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Defense Finance and Accounting Service

 Retiree Newsletter 

 September 2022

 

Director’s Message

Greetings from Cleveland! As the days get shorter and nights get cooler, we 

know that fall is here.

DFAS remains committed to our primary goal of delivering your pay accurately 

and on time. With tax season approaching, we need your help to do that. Please 

see the article on getting ready for tax season for helpful tips.

This edition includes a very important article on working for foreign 

governments. If you are currently working for or plan to work for a foreign 

government, please read this article. There are important steps that military 

retirees need to follow and this article will help you understand what you need to 

do.

It is also important to make sure your beneficiary information for the Survivor 

Benefit Program and your Arrears of Pay is up to date. There are important details 

about how to do this in this edition as well.

The askDFAS Resource webpage is getting a new look. We have included an 

article on what you expect to see on that page for retirees and annuitants and how 

askDFAS can help you better manage your retired pay or annuity pay.

Did you know that if you are a retiree and need to get a “Verification of Pay” 

letter for any reason, you can do that through myPay? We have information in this 

edition on how you can that without waiting on hold to talk to a customer care 

representative.

There are changes for our SBP annuitants coming in 2023. These changes 

might affect you if you receive Dependent and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) from 

the Department of Veterans Affairs or if you requested the SBP Optional Annuity for 

Dependent Children because your military loved one was a service member who 

died on active duty or inactive duty in the line of duty after October 7, 2001. Please 

be sure to read the articles to see if these changes apply to you and what you can 

expect.

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Finally, we have some articles from our partners that may interest you. Please 

be sure to check those out as well.

On behalf of all of us here in DFAS Retired and Annuitant Pay, it is truly our 

honor to serve those who served. Thank you for everything you have done and 

sacrificed for our country. 

We hope you find the information in this newsletter useful and informative. 

Take care and enjoy the fall weather.
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Fall is for... Taxes?

Taxes. Everyone’s favorite subject... especially months before they have to be 

filed. Actually now is the best time to double check that everything is correct 

regarding your documentation so there are no hiccups when you do file.

Start with myPay

The best tool DFAS offers for ensuring a smooth tax season is myPay 

(https://mypay.dfas.mil). The most important step to take now is to login to your 

myPay account, and check and update your mailing address. 

An easy, online stop for your tax season needs, myPay offers printing or 

downloading of your tax statements for your retired pay or your annuity pay. You 

can print/download your current year tax statement, as well as prior year 1099Rs 

(up to four prior years for retirees and up to two prior years for annuitants). If you 

have them, you can also print/download IRS form 1095B, as well as the 

documentation for any taxable travel income received. 

You’ll have much earlier access to your tax documents through myPay. 1099Rs 

are generally available in myPay in late December, while paper copies aren’t mailed 

until mid-to-late January. 

If you haven’t logged in to myPay in a while, this is a good time to log in and 

update your password, before the busy tax season. 

See our myPay article in this issue for information about requesting/changing a 

password and a reminder on how to reactive your myPay account or how to set up 

your login for the first time. 

Changing Federal Tax Withholding

Now is also a good time to check and adjust your tax withholding, if needed. 

Use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator

The IRS has an online Tax Withholding Estimator to help you determine how 

much tax you need to have withheld. The calculator helps taxpayers estimate if the 

right amount is withheld from their income to cover their tax liability. The estimator 

uses a simple, six-step question-and-answer format using information like marital 

or filing status, income, withholding, adjustments, deductions and credits.

www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator

DFAS cannot provide tax advice. Please consult a tax professional or the IRS.

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Change Your Federal Withholding in myPay 

It’s easy to change the amount withheld for federal taxes on the myPay site by 

clicking on the Federal Withholding link.

Once there, click on the yellow pencil to go to the edit page. On the edit page, 

you can also enter information about multiple jobs, change your number of 

dependents, add additional income, make additional deductions or have extra tax 

withheld. The blue bar tells you when you can expect the changes to go into effect. 

State Taxes for Retirees

Retirees can start, stop or change their State Income Tax Withholding (SITW), 

but only if that state has an agreement in place allowing DFAS to withhold state 

tax. In some states, but not all, portions of your retired pay may be tax exempt. 

Because tax obligations vary from state to state, contact your state's department of 

revenue regarding taxability of your military retired pay.

Any changes to SITW must be made in writing, by submitting a DD 2866 form 

(https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/forms/dd/dd2866.pdf) or by 

using myPay. DFAS can only withhold income tax for one state at a time and the 

designated state must have signed the standard written SITW agreement with the 

Department of Defense.

More detail on changing SITW is available on the DFAS website at 

https://www.dfas.mil/retstatetax

Federal Taxability of Retired Pay

Military retired pay is paid for many different reasons under many different 

laws. There are differences in the types of pay a military retiree might receive and 

the tax laws that apply to them. Whether a portion or all of an individual’s military 

retired pay is subject to federal income taxes depends on his/her individual 

circumstances. 

A military retiree can either use myPay or send an IRS Form W-4 to alter the 

amount DFAS withholds for federal income taxes from their military retired pay.

An individual’s choice to have no withholding for federal taxes does not impact 

whether the individual’s military retired pay is actually subject to federal income 

taxes. Ultimately, the IRS will determine the amount of taxes owed on the military 

retired pay. 

Please note: the IRS requires any individual claiming exemption from federal 

withholding to provide a new Form W-4 at the beginning of each tax year certifying 

their exemption from withholding. 

Please see our webpage regarding taxation of retired pay: 

https://www.dfas.mil/retpaytax
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Employment Compensation from a Foreign 

Government Can Impact Your Retired Pay

Did You Know: Your military retired pay can be impacted if you receive 

compensation from a foreign government without advance permission?

