1 

Director’s Message

Greetings from Cleveland. The leaves are changing colors and the days are getting cooler 

and shorter. That means it is time for the fall edition of the Survivor Newsletter. We have a lot 

of information for you in this issue. 

This newsletter focuses on news of special interest to survivors to keep you informed on 

what’s happening with the Survivor Benefit Plan. 

First, as of August, you only need to submit one annual eligibility document each year. The 

details about which document and when are in the article, “Simplifying Eligibility 

Verifications for SBP Annuitants.” This change will reduce the paperwork required for you to 

keep your SBP payments coming.

Our website is quickly becoming the “go to” spot to get things done. We have a new Quick 

Tools page and it’s a great place to find the tools you need: 

https://www.dfas.mil/raquicktools

Sometimes, survivors receive payments from different agencies and it can be confusing 

trying to figure which payment is coming from where. We have an article in this edition that will 

help you sort that out.

 Tax season is just around the corner and we have a great article on what you can do now to 

make tax time as easy as possible. Be sure to read all about it in this article. 

In addition to the website being the fastest way to get information, myPay is a great tool 

for survivors to use in managing your SBP account. If you don’t already have a myPay account, 

we encourage you to get started. Please see the article about myPay for more information.

Lastly, we have some quick tips in our “Did you Know” article, along with the updated pay 

calendar for 2024. As a reminder, SBP pays on the first business day of the month. So if the 

first of the month falls on a weekend or holiday, you will be paid on the next business day.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read our newsletter. We are working hard every 

day to provide the best customer service possible and that starts with keeping you informed. 

We hope you have a safe and happy holiday season. 

Defense Finance and Accounting Service

Survivor SBP Newsletter

Fall 2023
2 

Active Duty/Line of Duty Survivors Spotlight

Survivors: Are You Missing Important Information About Your 

Benefits Because Your Contact Information is Out of Date? 

As a survivor, did you know it’s important to keep your contact information updated 

with DFAS, DEERS, and your loved one’s service to ensure you receive important 

information and your benefits? If we have updated contact information for you, we can 

inform you when there are program or policy changes, or if you need to provide us with 

information to keep your benefits coming. 

How to Update Your Service

To update your contact information, please contact your service’s long-term case 

management program:

• Army’s Survivor Outreach Services

Email: usarmy.jbsa.imcom-hq.mbx.sos-survivor-advocate@mail.mil

Phone: 833-313-1960

• Navy Casualty’s Long Term Assistance Program

Email: mill_ltap@navy.mil

Phone: 877-270-2162

• Navy Gold Star Program

Phone: 888-509-8759

• Marine Corps Long Term Assistance Program

Phone: 866-210-3421, Ext. 2

• Air Force Families Forever Program (also for Space Force)

Phone: 866-299-0596

How to Update Your Address with DFAS

There are several ways to update your address if you are receiving Survivor Benefit 

Plan (SBP) payments for yourself or for a child. The easiest and most convenient way to 

update your address is by logging into myPay and updating it there: 

https://mypay.dfas.mil. 

If you don’t have a myPay account, you can send us a letter by mail or fax (see 

Contact Us at the end of this newsletter) or you can upload your letter as a PDF using our 

askDFAS online upload tool: https://www.dfas.mil/raquicktools

Be sure to include your full name, your Social Security Number and the member’s 

Social Security Number, and sign and date any written correspondence. 

 You can also call our Customer Care Center at 800-321-1080.

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Active Duty/Line of Duty Survivors Spotlight – continued

How to Update Your Contact Information with the Defense Enrollment Eligibility 

Reporting System (DEERS) 

Family members can update contact information after they're registered in DEERS.

