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# **DFAS Survivor SBP Newsletter**

## **Survivor SBP Newsletter - Fall 2023**

**Click here to download a PDF of the Fall 2023 newsletter**

#### **Director's Message**

Greetings from Cleveland, and welcome to Fall 2023  edition of our semi-annual Survivor SBP Newsletter. 

#### **Active Duty/Line of Duty Survivors Spotlight**

Special Information for Active Duty/Line of Duty SBP Annuitants.

#### **Simplifying Eligibility Verifications for SBP Annuitants**

Beginning in August 2023, DFAS reduced the requirements for SBP annuitants to one annual eligibility determination.

#### **New Quick Tools Webpage Available for SBP Annuitants and Survivors**

What is the Quick Tools page? Think of it as a one-stop-shop for our most popular and often-requested tools.

#### **Who Pays SBP and Who Pays DIC?**

When you are receiving direct deposit payments to your bank account, it can be difficult to figure out which agency is paying which deposit.

#### **Your Next “To-Do” List Should Include Taxes**

As you check off your next “to-do” list of chores and tasks, be sure to include preparation for filing your taxes.

#### **myPay: How to Reactivate Your Account or Get Started**

myPay is an online tool for getting your tax documents, as well as managing your annuitant pay account year-round.

#### **Did You Know?**

We recognize the laws and regulations governing military annuity pay are complex and can be difficult to understand. In each issue of the DFAS Survivor SBP Newsletter, we will share a few helpful tips and tidbits for survivors.

#### **2024 Pay Calendar**

To help you plan for 2024, see the calendar of the days you should expect to receive your annuitant pay.

#### **Click here for a PDF of the Fall 2023 Survivor SBP Newsletter**

Download a PDF of the Fall 2023 newsletter to read, print or share (right click and choose “Save Link As” to save to your computer or device). 

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#### **Survivor SBP Newsletter - April 2023**

**Click here to download a PDF of the April newsletter**

##### **Director's Message**

Greetings from Cleveland, and welcome to sixth edition of our semi-annual Survivor SBP Newsletter. 

##### **Active Duty/Line of Duty Survivors Spotlight: ****The Survivor Benefit Plan 2023 Active Duty/Line of Duty Optional Annuity for Dependent Children Elimination/Annuity Reversion to Surviving Spouses**This year brought big changes for surviving spouses and children of members who died on active duty or inactive duty, in the line of duty, and requested the Optional Annuity for Dependent Children.**Active Duty/Line of Duty Survivors Spotlight: From Our Partners: All About the Online Survivor Benefits Reports**The following links connect to information about the online survivor benefits reports for surviving spouses, eligible adult children and guardians of surviving children.**Active Duty/Line of Duty Survivors Spotlight: Keeping Your Contact Information Updated**Did you know you need to keep your contact information updated with DFAS, DEERS, and your loved one’s Branch of Service to ensure you receive important information and your benefits?

##### **The SBP-DIC Offset Elimination**

This is the year surviving spouses who receive Survivor Benefit Plan payments and also receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payments from the VA see the end of the SBP-DIC Offset.

##### **School Certification Season Is Just Around the Corner**

Spring is upon us and for most students another school year will soon be coming to a close. Child annuitants between the ages of 18 and 22, attending school on a full-time basis, will soon start receiving their annual school certification packets. 

##### **What You Need To Know For Child Annuitants Approaching Age 18**

Child annuitants who are unmarried and attending school full time, may remain eligible to receive benefits after reaching the age of 18. Once they turn 18, however, they are no longer required to have a guardian or legal representative. DFAS will therefore discontinue the direct deposit allowing the guardian or legal representative to receive benefits on the annuitant’s behalf.

##### **How Child SBP Payments are Divided for Families With More Than One Child**

When Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) benefits are paid to children, the benefit must be divided equally and paid to each eligible child. 

##### **Did You Know?**

We recognize the laws and regulations governing military annuity pay are complex and can be difficult to understand. In each issue of the DFAS Survivor SBP Newsletter, we will share a few helpful tips and tidbits for survivors.

##### **2023 Pay Calendar**

To help you plan for 2023, see the calendar of the days you should expect to receive your annuitant pay.**Click here for a PDF of the April 2023 Survivor SBP Newsletter**Download a PDF of the April newsletter to read, print or share (right click and choose “Save Link As” to save to your computer or device). 