The U.S. Constitution prohibits federal government employees from accepting 

compensation, gifts, or titles from foreign governments without the prior consent of 

Congress. This prohibition also applies to military retirees. Congress granted its 

consent to retirees seeking foreign government employment so long as the retirees 

obtain the advance approvals required by 37 U.S.C. § 908. Retirees who are 

considering accepting foreign government employment for compensation must 

receive approval in advance of receiving the compensation. In general, the 

Secretary of State and the Service Secretary from which you retired must both

approve the employment/compensation. If the foreign government payment or 

award is limited to speeches, travel, meals, lodging, registration fees, or non-cash 

awards, you only need approval by the Service Secretary from which you retired. 

The purpose of this restriction is to prevent the exercise of undue influence by 

foreign governments on retired members of the United States military. 

If a retired member accepts compensation from a foreign government or 

foreign government controlled entity for employment or for speeches, travel, 

meals, lodging, registration fees, or non-cash awards without prior approval, the 

member’s retired pay becomes subject to a withholding and/or debt, generally in an 

amount equal to the total amounts received from the foreign government.

To request approval of compensation from a foreign government for 

employment, speeches, travel, meals, lodging registration fees or a non-cash 

award, retirees should contact their Branch of Service at the appropriate address 

listed below. Retirees may also review the Service Instructions listed below that 

are publicly available on the web or by contacting the appropriate POC listed 

below. There are other laws that restrict some retirees from representing a 

foreign government entity before U.S. government agency or officials, or that may 

require additional approvals, such as the Foreign Agents Registration Act and the 

International Traffic in Arms regulations. Retirees should consult with their 

employer’s human resources or general counsel offices for guidance on whether 

these other requirements apply. 

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Service Service POC Address Service Instruction

U.S. Air 

Force

Retirees (Regular and Retired 

Reserve): Contact the 

AFPC Airman and Family 

Sustainment Branch (AFPC/DPFFF)

550 C Street West Suite 25 

Joint Base San Antonio TX 78150-

4723

Air Force Instruction 36-2913 

of 1 July 2020

Retired Reserve members awaiting 

pay and members assigned to the 

Inactive Status List Reserve Section: 

Contact the 

Air Reserve Personnel Center 

Reserve Service Programs Branch 

(ARPC/DPAMR) 

1840 E. Silver Creek Ave, Bldg 390 

Buckley AFB CO 80011

U.S. Army Members who desire to accept 

employment with a foreign 

government should contact:

Commander, U.S. Army Human 

Resources Command (AHRC -PDR) 

1600 Spearhead Division Avenue

Fort Knox KY 40122 – 5402

Army Regulation 600 – 291 

(Foreign Government 

Employment) of 7 September 

2020

U.S. Navy 

Chief of Naval Personnel/OPNAV N1

Attn: Legal Counsel

701 S. Courthouse Rd

Arlington VA 22204

Telephone: (703)604-3399

Or e-mail to: navyfge.fct@navy.mil

Navy Ethics website 

(https://www.ethics.navy.mil) 

U.S. 

Marine 

Corps

Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps

Separation and Retirement Branch, 

Manpower and

Reserve Affairs (MMSR-6)

3280 Russell Rd

Quantico VA 22134-5103

Telephone: (703) 784-9310/9311

NAVSO P-1778 (Rev Apr 

2000) "Reference Guide To 

Post Government Service 

Employment Activities of DON 

Personnel"
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myPay: How to Reactivate Your Account or 

Get Started

myPay is a convenient tool for getting your tax documents quickly and easily, 

as well as managing your retired pay or annuitant pay account year-round. 

myPay provides access to a range of information about your payments, and lets 

you easily update your contact information or your tax withholding, check your SBP 

coverage and your AOP beneficiary (retirees), submit your annual certification 

(annuitants), or download your tax documents. 

Reactivating Your myPay Account

We know that some of you only use myPay once a year to get your 1099-R 

during tax season. Then, when you do try to access your account, you discover that 

your password is expired, lost or forgotten. If this sounds like something that has 

happened to you, please update your password now, before the tax season starts. 

Waiting to update your password might mean delays in accessing your tax 

documents.

If your myPay account is in an inactive status because your password has 

expired, you can follow the simple steps below to reactivate your account.

Go to https://mypay.dfas.mil in your web browser on a computer or connected 

device. 

Click on the “Forgot or Need a Password?” link 

Enter two of the following: your Login ID, Social Security Number and/or 

registered email address (previously registered in myPay). Check the box affirming 

you are the account owner, and click "Continue.”

If you previously set up the security questions, you’ll be presented three 

security questions to answer. When finished answering the questions, click “Check 

my Answers.” 

If you answer the security questions correctly, you will be able to reset your 

password online. 

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If you haven’t set up security questions or answer them incorrectly, you’ll get 

the option to have a temporary password sent to you. You can choose to send the 

temporary password to:

A-Your mobile phone via text if your mobile phone number is registered in myPay; 

Or,

B-The mailing address you have on file with DFAS in your retired pay or annuity 

pay account. 

When you receive the temporary password, go back to myPay and log in to 

reactivate your account.

Getting Started with myPay

If you’re not yet using myPay, it’s easy to get started. 

You can request an initial password on the myPay homepage using the “Forgot 

or Need a New Password” link. The password will be mailed to the address you have 

on file with DFAS in your retired pay or annuity pay account and you should receive 

it in about 10 business days (for domestic mailing addresses).

Once you receive your password in the mail, you can return to the myPay 

homepage and create your myPay profile using your social security number and the 

password you received in the mail.

If You Need Assistance with myPay

If you need assistance accessing your myPay account, please contact the 

myPay Customer Care Center toll-free at 1-888-332-7411 or at 1-317-212-0550.
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How to Get a Verification of Pay Letter

Credit worthiness and income are two of the most common ways banks and

other lenders determine whether to approve a loan, mortgage or rental. These

practices are also used by auto lenders to approve loans and leases, as well as

housing managers to determine whether they should rent to you. 