Options to update your information are:

• Log into milConnect: https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect/

• Call 1-800-538-9552 (TTY/TDD: 1-866-363-2883)

• Fax updates to 1-800-336-4416 (Primary) or 1-502-335-9980 (Alternate)

• Mail updates to: 

Defense Manpower Data Center Support Office 

Attn: COA

400 Gigling Road

Seaside, CA 93955-6771

Please note: If you receive VA benefits, you also need to keep your contact 

information updated with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Find out how:

https://www.va.gov/change-address/

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4 

Active Duty/Line of Duty Surviving Spouses: If You Chose the 

“Optional Child Annuity” and Haven’t Sent Your Paperwork, 

Please Take Action

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 previously requested the Optional Annuity 

for Dependent Children. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 repealed 

the authority for the Optional Annuity for Dependent Children as of January 1, 2023.

This means for the surviving spouse of an Active Duty/Line of Duty member who originally 

requested to have the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuity paid directly to an eligible dependent 

child or children, the annuity must now revert to the surviving spouse (if she or he 

submits documentation and is eligible).

Please check our special focus webpage for details regarding the 

changes: https://www.dfas.mil/sbp2023childoptrev

Surviving Spouses

If you are the surviving spouse of an Active Duty/Line of Duty member who requested to 

have the SBP annuity paid directly to an eligible dependent child or children and you have NOT 

submitted a Spouse Eligibility Packet, we need your information as soon as possible. Please 

download, fill out and submit the eligibility packet from our special focus webpage as soon as 

possible: https://www.dfas.mil/sbp2023childoptrev

Surviving Children

If you are the surviving child or the parent or guardian of a surviving child of an Active 

Duty/Line of Duty member whose surviving spouse requested to have the SBP annuity paid 

directly to the child or children at the time of the member’s passing, please see our special 

focus webpage for more information: https://www.dfas.mil/sbp2023childoptrev

Special Note About Eligibility Verifications for Newly Eligible 

Surviving Spouses

Spouse SBP annuitants under the age of 55 are required to verify each year they are not 

married. We realize that some of you just recently began receiving pay, so it may seem odd to 

need to provide eligibility verification so soon after the start of your SBP benefit payments. 

However, we do need a new completed, signed eligibility verification from you by the first day

of the month of your birthday each year, so if you receive a request, please promptly 

complete and sign your document and return it to us. Please see the article in this issue 

“Simplifying Eligibility Verifications for SBP Annuitants.” 

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Active Duty/Line of Duty Survivors Spotlight – continued

Active Duty/Line of Duty Survivors Spotlight - From Our 

Partners: All About the Online Survivor Benefits Reports 

(OSBRs)

The following links connect to information about the Online Survivor Benefits Reports 

(OSBR) for surviving spouses, eligible adult children and guardians of surviving children. 

You will be able to see the various financial benefits you should be receiving from all federal 

resources and view projected future payment amounts, which will include any recent 

changes in law. You will also learn about the Family Assistance Support Team (FAST) who 

can help you to access your reports, to include your initial OSBR. The interactive OSBR 

further allows you to input “what if” scenarios to your — and your family members’ — 

education, employment, disability and marital status. 

• MilLife Learning course: https://millifelearning.militaryonesource.mil/MOS/mcfpprod/f?p=SIS:9:::::P9_ID:108

• Webinar: https://www.militaryonesource.mil/resources/webinars/onlinesurvivor-benefits-report-overview-webinar-2/

• Podcast: https://www.militaryonesource.mil/resources/podcasts/militaryonesource/online-survivor-benefits-reports-podcast/

Active Duty/Line of Duty Survivors Spotlight: News from Military 

OneSource - Free Tax Services

MilTax connects you with personalized support from tax consultants and access to 

e-filing software that includes industry-recognized security safeguards. Surviving spouses 

or dependents of service members who die while in an active duty status may be eligible 

for this free resource. 

Find out more: https://www.militaryonesource.mil/financial-legal/tax-resourcecenter/miltax-military-tax-services/

Active Duty/Line of Duty Survivors Spotlight - News from 

Military OneSource: New Survivor Resources Webpage

Military OneSource has a new "I am a Survivor" webpage that offers information, 

resources and confidential support options for our military survivor community: 

https://www.militaryonesource.mil/role/survivor/

~ ~ ~
6 

Simplifying Eligibility Verifications for SBP Annuitants

As part of our work at DFAS Retired & Annuitant Pay to transform into an even more 

customer-friendly environment, we are simplifying eligibility verifications for SBP 

annuitants. Check out the good news below. 