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#### **Survivor SBP Newsletter - October 2022**

**Click here to download a PDF of the October newsletter**

**Director’s Message – October 2022**Welcome to the fifth issue of our new Survivor SBP Newsletter.

**Active Duty/Line of Duty Survivors Spotlight: 2023 Changes to the SBP Optional Annuity for Dependent Children​** - **What Surviving Spouses Need to Know**What surviving spouses need to know and do to prepare for the 2023 changes to the SBP Optional Annuity for Dependent Children.**Active Duty/Line of Duty Survivors Spotlight: 2023 Changes to the SBP Optional Annuity for Dependent Children​** - **What Surviving Children Need to Know**What surviving child annuitants (or their parents/guardians) need to know and do to prepare for the 2023 changes to the SBP Optional Annuity for Dependent Children**Active Duty/Line of Duty Survivors Spotlight: News from Military OneSource - Free Tax Services**MilTax connects you with free support from tax consultants, including access industry leading e-filing software. Survivors of deceased active duty, National Guard and reserves are eligible for personalized support. **The SBP-DIC Offset Phased Elimination: What Surviving Spouses Need to Know About 2023 **On February 1, 2023, surviving spouses will receive their full Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) 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. **Your Next “To-Do” List Should Include Taxes**As you check off your next “to-do” list of chores and tasks, be sure to include your taxes.**​myPay: How to Reactivate Your Account or Get Started**myPay is an online tool for getting your tax documents, as well as managing your annuitant pay account year-round.**What Annuitants Can Expect in the Year-End Mail from DFAS**For annuitants who still request postal mail from us, what to expect in the mail.**New Form Wizard Now Available For Use: DFAS 9415 Representative Payee Certification**We are excited to introduce the new Form Wizard for the DFAS 9415 Representative Payee Certification.**Check Out Our Revamped askDFAS Resource Page for Annuitants and Retirees**As part of our work to modernize Retired & Annuitant Pay and make the processes easier for you, we recently revamped the askDFAS Resource webpage section for annuitants and retirees.**Did You Know?**We recognize the laws and regulations governing military annuity pay are complex and can be difficult to understand. In each issue of the DFAS Survivor SBP Newsletter, we will share a few helpful tips and tidbits for survivors.**News from our Partners: Special Newsletter from Army Survivor Outreach Services**“The Survivor Link” is the Army Survivor Outreach Services (SOS) newsletter. **2023 Pay Calendar**To help you plan for 2023, see the calendar of the days you should expect to receive your annuitant pay.**Click here for a PDF of the October 2022 Survivor SBP Newsletter**Download a PDF of the October newsletter to read, print or share (right click and choose “Save Link As” to save to your computer or device). 

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#### **Survivor SBP Newsletter - April 2022**

**Click here to download a PDF of the April newsletter**

**Director’s Message – April 2022**Welcome to the fourth issue of our new Survivor SBP Newsletter.**Active Duty Line of Duty Spotlight: 2023 Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) Elimination of the Optional Annuity for Dependent Children and Reversion of SBP Annuity to Surviving Spouses**2023 will be a year of big changes for survivors who lost a loved one on active duty. **The SBP-DIC Offset Phased Elimination: What You Need to Know About Phase Two and Phase Three**On January 1, 2022, Phase Two of the SBP-DIC Offset Phased Elimination began.**Check Out Our Helpful Customer Information Guide for SBP Annuitants**Our new Annuitant Customer Information Guide outlines the tools we developed to simplify finding basic information about your pay or submitting a request for a change to your account.**Do Not Be Late To Class! It is School Cert Season**Child annuitants between the ages of 18 and 22, attending school on a full-time basis, will soon start receiving their annual school certification packets.**Do You Have a Child Annuitant Turning 18? Important Information You Should Know**SBP child annuitants turning 18 need to send new direct deposit instructions**. ****Authenticator Apps Make myPay Two-Factor Authentication Simpler**How to use an authenticator app to simplify myPay 2FA.**Did You Know?**In each issue of the DFAS Survivor SBP Newsletter, we share a few helpful tips and tidbits for survivors.**Click here for a PDF of the April 2022 Survivor SBP Newsletter**Download a PDF of the April newsletter to read, print or share (right click and choose “Save As” to save to your computer). 