How do you as a military retiree, who may not have a traditional paycheck to

offer as proof, show you have income? Using your myPay account

(https://mypay.dfas.mil) makes it easy. 

Verification of Income

Among the common documents creditors will use are pay stubs, tax returns or

bank statements, but another avenue is using what is called a “Verification of Pay”

letter. DFAS offers military retirees this option on the myPay platform. 

In the left-hand column under the Statements banner is a link for a Verification

of Pay Letter.

Clicking on the link will generate an electronic letter in your name, including the

home address you have on file, and the monthly gross amount of your military

retired pay. The letter will be dated the day of your request and has the official

Department of Defense seal and the return address of DFAS. 

Sending the Letter

In the upper right hand corner of the letter display is the option to get a 

“Printer Friendly” version by clicking on the printer icon. 

This will open a new popup version that allows for you to either print the letter

to give to the bank or send it via postal mail, or if you need to send it electronically

via email or by uploading into a website, you can download the letter as an Adobe

PDF (Portable Document Format) file. To download the letter, click the icon with the

down arrow with the line under it. This should generate a popup allowing you to

save the PDF letter to your computer. 

Conclusion

Applying for loans or leases requires lots of paperwork. Using myPay to

generate a Verification of Pay Letter can make the process easier.
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Time to Check and Update Your Beneficiary

Information

Keeping your beneficiary information for the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) or for 

your Arrears of Pay (AOP) up to date is vital. Please inform DFAS of any life 

changes when they happen.

If we do not have correct beneficiary information and updated contact 

information, it can cause delays and financial hardship for your loved ones.

The Survivor Benefit Plan

SBP provides eligible beneficiaries an annuity, a monthly payment, for the 

lifetime of the beneficiary. Retirees have the choice to enroll in SBP and pay 

premiums for SBP coverage at retirement.

How Retirees Can Check if the SBP Beneficiary is Current

If you have elected SBP coverage, it is important for you to notify us when a 

beneficiary change occurs. Changes can be triggered by marriage, divorce, loss of a 

spouse, or having a child. These changes can affect SBP premium payments. In 

addition, some SBP changes have a one-year time limit for notifying DFAS. 

Your Retiree Account Statement (RAS), available in myPay, has information on 

it about pay, deductions, taxes and SBP. The SBP section has information on it for 

members who participate in SBP.

The most important information for you to check is the type of coverage and 

the name and date of birth of your spouse beneficiary or youngest child, depending 

on your coverage.

If changes are needed to your Survivor Benefit Plan coverage, please note that 

DFAS needs a copy of the official documentation (marriage license, divorce decree, 

death certificate or birth certificate), along with the Survivor Benefit Plan Election 

Change form (DD2656-6) to update your account.

Please see our Changing or Stopping Your SBP Coverage webpage for additional 

information: https://www.dfas.mil/RetiredMilitary/provide/sbp/change

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Arrears of Pay Beneficiary

After a retiree passes away, a one-time payment of their final paycheck is made 

to a beneficiary. This is called Arrears of Pay (AOP).

AOP is the prorated amount of your final month’s retirement pay. Entitlement to 

retired pay ends on the date of your death. The amount of the payment owed is 

computed (based on the number of days in the month you were alive) and paid to 

your AOP beneficiary, along with any other money owed at the time of your death.

We suggest you limit the number of your AOP beneficiaries to avoid delays in 

payment. Remember that the AOP payment is usually less than one month’s pay, 

and this amount will be divided among all of your designated beneficiaries.

 

How to Check if Your AOP Beneficiary is Current

You can easily check your Retiree Account Statement (RAS) to make sure your 

AOP designation is current.

You can change your beneficiary or update beneficiary contact information at 

any time through myPay by clicking on the “Beneficiary for Arrears” link under “Pay 

Changes” in the menu on the left side of your account in myPay.

You can also update your Arrears of Pay beneficiary by completing a 

Designation of Beneficiary Information form (DD 2894). We now have a Form 

Wizard to help you fill out this form! The Form Wizard will ask you a series of 

questions and fill in your answers in the appropriate areas of the form. When you 

have finished answering the questions, you can even choose to electronically sign 

your form and submit it online using our online upload tool! Or click a button to 

generate a ready-to-print-and-sign PDF with your answers.

Get the DD 2894 Form Wizard and see more information on our Arrears of Pay 

webpage at: https://www.dfas.mil/retireeaop
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Check Out Our Revamped askDFAS Resource Page 

for Retirees and Annuitants

As part of our work to modernize Retired & Annuitant Pay and make the 

processes easier for you, we are building a suite of online tools that allow forms and 

required documentation to be filled out or uploaded at askDFAS on the DFAS.mil 

website, which is also accessible on a mobile browser.

We also recently revamped the askDFAS Resource webpage section for retirees 

and annuitants to make it easier for you to find the askDFAS online form or upload 

tool you need. 

The askDFAS Resource webpage section for retirees and annuitants is now 

organized into separate areas with specific resources and links for retirees and 

specific resources and links for SBP annuitants, plus additional resources.

askDFAS tools are a quick and easy way to submit select forms and documents 

to us directly. Instead of mailing or faxing your completed forms, for some you can 

now either fill out an online form or upload them directly in a PDF through the 

askDFAS online tool on the DFAS.mil website. 

Please note all documents uploaded to an askDFAS online tool MUST be in PDF 

format and contain the Social Security Number of the retiree or deceased member. 

Also, the askDFAS online upload tools can only accept the specific form and 

documentation noted on the upload tool. Other requests or documents cannot be 

processed through the online upload tools.