Changes to Simplify Eligibility Verifications for Annuitants

Beginning in August 2023, DFAS reduced the requirements for SBP annuitants to one 

annual eligibility determination. Previously, some SBP annuitants needed to complete 

multiple forms each year. Now, you will only need to complete and submit one annual 

verification each year. 

Also, the two new annual eligibility verifications now have names that identify their 

purpose. Plus, their due dates are easy to remember: they are due the first day of the 

month of your birthday. 

The three annual eligibility verifications for annuitants are now:

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 Certificate of Eligibility (COE). It is due the first day of the month of the 

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. The 

School Certification is due the first day of the month the annuitant’s school year ends. 

Note: School Certification requirements did not change, but it now serves as your only 

annual certification for the year (see information below). 

Foreign Address Update for Mailed Check (FAUMC) 

The Foreign Address Update for Mailed Check (FAUMC) is required annually only if an 

annuitant is receiving a check in the mail outside the United States and does not need to 

submit a School Certification or a Survivor Benefit Plan-Marital Status Update. The FAUMC 

replaces the Report of Existence (ROE). The FAUMC is due the first day of the month of the 

annuitant’s birthday

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7 

Overview of Annual Eligibility Requirements

Child SBP Annuitants Ages 18-22 Who Must Submit a School Certification

Now, SBP annuitants who are currently required to submit a School 

Certification/Previous Attendance Letter won’t need to complete any of the other annual 

eligibility documents. No more COE and, no more twice-a-year ROEs. 

SBP Spouse/Former Spouse Annuitants Under 55 and Incapacitated Child 

Annuitants Ages 14 and Over Who Must Submit an Annual Certificate of Eligibility 

We replaced the annual Certificate of Eligibility (COE) with the Survivor Benefit PlanMarital Status Update (SBP-MSU). 

Previously, annuitants age 14 to 55 needed to submit a COE annually to provide their 

current marital status.

Now, annuitants age 14 to 55 will submit an annual Survivor Benefit Plan-Marital Status 

Update (SBP-MSU) instead of the COE. 

SBP annuitants who are currently required to submit a School Certification/Previous 

Attendance Letter won’t need to complete an annual Survivor Benefit Plan-Marital Status 

Update (SBP-MSU), formerly the COE.

We also have a new, convenient online upload tool on our website for returning the 

SBP-MSU. Once you complete and sign your SBP-MSU, you can save it as a PDF file, then 

upload it online at askDFAS. Find out more here: https://www.dfas.mil/askdfas

We also have emailed status notifications for the new SBP-MSU when submitted 

through AskDFAS. 

Please note that we will still accept and process annuitant COEs in place of the new 

SBP-MSU during the period of the transition from the old process to the new, simpler 

process. If you owed a COE prior to August of 2023, you should complete and return it. You 

can also download the new SBP-MSU from our website Forms Library here 

(https://www.dfas.mil/raforms) and return that instead.

SBP Annuitants Who Receive a Check in the Mail to a Foreign Address

We replaced the twice-yearly Report of Existence (ROE) for SBP annuitants with an 

ANNUAL Foreign Address Update for Mailed Checks (FAUMC) letter. 

Previously, annuitants who received a hardcopy check to a foreign address needed to 

complete and return an annuitant Report of Existence (ROE) twice each year. One ROE was 

due the month of their birthday and one ROE was due six months after their birthday. For 

annuitants who needed to submit an annual Certificate of Eligibility (COE) the month of 

their birthday, that COE took the place of the ROE due the month of their birthday but they 

still needed to submit a second ROE six months after their birthday.

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8 

Now, annuitants who receive a hardcopy check in the mail to a foreign address will only 

need to complete and return the new annual FAUMC once a year (due the first of the month 

of their birthday). 

