONE annual verification each year. 

Survivor Benefit Plan 

Annuitant Eligibility Verification 

Quick Reference

Page 1 Public - Jan2024

Caring for Incapacitated child annuitant age 14 or over, 

the Survivor Benefit Plan-Marital Status Update is 

the only required annual verification.

Receiving a check in the mail outside the U.S.A. and do 

not need to submit a School Certification or a 

Survivor Benefit Plan-Marriage Status Update, 

the Foreign Address Update for Mailed 

Check is your only required annual verification.

 See Page 2 for details

If you are:

Spouse/former spouse annuitant under the age of 55, the 

Survivor Benefit Plan-Marital Status Update is 

your only required annual verification.

Child annuitant age 18-22 (and not documented as 

incapacitated), the School Certification/Previous 

Attendance Letter is your only required annual 

verification.

Child annuitant age 14-17 (and not documented as 

incapacitated), the Survivor Benefit Plan-Marital 

Status Update is your only required annual 

verification.

Summary of New, Simpler Annual Verification Requirements
Notes:

• Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuitants need to verify their continued eligibility regularly to continue to receive SBP annuity payments. There 

are several types of verification. The requirements depend on the SBP annuitant’s age and relationship to the military service member. 

• As of August of 2023, SBP annuitants who owe an annual eligibility verification will only owe one annual eligibility verification each year. 

Prior to this change, some SBP annuitants needed to complete multiple forms each year. 

• The names of the verification documents (except for School Certifications) changed starting August 2023. 

• DFAS will accept the old version of verification documents through 2024. 

• “Child” SBP annuitant refers to the annuitant’s relationship to the service member, not the child’s age.

• If the annuitant is documented as incapacitated or is a minor child, the legal representative must sign and submit the verification. 

Survivor Benefit Plan 

Annuitant Eligibility Verification 

Quick Reference

Page 2 Public– Jan2024

Helpful DFAS Webpages for SBP Annuitants

Manage Your SBP Annuity

https://www.dfas.mil/managesbp

School Certifications

https://www.dfas.mil/schoolcerts

Quick Tools

https://www.dfas.mil/raquicktools

DFAS Facebook

www.facebook.com/DFASOfficial

myPay

https://mypay.dfas.mil

New Requirements: 

Spouse and Former Spouse SBP Annuitants

(Includes spouse/former spouse annuitants 

documented as incapacitated)

Spouse and former spouse annuitants 

under the age of 55 = Survivor Benefit 

Plan-Marital Status Update (SBP-MSU) 

due annually the first day of the month of 

their birthday.

Spouse and former spouse annuitants age 

55 and over receiving a check in the mail 

outside the U.S.= Foreign Address Update for Mailed Checks (FAUMC) letter 

due annually the first day of the month of 

their birthday.

Requirements: 

Child SBP Annuitants Ages 18-22

(School Certification Requirements Did Not Change)

 Student Child SBP Annuitants turning 18 =

 School Certification and Direct Deposit 

 forms due once (the first day of the 

 month of their18th birthday). 

 Student Child SBP Annuitants ages 18-22 

 = School Certification/Previous 

 Attendance Letter due annually the 

 first day of the last month of their school 

 year. 

New Requirements: 

Child SBP Annuitants Documented 

as Incapacitated 

Child SBP Annuitants Documented as 

Incapacitated age 14 and over = Survivor 

Benefit Plan-Marital Status Update (SBPMSU) due annually the first day of the month 

of their birthday. 

Child SBP Annuitants Documented as 

Incapacitated under age 14 and receiving a 

paycheck in the mail to a foreign address = 

Foreign Address Update for Mailed Checks 

(FAUMC) letter due annually the first day of 

the month of their birthday.

New, Simpler Requirements 

New Requirements: 

Child SBP Annuitants Under Age 18 

Child SBP Annuitants age 14 and over = 

Survivor Benefit Plan-Marital Status Update

(SBP-MSU) due annually the first of the 

month of their birthday. 

Child SBP Annuitants under 14 receiving a 

paycheck in the mail to a foreign address = 

Foreign Address Update for Mailed Checks 

(FAUMC) letter due annually the first day of 

the month of their birthday.