Using askDFAS is a convenient way to submit requests and eliminate the time 

and hassle of sending requests through mail or fax and provide more timely and 

accurate service to retirees and annuitants.

See the revamped askDFAS Resource webpage by clicking on Retirees & 

Annuitants at: https://www.dfas.mil/askdfas
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The SBP-DIC Offset Phased Elimination: What 

Surviving Spouses Need to Know About 2023

Next year, on February 1, 2023, surviving spouses will receive their full

Survivor Benefit Plan payment from DFAS and their full Dependency and Indemnity 

Compensation (DIC) payment from the VA. This is because February 1, 2023 will be 

the first SBP annuity payday after the SBP-DIC Offset is fully eliminated, which 

takes effect January 1, 2023. 

The Special Survivors Indemnity Allowance (SSIA) will no longer be paid 

after the January 3, 2023 payment, because SSIA is only paid to spouses who 

have their SBP payment offset by DIC. 

As a reminder, the SBP-DIC Offset Phased Elimination only affects SBP 

payments issued by DFAS. The changes do NOT affect Dependency and Indemnity 

Compensation (DIC) payments from the VA. Eligible surviving spouses will continue 

to receive the full amount of DIC from the VA.

To help spouses who are entitled to both SBP and DIC in 2023 understand the 

effect of this change, DFAS will mail letters in December with individual estimates 

of 2023 SBP payments. 

Check out our new Quick Reference Guide on the special focus webpage: 

https://www.dfas.mil/sbpdicnews 

Phase Three: Effective January 1, 2023

In the third and final phase that begins January 1, 2023, the SBP-DIC offset

will be fully eliminated. That means spouses will begin to receive their full SBP 

monthly payments with no offset (no reduction) beginning with their January 

2023 entitlement, which will be paid on February 1, 2023. 

DIC payments will not be affected.

The SBP benefit will be paid in full (no offset).

SSIA will NOT be paid.

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What Happened During 2022 – Phase Two of the SBP-DIC Offset Phased

Elimination

January 1, 2022 marked the start of the second phase of the SBP-DIC Offset 

Phased Elimination.

The changes affect surviving spouses who are, or who will become in the future, 

eligible for both Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) payments and Dependency and 

Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payments, and who were subject to a full or partial 

SBP-DIC Offset.

In Phase Two of the SBP-DIC Offset Phased Elimination the amount that is 

offset (deducted) from the spouse’s SBP annuity payment is one-third of the 

amount of the DIC payment. 

DIC payments are not affected.

The SBP monthly payment is reduced by the amount of the offset (1/3 of the 

amount of the DIC payment).

If a spouse’s gross SBP benefit is less than one-third of the amount of the DIC 

they receive from the VA, the spouse will not receive an SBP payment. About 12 

percent of spouses (approximately 7,600) will not see a change in their SBP 

payment in 2022 because their gross SBP benefit is less than one-third of their DIC 

payment from the VA.

Spouses who have their SBP offset by DIC will continue to receive the Special 

Survivors Indemnity Allowance (SSIA) in 2022, up to the maximum amount of 

$346 per month, or up to gross amount of SBP (if the gross amount of SBP is less 

than $346). Beginning with the February 1, 2023 payment, no SSIA will be paid. 

Summary – Phase Two

VA will pay:

• 100% of the DIC payment

DoD/DFAS will pay:

• The remainder of the SBP benefit after deducting an amount equal to 1/3 of the 

spouse’s DIC payment from the SBP gross annuity amount (SBP gross – 1/3 of DIC 

= SBP net)

• Plus the appropriate amount of SSIA up to the maximum allowable ($346).

The effective date of Phase Two was January 1, 2022. The January 2022 

entitlement was paid on February 1, 2022. The last payment of Phase Two is the 

entitlement for December of 2022, which will be paid on January 3, 2023. 

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Additional Notes

You do not need to call to notify us you are affected by the changes in the SBPDIC Offset. 

Spouses should receive a January 2023 Annuitant Account Statement (AAS) 

near the time of their February 1, 2023 payment that will show the full SBP 

payment. There will be no SSIA payment because the SBP-DIC Offset will be fully 

eliminated beginning January 1, 2023. 

Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) payments are paid the first business day of the 

month following the entitlement, so January 2023 SBP entitlement payments are 

made on February 1, 2023. 

Annuitant Account Statements are available in your myPay account: 

https://mypay.dfas.mil 

Reminder: if a spouse previously received a refund of SBP premiums paid due 

to the SBP-DIC offset, they will NOT need to pay back that refund because of this 

change in the law.

Questions? 

Check out the full range of Frequently Asked Questions and download our new 

Quick Reference Guide on the SBP-DIC News webpage: 

https://www.dfas.mil/sbpdicnews 

We also have a webpage explaining SBP, DIC and SSIA: 

https://www.dfas.mil/sbpdicssia
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The Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) 2023 Elimination 

of the Optional Annuity for Dependent Children and 

Reversion of SBP Annuity to Surviving Spouses

The DoD Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) provides an ongoing monthly annuity 

payment to military spouses or dependent children when a military member dies 

while on active duty, on inactive duty in the line of duty, or after retirement (if the 

military retiree chooses to purchase coverage).

When a service member dies on active or inactive duty in the line of duty, the 

surviving spouse can request to have the SBP annuity paid directly to an eligible 

dependent child or children instead of to the spouse. 

This is called the “Optional Annuity for Dependent Children” but is often 

referred to as the “Optional Child Annuity.”

The option is available because until recently, there was a requirement for a 

spouse’s SBP payments to be offset (reduced) by the full amount of the spouse’s 

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payment from the Department of 

Veterans Affairs (VA). Payments to the surviving child were considered a more 

favorable option because SBP paid to a child is not required to be offset (reduced) 

by the amount of the DIC payment.