In addition, now, if an SBP annuitant receiving a hardcopy check in the mail to a 

foreign address is required to submit an annual Survivor Benefit Plan-Marital Status Update 

(SBP-MSU), the annual SBP-MSU submission will take the place of the FAUMC. This means, 

starting in August, an SBP annuitant who is required to submit an annual SBP-MSU 

will not have to submit an FAUMC, even if they are receiving a hardcopy check in the 

mail to a foreign address. 

If the annuitant is a student SBP child annuitant age 18-22 who is required to submit 

an annual School Certification, they will not have to submit an annual SBP-MSU or an 

FAUMC. 

We also have a convenient online upload tool on our website for returning the annuitant 

FAUMC. Once you complete and sign the FAUMC, save it as a PDF file, then you can upload 

it online at askDFAS. Find out more here: https://www.dfas.mil/askdfas

Please note, we will still accept and process annuitant ROEs in place of the new 

annuitant FAUMC during the period of the transition from the old process to the new, 

simpler process. If you owed an ROE prior to August of 2023, you should complete and 

return it. You can also download the new annuitant FAUMC from our website Forms Library 

here (https://www.dfas.mil/raforms) and return that instead.

Summary of New, Simpler Annual Requirements for SBP Annuitants

• If a child annuitant age 18-22 (not documented as incapacitated), the School 

Certification/Previous Attendance Letter is the only annual verification they need to 

submit.

• If a child annuitant age 14-17 (not documented as incapacitated), the Survivor 

Benefit Plan-Marital Status Update is the only annual verification they need to 

submit.

• If caring for an incapacitated child annuitant age 14 or over, the Survivor 

Benefit Plan-Marital Status Update is the only annual verification they need to 

submit.

• If a spouse/former spouse annuitant under the age of 55, the Survivor Benefit 

Plan-Marital Status Update is the only annual verification they need to submit.

• If receiving a check in the mail outside the United States and do not need to 

submit a School Certification or a Survivor Benefit Plan-Marital Status Update, the 

Foreign Address Update for Mailed Check is the only annual verification they need to 

submit.

Find Out More About the Annuitant Eligibility Verification Changes

We have additional information about the changes on our “Manage Your SBP Annuity” 

webpage, including a downloadable PDF Public Fact Sheet with an overview of what is 

required, when it is mailed, and when it should be completed and returned: 

https://www.dfas.mil/managesbp
9 

New Quick Tools Page Available for SBP Annuitants and 

Survivors

Here at DFAS Retired and Annuitant Pay, we’re very busy working on ways to improve 

our customer service for you. And here’s the latest example: the Quick Tools page on 

DFAS.mil.

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

often-requested tools. It’s designed specifically for people who have a clear picture of what 

they need to accomplish and just need one simple place to find it.

One thing you’ll immediately notice about the Quick Tools page is its organization. The 

webpage is neatly organized by customer group. As a valued member of the SBP 

annuitant/survivor community, there’s a section just for you. Whether you’re looking for 

the way to report a death, get a 1099-R tax statement reissued, utilize myPay, or use one 

of our helpful Form Wizards or convenient askDFAS online upload tools—this webpage will 

get you where you need quickly!

And just as we always do—we’ll keep working on this page to make it most useful and 

current over time. We have even more great tools planned for you, so we’ll make sure 

Quick Tools is always a quick stop to meet your needs. 

You can find the Quick Tools page at https://www.dfas.mil/raquicktools. 
10

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. 

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) from the Department of Veteran’s 

Affairs (VA) is the most common monthly payment Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuitants 

receive in addition to SBP. 

We hope this article will help you identify the differences between the two types of 

monthly payments. 

Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) – Overview 

The Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) is a Department of Defense program. It provides 

financial support to military spouses or children when a military member dies while on duty 

or after retirement (if the retiree chose to participate). 

After the service member passes away, the SBP annuity is paid out monthly to the 

surviving spouse, or to the child or children of the member. The monthly payment is known 

as an annuity and the recipient of an SBP annuity is referred to as the annuitant. 

