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                        - SBP Open Season NDAA2023

## **​**March 2023 Retiree Newsletter

**Click here to download a PDF of the March 2023 Retiree NewsletterDirector’s Message**Welcome to the March 2023 Retiree Newsletter!**The 2023 Tax Deadline is Approaching**April 18, 2023 is the tax deadline this year and now is a good time to make sure you have all your tax documents ready**Gray Area Retiree Spotlight: What is RCSBP?**RCSBP is quite similar to the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) that covers non-reserve components of the armed services. However, there are a number of differences in eligibility, coverage and cost that reflect the unique nature of Reserve and Guard service.**The NDAA 2023 SBP Open Season is Now**The SBP Open Season runs from December 23, 2022 to January 1, 2024.**The NDAA 2023 SBP Open Season: What Retirees Need to Know About Enrolling **The SBP Open Season allows for retirees receiving retired pay, eligible members, or former members awaiting retired pay who were NOT enrolled in SBP or RCSBP (Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan) as of December 22, 2022 to enroll. Enrollment in SBP during the Open Season is a four-step process.**The NDAA 2023 SBP Open Season: What Retirees Need to Know About Discontinuing **The SBP Open Season also allows eligible members and former members who were enrolled in SBP or RCSBP (Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan) as of December 22, 2022 to permanently discontinue their SBP coverage. **Keeping Your AOP and SBP Beneficiaries Informed and Updated**An inevitable reality for all of us is that one day we will no longer be there for those we love. For military retirees, there are two ways to leave something behind for your loved ones.**Changes to the Survivor Benefit Plan for SBP Annuitants in 2023 **This year brought big changes to the Survivor Benefit Plan for surviving spouses who were also receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payment from the VA. It also brought big changes for surviving spouses and children of members who died on active duty or inactive duty, in the line of duty, and chose the Optional Annuity for Dependent Children. **News from Our Partners: Air Reserve Component Retirement Pay Applications Transition to myFSS**Headquarters AF/A1 is in the process of transitioning all personnel systems currently located on the myPers website onto two new platforms, myFSS and MyVector.**News from Our Partners: Bases Launch 2023 Air Force Assistance Fund Campaign...50 Years of Caring**On 27 February, the Department of the Air Force launched the 50th annual Air Force Assistance Fund 50 Years of Caring Campaign at Air and Space Force Bases worldwide.**News from Our Partners: Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society**Thank you to all who supported NMCRS in 2022. Your generosity made a huge impact in the lives of over 40,000 Sailors, Marines and their families.

**2023 Pay Calendar**To help you plan for 2023, here is the list of paydays.**Click here to download a PDF of the March 2023 Retiree Newsletter**Download a PDF of the March newsletter to read, print or share (right click and choose "Save link as" to save to your computer) 

## December 2022 Retiree Newsletter

**Click here to download a PDF of the December 2022 Retiree Newsletter****Director’s Message**Welcome to the December 2022 Retiree Newsletter!**The Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act: Survivor Benefit Plan Open Season**We are working to prepare the forms, policies, and processes. Please check our special webpage for news and information.**There’s Still Time to Get a Head Start on Tax Season**Make sure you have everything set up so you can get your tax documents for filing.**Gray Area Retiree Spotlight Article: Retiring Soon? Get the New Tips & Tools for Retirees New to Retired Pay**Gray Area Retirees: This is an article of interest to you. **myPay: How to Reactivate Your Account or Get Started**myPay is a convenient tool for getting your tax documents quickly and easily.**2023 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) **Based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index, there is an 8.7 percent COLA for most retired pay and Survivor Benefit Plan annuities. **Your Retiree Account Statement (RAS) Shows Your Current SBP Coverage**Your RAS has information about SBP. The SBP section has five lines for members who participate in SBP.**What Retirees Can Expect in the Year-End Mail from DFAS**For retirees who still request postal mail from us, each January we mail your 1099-R.**CRDP/CRSC Open Season - Frequently Asked Questions**Retirees who are eligible for both CRDP and CRSC will receive an annual letter with instructions about how to change your election from one program to the other, if you choose.**Form Wizard Roundup**Our Form Wizards “take the form out of the form” to make it easier to provide the correct information. **The SBP-DIC Offset Phased Elimination: What Surviving Spouses Need to Know About 2023 **On February 1, 2023, surviving spouses will receive their full SBP payment from DFAS and their full DIC payment from the VA.**The 2023 Changes to the SBP Optional Annuity for Dependent Children: What Surviving Spouses and Children Need to Know and Do**What surviving spouses and 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**News from Our Partners: DoD Uniformed Services ID Card Reissuance**In July 2020, DoD began the transition from the paper-based Uniformed Services Identification (USID) card to a more secure, Next Generation USID card.**News from Our Partners: Air Force Assistance Fund Campaign - 50 Years of Caring**This coming spring, AFAF will be celebrating their golden anniversary for the AFAF Campaign...50 Years of Caring **News from Our Partners: Recently Retired from Service? Take Advantage of Your FEDVIP Enrollment Period    **OPM is proud to welcome retiring members of the uniformed services to the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP)**News from Our Partners: Calderon Service Soars Long After Retiring from USAFGiving Back through the CFC in Many Ways**Giving Back through the CFC in Many Ways**News from Our Partners: Sutton Extends His Commitment to Public Service after Retiring. You Can Too.**The CFC and charities in this campaign are so appreciative of the generosity of retirees. **2023 Pay Calendar**To help you plan for 2023, here is the list of paydays.**Click here to download a PDF of the December 2022 Retiree Newsletter**Download a PDF of the December newsletter to read, print or share (right click and choose "Save link as" to save to your computer) 