The Optional Annuity for Dependent Children is only allowed when the service 

member died on active duty or inactive duty in the line of duty after October 

7, 2001.

Changes to the Optional Annuity for Dependent Children do not impact the 

SBP coverage for families of a service member who retired prior to passing 

away or the SBP coverage for any current living retiree. 

Check out our new Quick Reference Guide on our special focus webpage: 

https://www.dfas.mil/sbp2023childoptrev 

What Happens in 2023

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020 directed 

that as of January 1, 2023, the “Optional Annuity for Dependent Children” will be 

eliminated and the SBP monthly annuity payment must revert to the surviving 

spouse (if the surviving spouse submits documentation confirming eligibility).

The first SBP monthly payment to surviving spouses documented as 

eligible will be February 1, 2023. Because the SBP entitlement is paid the 

following month, the January 2023 entitlement is paid on February 1, 2023. 

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The last SBP monthly payment to a child under the Optional Annuity for 

Dependent Children will be the December 2022 entitlement that is paid on 

January 3, 2023 (unless the surviving spouse is documented as deceased or not 

eligible). 

Can an Eligible Child Continue to Receive the SBP Annuity? Can a Spouse 

Choose to Have the SBP Annuity Paid to the Child?

The elimination and reversion is in the law. It is not optional. A surviving 

spouse cannot refuse the annuity to have it continue to be paid to a surviving child. 

If we do not receive documentation for a surviving spouse, the annuity will be 

suspended. It cannot continue to be paid to a surviving child without documentation 

that the surviving spouse is not eligible. 

SBP coverage for active duty or inactive duty in the line of duty deaths is for 

spouse and child. Since the SBP coverage is for spouse and child, the child can 

receive payment if the spouse is documented as not eligible. 

There are three situations where an eligible child can continue to receive the 

SBP monthly payment after the elimination of the Optional Child Annuity in 2023:

1-If DFAS receives documentation that service member was not married at the 

time of their death. 

2-If DFAS receives documentation that the surviving spouse is deceased.

3-If DFAS receives documentation that the surviving spouse remarried prior to 

age 55. 

If DFAS does not receive the documentation in the above situations, the annuity 

will be suspended until documentation is received. 

Please note that the documentation needed for a deceased spouse is a copy of 

the certified death certificate with contact information for the person submitting the 

documentation. If the parent/legal guardian of a minor child or a child over the age 

of majority who is currently receiving the SBP annuity is aware of the death of a 

surviving spouse, they can submit a copy of the death certificate with their contact 

information. 

The death certificate must be certified by the government agency issuing the 

certificate. DFAS cannot accept a funeral notice or funeral booklet. It must be the 

government-certified death certificate. Death certificates are public records and can 

generally be obtained from the Office of Vital Records in the state where the event 

occurred, or from the applicable state’s Department of Health.

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What Happens Between Now and 2023

If a child or children are currently the designated recipients of the SBP monthly 

annuity payment because the Optional Annuity for Dependent Children was

requested, they will continue to receive the SBP payments (as long as they remain 

eligible) through the last payment for 2022 which will be paid on January 3, 2023.

• If a child or children lose eligibility because they marry or reach age 18 (or 

age 22 if a full-time student) prior to January 1, 2023, the annuity will be 

suspended until January 1, 2023. On January 1, 2023, the annuity will revert 

to the surviving spouse (if the spouse is eligible and submits documentation) 

and the first payment to the eligible spouse based on these changes will be 

made on February 1, 2023.

• If the annuity is already suspended because the child or children are no 

longer eligible, it will continue to be suspended until January 1, 2023. On 

January 1, 2023, the annuity will revert to the surviving spouse (if the 

spouse is eligible and submits documentation) and the first payment to the 

eligible spouse based on these changes will be made on February 1, 2023.

• If the annuity is suspended because the child/children are no longer eligible 

and we do not receive eligibility documentation for the surviving 

spouse, the annuity will remain suspended until we receive the 

documentation. 

In October of 2022, DFAS will mail letters to the children who are currently 

receiving an SBP annuity payment because of the Optional Annuity for Dependent 

Children. This letter will provide information on the projected status of their SBP 

annuity payment after January 1, 2023.

The letters will be based either on eligibility documentation we have received 

from the surviving spouse or based on the fact that we have not received eligibility 

documentation: 

• If we have received eligibility documentation from the surviving spouse, and 

the spouse is eligible, the spouse will receive the SBP annuity payment 

beginning with the January 2023 payment made on February 1, 2023. The 

child/children’s last SBP payment will be the December entitlement, 

which will be paid on January 3, 2023. 

• If we have received eligibility documentation from the surviving spouse, and 

the spouse is not eligible, the child/children will continue to receive 

the SBP annuity payment, even after January 1, 2023, as long as the child

remains eligible. 

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• If we have NOT received eligibility documentation from the surviving spouse, 

the annuity will be suspended beginning with the January 2023 entitlement 

which would have been paid on February 1, 2023 and remain suspended until 

we receive documentation. The child/children’s last SBP payment prior 

to suspension will be the December entitlement, which will be paid 

on January 3, 2023. 

The Process of Documenting Eligibility for Surviving Spouses

We mailed eligibility packets in mid-November of 2021 to approximately 5,000 

surviving spouses of service members who died on active duty or on inactive duty 

in the line of duty after October 7, 2001 and who had previously requested the SBP 

Optional Child Annuity. We mailed this eligibility packet again in June of 2022 to 

those surviving spouses who had not responded and those surviving spouses who 

requested the SBP Optional Child Annuity in Fall of 2021 or after.

The eligibility packet includes the documents we need the surviving spouse to 

fill out and return. The documents help us determine the spouse’s eligibility for SBP 

annuity payments and set up their account to begin payments (if they are eligible) 

after the changes take effect on January 1, 2023 (monthly payments begin 

February 1, 2023).