There is only one Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuity. It is paid either to the 

spouse or to the child/children. If paid to multiple children, the annuity is split into equal 

shares.

The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) is the DoD agency that processes

and makes DoD SBP payments. 

SBP - Payments

SBP is paid on the first of the month. However, if the first falls on a weekend or 

holiday, SBP annuitants are paid on the first business day of month. For example, for the 

December 2023 entitlement, SBP annuitants are scheduled to receive payment on January 

2, 2024.

A direct deposit of SBP in a bank account will be labeled similar to this: 

“DEPOSIT – DFAS-CLEVELAND AR ANN PAY” 

If there are multiple children receiving the SBP payment into the parent/guardian’s 

bank account, there will be multiple SBP deposits (one for each child). 

SBP annuity payments are subject to federal income tax. 

SBP – Resources

Find out more about SBP: https://www.dfas.mil/managesbp

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VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) - Overview

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a tax-free monetary benefit paid to 

eligible survivors of military service members who died in the line of duty or eligible 

survivors of members whose death resulted from a service-related injury or disease. 

DIC - Payments

There are a number of ways that VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation

payments are different than DOD Survivor Benefit Plan payments. 

For example, DIC payments may be made for BOTH a surviving spouse and a surviving 

child or children. The SBP payment is made to either the spouse OR a surviving child or 

children. 

DIC payments are tax-free for federal income tax purposes, while SBP payments are 

subject to federal income tax. 

DIC payments are made based on tables of standard benefits, while SBP payments 

are based on an individual member’s retired pay. 

In addition, DIC is paid in one monthly deposit, even if the payment includes a 

spouse benefit and a benefit for a child or for multiple children. 

A direct deposit of DIC in a bank account will be labeled similar to this: 

“DEPOSIT – VACP TREAS 310 XXVA BENEF” 

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is tax-free for federal income tax 

purposes. 

DIC – Resources

Find out more about DIC: 

https://www.va.gov/disability/dependency-indemnity-compensation
12

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. Yes, even though it is months before they are due, now is 

an important time to double check everything is correct with your personal information and 

documentation.

Start with myPay

The online tool DFAS offers to help you have a smooth tax season is myPay 

(https://mypay.dfas.mil). The most important step is to log in to your myPay account 

and update your mailing address – tax season is much easier when your address on file 

with DFAS is the same as your address on file with the IRS.

myPay offers printing or downloading of your tax statements for your annuity pay. You 

can print/download your current year tax statement, as well as prior year 1099-Rs (up to 

two prior years for annuitants). In addition, you’ll have earlier access to your 1099-R tax 

statement in myPay. Statements 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 reactivate your myPay account or how to set up your 

login for the first time.

Changing Your Federal Withholding

 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. The blue bar tells you 

when you can expect the changes to go into effect.

 

Changing Your Federal Withholding Using an IRS Form W-4P

The IRS Form W-4P is the “Withholding Certificate for Periodic Pension or Annuity 

Payments” form and functions much the same way a W-4 does for income tax withholding.

Find it on our Forms Library webpage.

 

State Taxes

DFAS cannot withhold state taxes for annuitants. For information on changes or 

questions about what is or is not taxable in your state, contact your state department of 

revenue.

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Reminder: You Can Request a Duplicate 1099-R Using Our askDFAS Tool

If you are not a myPay user, you can get your 1099-R sent to your mailing address on 

record or a one-time, temporary mailing address by submitting your request online via 

askDFAS. Plus, you can request a prior year 1099-R. Your duplicate 1099-R should be in 

the mail within 10 business days.

Please note that 2023 tax year 1099-R reissues cannot be mailed prior to February 12, 

2024. 

Find more information at: http://www.dfas.mil/managesbp
14

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.

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

easily update your contact information, tax withholding, or download your tax documents.

Reactivating Your myPay Account

We know 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 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.

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

device.

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

3. 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.” 

4. 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.” 

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

online.

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 annuity pay account.

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

your account.

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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 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. 
16

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.