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#### **Survivor SBP Newsletter - December 2021**

**Click here to download a PDF of the December newsletter****Director’s Message – December 2021**Welcome to the third issue of our new Survivor SBP Newsletter.**Active Duty Line of Duty Survivors Spotlight December 2021**The SBP 2023 Active Duty/Line of Duty Optional Annuity for Dependent Children elimination/annuity reversion to surviving spouses.**Surviving Spouses Currently Entitled to Both SBP and DIC in 2022: Watch Your Mailbox for Your Individual Estimate Letter**On January 1, 2022, Phase Two of the SBP-DIC Offset Phased Elimination will begin.**Tax Season is Here Again**As we enter another tax season, we want to make sure you are aware of all of the options you have for getting your tax documents.**myPay Now Accepts Authenticator Apps for Two-Factor Authentication Login**myPay can accept PINs generated by third-party authenticator apps.**What Annuitants Can Expect in the Year-End Mail from DFAS**For annuitants who still request postal mail from us, here’s what you can expect.**Status Notifications Update**Status notifications are a three-step process that will update you when DFAS receives select forms or documents for processing by mail or fax.**askDFAS Online Upload Tools: More Tools, More Convenience**We are building a suite of online tools that allow forms and required documentation to be uploaded through askDFAS on the DFAS.mil website.**2022 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)**Based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index, there will be a 5.9 percent Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA).**Did You Know?**In each issue of the DFAS Survivor SBP Newsletter, we will share a few helpful tips and tidbits for survivors. **News from our Partners: Special Newsletter from Army Survivor Outreach Services - “The Survivor Link”**“The Survivor Link” is the new Army Survivor Outreach Services (SOS) newsletter.**News from our Partners: Extension of USID Card Expirations Policy Guidance for USID Cards with Expiration Dates Between January 1, 2020 and July 31, 2021**USID Cards issued to retirees and their dependents extended in accordance with this guidance must be replaced by January 31, 2022.**2022 Pay Calendar**The 2022 annuitant pay dates.**Click here for a PDF of the December 2021 Survivor SBP Newsletter**Download a PDF of the December newsletter to read, print or share (right click and choose “Save As” to save to your computer). 

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#### **Survivor SBP Newsletter - June 2021**

**Click here to download a PDF of the June newsletter**
**Director’s Message – June 2021**
**Active Duty Line of Duty Survivors Spotlight June 2021**
**The SBP-DIC Offset Phased Elimination: What to Expect in the Upcoming Phases**
**Status Notifications Roll Out in 2021**
**What SBP Annuitants Need to Know - How to Verify Eligibility to Keep Payments Coming**
**Did You Know?**
**What Child Annuitants Need to Know About School Certifications**
**myPay for SBP Annuitants**
**News from our Partners: Army Survivor Outreach Services announces The Survivor Link – Inaugural Issue May 2021**

**Click here for a PDF of the June 2021 Survivor SBP Newsletter**Download a PDF of the June newsletter to read, print or share (right click and choose “Save As” to save to your computer). 

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#### **Survivor SBP Newsletter - December 2020**

**Click here to download a PDF of the December Newsletter****Director's Message**Welcome to the very first issue of the new DFAS Survivor SBP Newsletter!**Active Duty/Line of Duty Survivors Spotlight**Special information for Active Duty/Line of Duty Survivors.**The Phased Elimination of the SBP-DIC Offset Begins in January of 2021**Read all about the upcoming changes to the SBP-DIC Offset.**What to Expect in Your End-of-Year Mailing from DFAS**End-of-year packets will be in the mail no later than January 31, 2021.**Making Forms Easier to Fill Out and Submit**In the past year, DFAS began rolling out a series of new form tools to help annuitants fill out and submit forms easily and correctly. **School Certifications: Now Simpler and Easier**Please see the article for all of the good news on the new, easier process.**The Benefits of Using myPay for SBP Annuitants**The quickest and most secure way to manage your SBP annuity or SSIA pay is with myPay. If you’ve never used myPay, it's easy to get started.**2021 Pay Schedule**See this easy reference for pay dates in 2021.**Click here for a PDF of the December 2020 Survivor SBP Newsletter**Download a PDF of the December newsletter to read, print or share (right click and choose “Save As” to save to your computer). 

Page Updated Oct 30 2023 

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