If a spouse did not receive a packet in the mail, they can download the full 

eligibility packet from the DFAS special focus webpage: 

https://www.dfas.mil/sbp2023childoptrev 

We have developed a special process so that the accounts that are affected by 

the elimination/reversion can be prepared for the 2023 change without affecting the 

payments to children who are currently receiving the Optional Child Annuity.

Some accounts may require research to locate the required information, so we 

encourage surviving spouses who are in this group to provide us with their 

documentation as soon as possible. 

On our special focus webpage (https://www.dfas.mil/sbp2023childoptrev) there 

are specific instructions for filling out and returning the documents. There is also a 

helpful how-to checklist for filling out the forms. 

The eligibility packet that is downloadable in a PDF from the webpage includes a 

copy of the letter, instructions, and the forms. 

Spouses can upload their completed and signed documents online on the 

customer-facing annuity askDFAS online upload tool, or mail them, or fax them. 

When we receive the completed documents, we will review them and send the 

spouse a postal letter with their eligibility information and the current amount of 

the annuity.

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We Do Need Eligibility Information for ALL Surviving Spouses

Please note that DFAS does need to receive eligibility information from all 

surviving spouses who requested the SBP Optional Child Annuity, even if they are 

not eligible for the SBP annuity due to remarriage prior to age 55. 

There are two reasons: 

First, as explained above, if the surviving spouse is documented as not 

eligible (or deceased), we can continue to pay the SBP annuity to an 

eligible child, even after the change in January of 2023. If we don’t receive 

documentation proving the spouse is not eligible, the annuity payments must be 

suspended as of January 2023 until we receive the documentation.

Second, providing this documentation now will simplify the process for a 

surviving spouse if they are currently remarried before age 55, but that marriage 

later ends due to death or divorce in the future. At that point, the surviving spouse 

may become eligible for the SBP annuity payment. 

Surviving Spouses of Active Duty/Line of Duty Service Members Who Are 

Currently Entitled to SBP/SSIA 

Some surviving spouses may be confused about what the Optional Annuity for 

Dependent Children is and if they are entitled to an additional annuity. If a spouse 

is currently entitled to and receiving an SBP and/or SSIA monthly payment, they 

did not request the Optional Child Annuity and the 2023 reversion does not apply to 

them. SBP is paid either to the surviving spouse OR to the surviving child/children; 

it is not paid to both spouse and child. 

The Optional Child Annuity is not an additional annuity payment. It is 

the option to pay the SBP annuity to the child/children instead of to the 

surviving spouse. 

In addition, this change in the law does NOT impact the surviving spouse or 

child of a member who retired prior to passing away. The change in the law does 

NOT impact the current SBP coverage of a retiree. The Optional Annuity for 

Dependent Children is only allowed when the service member died on active duty or 

inactive duty in the line of duty after October 7, 2001.

See Our Special Focus Webpage for Additional Information

See our special focus webpage for a downloadable Eligibility Packet and specific 

instructions for completing it and a helpful checklist for completing the documents. 

We also have a new Quick Reference Guide for the SBP 2023 Optional Child 

Annuity Reversion: https://www.dfas.mil/sbp2023childoptrev 
21

News from Our Partners: VA Expands Airborne 

Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry Eligibility 

If you deployed to Egypt, Syria, or Uzbekistan, you may now be eligible.

More than 330,000 service members and veterans have joined the Airborne 

Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry 

(https://health.mil/News/Articles/2022/08/31/VA-Expands-Airborne-Hazards-andOpen--Burn-Pit--Registry-Eligibility) to date, and recent updates expand eligibility 

and make it easier to participate.

“These updates are important in that they demonstrate the Department of 

Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) collective resolve to keep 

our service members and veterans informed about the registry, support 

requirements in National Defense Authorization Acts, and support the recently 

signed Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 

2022,” said Steve Jones, Force Readiness and Health Assurance Policy director and 

retired Army Environmental Science and Engineering Officer. “The DoD and VA 

remain committed to better understanding and mitigating the health effects of 

deployment-related exposures such as airborne hazards and open burn pits.”

The Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry is a secure database of health 

information provided by service members and veterans that helps VA collect, 

analyze, and publish data on health conditions that may be related to 

environmental exposures experienced during deployment. To participate in the 

registry, eligible service members and veterans fill out an online questionnaire. 

After completing the online questionnaire, participants have the option to discuss 

their health care with a provider in an optional medical evaluation. 

This summer, VA added Egypt, Syria, and Uzbekistan to the list of eligible 

deployment locations. If you served any amount of time in the Southwest Asia 

theater of operations or Egypt beginning August 2, 1990, or in Afghanistan, 

Djibouti, Syria, or Uzbekistan beginning September 11, 2001, you are eligible to 

sign up for the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry—regardless of whether 

you recall being exposed to airborne hazards. These regions include the following 

countries, bodies of water, and airspace above these locations:

• Afghanistan

• Bahrain 

• Djibouti

• Egypt

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• Gulf of Aden

• Gulf of Oman

• Iraq

• Kuwait

• Oman

• Qatar

• Syria 

• United Arab Emirates

• Uzbekistan 

• Waters of the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea

 Additionally, VA has adjusted the registry’s functionality to enable participants 

to return to the registry portal at any time after initial submission to add 

deployments. This enables you to create a more complete picture of your 

deployment and exposure history and can provide additional context for providers 

during medical evaluations.

To check whether you’ve already joined the registry, or if you would like to 

make additional entries in your profile, visit 

https://veteran.mobilehealth.va.gov/AHBurnPitRegistry/ and click “Get Started” to 

log in using your DS Logon Level 2 account.

If you are eligible based on your deployment history, join the Airborne Hazards 

and Open Burn Pit Registry and encourage your fellow retirees to join, too. 