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## September 2022 Retiree Newsletter

**Click here to download a PDF of the September 2022 Retiree Newsletter**

**Director’s Message**Welcome to the September 2022 Retiree Newsletter!**Fall is for...Taxes?**Now is the best time to double check everything is correct regarding your documentation so there are no hiccups when you file your taxes.**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?**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. **How to Get a Verification of Pay Letter**Using myPay to generate a Verification of Pay Letter can make the process easier.**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.**Check Out Our Revamped askDFAS Resource Page for Retirees and Annuitants**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 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. **The 2023 Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) Elimination of the Optional Annuity for Dependent Children and Reversion of SBP Annuity to Surviving Spouses**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).**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.**News from Our Partners: Retired Members - Take advantage of your FEDVIP enrollment period**Sponsored by OPM, FEDVIP is a voluntary, enrollee-pay-all dental and vision insurance program. It replaced the former TRICARE Retiree Dental Program (TRDP).**News from Our Partners: Air Force Assistance Fund Campaign – 50 Years Of Caring**This coming Spring, we will be celebrating our golden anniversary for the AFAF Campaign...50 Years of Caring begins on 27 February 2023!**News from Our Partners: Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society – Making a Difference for Sailors, Marines, and their Familie**sSince 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.**Click here to download a PDF of the ****September**** 2022 Retiree Newsletter**Download a PDF of the September newsletter to read, print or share (right click and choose "Save link as" to save to your computer)

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## March 2022 Retiree Newsletter

**Click here to download a PDF of the March 2022 Retiree Newsletter**

**Director’s Message**Welcome to the March 2022 Retiree Newsletter!**Tax Season Deadline Approaching: How to get a Duplicate Copy of Your 1099R Tax Statement**With the tax deadline rapidly approaching (Monday, April 18th), now is a good time to make sure you have all your tax documents in hand.**Update on askDFAS Online Upload Tools with Status Notification Feature**DFAS continues to roll out the use of status notifications to keep you in the loop as forms or documents you submit move through the retired pay or annuitant pay processing cycles. **Additional Forms Available for Upload Online Using the askDFAS Online Upload Tool**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 uploaded through askDFAS on the DFAS.mil website**Retiree Form Wizard Now Available For Use: DD Form 2894 - Designation of Beneficiary**We are excited to introduce the Form Wizard for the DD Form 2894 – Designation of Beneficiary. This is the first Form Wizard available for use by retirees.**Gray Area Retirees: Get Connected and Get Informed**Check out the new, helpful information for military Gray Area Retirees**The SBP-DIC Offset Phased Elimination: Phase Two is Here**January 1, 2022 marked the start of the second phase of the SBP-DIC Offset Phased Elimination.**What Surviving Spouses Need to Know: Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) 2023 Elimination of the Optional Annuity for Dependent Children and Reversion of SBP Annuity to Surviving Spouses**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).**Educating Your Beneficiaries Before Your Final Paycheck – AOP **It is very important that a beneficiary or beneficiaries are designated in your retired pay account for your Arrears of Pay, and that the information provided remains up to date,**Identifying the Status of Spouse/Former Spouse SBP Coverage on your Retiree Account Statement (RAS)**Under the law, SBP coverage for a spouse ends with a divorce. Coverage for a former spouse does not continue after the divorce unless certain actions are taken.**Elimination of Multiple RAS Mailings to Reduce Confusion and Costs**As part of our work to identify efficiencies that can speed up processing of requests and reduce costs, we will stop mailing multiple Retiree Account Statements (RAS) during the month.**School Cert Season Is Here Again – Steps to Take for Your College-Age SBP Child Annuitants**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.**Direct Deposit Information for SBP Child Annuitants Turning 18**To avoid any disruption in direct deposit, DFAS allows SBP child annuitants to set up a direct deposit in their own name up to 60 days prior to reaching their 18th birthday.**News from Our Partners: Change in Temporary Guidance for USID Cards**All Uniformed Services ID (USID) Cards issued to retirees and their dependents, that were previously extended in accordance with Department of Defense (DoD) temporary guidance for USID cards during the COVID-19 pandemic, expired January 31, 2022, and must be replaced**News from Our Partners: Air Force Assistance Fund Kicks Off Annual Campaign for Charities**The long-standing principle of “Airmen 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! If you would like to support this year’s AFAF Campaign, giving is easier than ever and can be done at any time during the year.**News from Our Partners: Recently Retired from Service? Take Advantage of Your FEDVIP Enrollment Period **If you’ve recently retired from the uniformed services, you have a 91-day enrollment window to enroll in a FEDVIP dental and/or vision plan.**Click here for a PDF of the March 2022 Retiree Newsletter**Download a PDF of the March newsletter to read, print or share (right click and choose "Save As" to save to your computer)

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## ****Page updated Mch 27 2024****

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