Participation is a key component in taking control of your own health and 

supporting DoD and VA research efforts. In fact, registry data supported VA’s 

recent decisions to establish service connection for certain conditions as a result of 

presumed exposure to fine particulate matter. To view a full list of these conditions, 

please visit https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/burnpits/, and to learn 

what the PACT Act means for veterans’ benefits, visit www.va.gov/PACT. 

Please note participation in the registry will not affect your access to health care 

or benefits, and it is not related to the VA disability compensation claims process. 

To learn more about the registry, please visit Health.mil/AHBurnPitRegistry. Here 

you will find a brief video, Fact Sheet, FAQs, and other informational materials. 
23

News from Our Partners: Uniformed Service 

Members - Take advantage of your FEDVIP 

enrollment period

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is proud to welcome you to the 

Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP). 

Sponsored by OPM, FEDVIP is a voluntary, enrollee-pay-all dental and vision 

insurance program. It replaced the former TRICARE Retiree Dental Program 

(TRDP). In general, retired uniformed service members, their families, and 

survivors are eligible for FEDVIP dental coverage and, if enrolled in a TRICARE 

health plan, FEDVIP vision coverage. In addition, family members of active duty 

uniformed service members who are enrolled in a TRICARE health plan are eligible 

for FEDVIP vision coverage. Please note: Opportunities to enroll outside of open 

season are limited.

FEDVIP is popular among the more than 3.5 million people already enrolled in 

the program, giving the program high marks for quality and value. With 12 dental 

and 5 vision carriers to choose from, FEDVIP offers great flexibility when selecting 

the right coverage for you and your family, such as:

• regional dental plans as well as nationwide dental and vision plans with 

international coverage

• most plans feature both high and standard options

• a choice between three enrollment types: self, self plus one, or self and 

family 

The Federal Benefits Open Season is your annual opportunity to enroll in, 

change, or cancel a FEDVIP dental and/or vision plan. This year, open season runs 

from November 14 through December 12, 2022, with coverage effective January 1, 

2023.

To familiarize yourself with the program, explore BENEFEDS.com/military. 

BENEFEDS is the secure online portal to enroll in FEDVIP, to research FEDVIP’s 

current list of carriers and plans, and use the plan comparison tool to view rates, 

benefits, and coverage information. 

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24

During open season, you may view informational webinars or access the Virtual 

Benefits Fair by visiting BENEFEDS.com/military. The Virtual Benefits Fair is an 

online health fair that houses 2023 FEDVIP plan information in a single location, 

allowing military families to browse exhibits, view and download plan brochures, 

and chat with BENEFEDS and FEDVIP representatives.

Don’t miss this opportunity! Consider including FEDVIP in your retirement plan 

today.

BENEFEDS is administered by Long Term Care Partners, LLC, with oversight by the 

U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
25

News from Our Partners: Air Force Assistance Fund 

Campaign – 50 Years Of Caring

The four official charities of the Department of the Air Force care for Airmen and 

Guardians across the Air & Space Force family spectrum...active, guard, reserve, 

retired, and surviving spouses of retirees. All have been impacted by the 

coronavirus health crisis, inflation and economic uncertainties. If you are, or know 

of a fellow Airman, Guardian, or a family member in need, you can rely on the 

assistance given by the four official charities of the Department of the Air Force. 

To our faithful retirees who give to the AFAF Campaign each year, we thank 

you! We invite you to get to know your four official charities of the Department of 

the Air Force by visiting their web sites below. Learn what they’re doing to impact 

the lives of our Airmen, Guardians, and their families every day.

Air Force Enlisted Village 

www.afev.us

General & Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation 

www.lemay-foundation.org

Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation 

www.blueskiesoftexas.org/giving/ 

Air Force Aid Society

www.afas.org

Our historic “Commitment to Caring” theme and long-standing principle of 

“taking care of our own” has been made a reality by you over the years, and you’re 

still leading today’s Airmen and Guardians by example! This coming Spring, we will 

be celebrating our golden anniversary for the AFAF Campaign...50 Years of Caring

begins on 27 February 2023!

Great news...The days of a limited window during Spring Time to give to these 

four worthy charities are gone! Now, thanks to our e-Giving options, donors can 

give contributions year-round. You can also now join in on the fun of raising money 

for the four official charities of the Air Force Assistance Fund by registering for your 

own free fundraising page! Head over to https://secure.qgiv.com/event/afaf and 

click the “Find a Base Page” button to select your favorite Base. Scroll down the 

base page to your favorite Unit (maybe the one you retired from...or the favorite 

base and unit of your career). 

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Once you get to the squadron’s “Team” page, you can click the “Join My Team 

(Unit/Squadron)” button to register for your own AFAF fundraising page, or just 

click the “Donate Now” button to give your gift. You can also opt to donate via 

Text-to-Donate by texting AFAF to 50155. 

 And speaking of giving...there’s more great news: We’ve heard your request for 

not having to renew donation processing on an annual basis! Now, through our eGiving portal (including the Text-to-Donate option), you can multiply the impact of 

your gift, while spreading out the cost, by setting up a monthly recurring donation 

that won’t end after 12 months and require annual renewal. Just set up an account 

on the donation page and you’re in full control! If at any time you need assistance, 

please contact us at usaf.fundraising@us.af.mil for help.

If you prefer to donate by payroll deduction, check or money order, download 

the donation form located at https://www.afassistancefund.org/wpcontent/uploads/2022/01/AF2561_2021_ver20210901-static-Retiree-Civ.pdf 

Please fill in the form on your computer before printing, then save and print. By 

mailing in the donation form, you can choose to give by allotment from your retired 

pay for 12 months beginning 1 July 2023, or by sending a check or money order of 

any amount to:

AIR FORCE ASSISTANCE FUND

AFPC/DP3SA

550 C STREET WEST

JBSA-RANDOLPH TX 78150

 *Please don’t send cash in the mail.

Again, on behalf of the four charities, and on behalf of the thousands of our 

Fellow Airmen, Guardians and families you’ve impacted – thank you! 
27

News from Our Partners: Navy-Marine Corps Relief 

Society – Making a Difference for Sailors, Marines, 

and their Families

Recent floods in the South remind us that a disaster can strike at anytime, 

anywhere. We recently received a letter from a client who was assisted several 

years ago when they were impacted by a flood. We often hear from clients years 

after they have been assisted. If you would like to share your NMCRS story, please 

send an email to communications@nmcrs.org 

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:

In early July of 2017, the Chicago area had record heavy rains which caused 

flooding in many areas. I was one of those affected. I am a military member 

stationed at Great Lakes and own a home in the surrounding area. The rains caused 

my sewer line to back up into my finished basement, leaving me with 

approximately 10-15 inches of sewer water and an estimated $10,000 dollars of 

damage.

I had black mold growing in my basement within 24 hours of the initial water 

influx. It took a week and a half before I could get a plumber to come out and stop 

the flow. I found out that all of the drywall and tile needed to be torn out, my 

furnace and water heater needed to be replaced... everything in my basement had 

to go. Furniture, appliances, things I had stored ...all of it was contaminated. The 

first thing I did was contact my insurance company and I found out that none of it 

was covered.

Next I contacted my bank. Unfortunately, I had just taken out a loan to replace 

my roof three months prior. I could not take out another one. In addition, my 

partner had taken a new job that had him out of town for two months. During the 

transition, I had been supporting both of us on my E-5 with no dependents salary. I 

found myself without air conditioning, hot water and unable to pay my bills.

Navy Marine Corps Relief Society rescued me. They gave me emergency funds 

the first day I contacted them and set up an appointment with me to look at my 

budget. They gave me a grant to replace my furnace and water heater, which cost 

more than $4,000. They put me in touch with a Crisis Management team which 

promised to clean out my basement free of charge. They helped me with my budget 

and pointed me in the direction of some other ways to get my finances in order. In 

less than a month, I have my air conditioning and hot water back, a financial plan 

with my bank in place, my bills are taken care of and I stand to be better off in a 

year than I was before all this happened.

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It has cost me nothing.

I can't begin to express how grateful I am to NMCRS for what they have done 

for me. They literally saved me from financial, physical and emotional ruin. I know 

how melodramatic that sounds, but that's the hand to God's honest truth. I've 

never donated to or supported any organization of any kind in my entire life, nor 

have I ever endorsed one in any way...until now.

Thank you doesn't even cover it.

SUPPORTING THE HEALTH NEEDS OF NAVY AND MARINE CORPS FAMILIES:

The NMCRS Visiting Nurse Program officially began on November 25, 1922, 

when Nell Watson was hired as the Society's first Visiting Nurse at the Parris Island 

Branch Auxiliary. This year, we are thrilled our Visiting Nurse Program is celebrating 

its centennial year. So many things have changed in nursing and at NMCRS over 

the past century. However, the care, compassion, and commitment of our visiting 

nurses has remained the same.

The mission of the NMCRS Visiting Nurse Program is to improve the quality of 

life for Navy and Marine Corps active duty, retirees, and family members by 

providing health education and resource referral to promote health maintenance 

and continuity of care.

The Visiting Nurses provide health education throughout the lifespan and can 

work with your health care team to let them know how you’re doing between visits 

to your doctor. While visiting nurses do not provide emergency or bedside care, 

they can help you understand your options for taking the best possible care of 

yourself

NMCRS Visiting Nurses offer a variety of services including home visits, 

telehealth, health education classes, and support groups to help you to understand 

and achieve your health and wellness goals. To learn about a nurse in your area, 

please visit Visiting Nurse Program | NMCRS - 

https://www.nmcrs.org/pages/health-education

RECEIVING ASSISTANCE:

Did you know that the most common requests for no-interest loans and grant 

assistance at NMCRS are basic living expenses, such as rent and food? Each year, 

NMCRS provides millions of dollars in assistance for these daily needs to both active 

duty and retired Sailors and Marines. And we provide free, confidential support that 

does not affect your credit score. If you are facing a financial challenge please do 

not hesitate to reach out to NMCRS. To learn more, please visit 

https://www.nmcrs.org

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Since 1904, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society has been there to assist active 

duty and retired Sailors, Marines and their families in their time of need. We will 

continue to be there to assist Sea Service members, thanks to the generous 

support of our donors. If you would like to set up an allotment, please contact 

NMCRS to begin the process. If you would like to make a gift online to support your 

fellow shipmates and Marines, you can make a credit card donation at 

https://support.nmcrs.org/a/rfd. 

You may also opt to donate by check by mailing your gift to NMCRS at 875 N 

Randolph St, Suite 225, Arlington, VA 22203. Thank you!
30

 Contact Us

DFAS Retired & Annuitant Pay Website

https://www.dfas.mil/retiredmilitary

DFAS Retired & Annuitant Pay

Mailing Addresses

Retired Pay: 

Defense Finance and Accounting

Service

U.S. Military Retired Pay

8899 E 56th Street

Indianapolis IN 46249-1200

Annuitant Pay: 

Defense Finance and Accounting

Service

U.S. Military Annuitant Pay

8899 E 56th Street

Indianapolis IN 46249-1300

DFAS Retired & Annuitant Pay 

Phone and Fax Numbers

Phone:

Toll-free: 800-321-1080

Local: 317-212-0551

DSN: 699-0551

Retired Pay Fax: 800-469-6559

Annuitant/Survivor Pay Fax: 800-982-8459

 Phone: 888-332-7411

myPay

https://mypay.dfas.mil