• Did You Know: When you fill out an IRS Form W-4P and submit it via myPay, mail, or 

fax it to DFAS Military Annuitant Pay, we will withhold federal income taxes from your 

annuity payment. Every January, we will issue a 1099-R statement that you will need to 

complete your tax return.

• Did You Know: Surviving spouses maintain their eligibility for SBP until death, as long 

as they do not remarry before the age of 55. If the annuitant remarries before age 55, 

annuity payments will stop. However, if the marriage of an annuitant (who remarried 

before age 55) later ends for any reason, their eligibility for the annuity is reinstated, 

effective on the first day of the month the marriage ends. The annuity payments will be 

restarted, once DFAS has received and processed the notification and documents.

• Did You Know: DFAS recognizes various types of third party representation for those 

annuitants needing help in managing their account. However, one type of representation 

DFAS does not recognize for annuitants is a Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA). Currently 

DFAS is authorized by law to accept a DPOA only for retiree accounts. We will keep you up 

to date if this situation changes. A detailed explanation of third party representation can be 

found at: https://www.dfas.mil/annthirdparty

• Did You Know: SBP child annuitants between 18 and 22 years old must regularly 

certify their status as an unmarried, full-time student to continue to receive annuity 

payments. For both high school and college student turning 18 and over 18, we will now 

also use the annual DD 2788 School Certification Form as the annual COE/SBP-MSU 

instead of sending a separate verification to submit each year. 

• Did You Know: There are several ways to change your address? The easiest and most 

convenient way to update your address is by logging into myPay and updating it there. If 

you don’t have a myPay account, you can also call our customer care center at 

800-321-1080, or you can send us a letter by mail, by fax or by uploading it using our 

askDFAS online upload tool. Be sure to include your full name, your Social Security 

Number and the member’s Social Security Number, and sign and date any written 

correspondence.

• Did You Know: In addition to keeping your mailing address updated with DFAS, it’s 

important to keep your information current with your loved one’s Branch of Service if you 

are a surviving spouse or child of a member who died on active duty or inactive duty, in the 

line of duty. Please see our Active Duty/Line of Duty Survivors Spotlight in this issue for 

more information.

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Did You Know? DFAS Webpages for Survivors

• Manage your SBP annuity: https://www.dfas.mil/managesbp

• Quick Tools: https://www.dfas.mil/raquicktools

• SBP 2023 Active Duty/Line of Duty child option reversion: 

https://www.dfas.mil/sbp2023childoptrev

• Understanding SBP, DIC, SSIA: https://www.dfas.mil/sbpdicssia 

• SBP-DIC offset phased elimination: https://www.dfas.mil/sbpdicnews 

• School Certifications: https://www.dfas.mil/schoolcerts

• Claim retiree Arrears of Pay: https://www.dfas.mil/retireeaop 

• Start an SBP annuity: https://www.dfas.mil/startsbp 

• askDFAS: https://www.dfas.mil/askDFAS (click on Retirees & Annuitants) 

• DFAS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DFASOfficial

• myPay: https://mypay.dfas.mil
18

2024 Pay Calendar

To help you plan for 2024, below is a list of the days you should expect to receive your pay. 

Retired and annuitant pay is due on the first of the month. However, if the first falls on a 

weekend or holiday, retirees are paid on the last business day of the month and annuitants are 

paid on the first business day of month. 

For example, for December 2023, retirees will receive payment on December 29, 2023. 

However, annuitants are scheduled to receive payment on January 2, 2024. Please see the 

chart for each month in 2024.

Entitlement Month Retired Pay Date Annuitant Pay Date

September 2023 September 29, 2023 October 2, 2023

October 2023 November 1, 2023 November 1, 2023

November 2023 December 1, 2023 December 1, 2023

December 2023 December 29, 2023 January 2, 2024

January 2024 February 1, 2024 February 1, 2024

February 2024 March 1, 2024 March 1, 2024

March 2024 April 1, 2024 April 1, 2024

April 2024 May 1, 2024 May 1, 2024

May 2024 May 31, 2024 June 3, 2024

June 2024 July 1, 2024 July 1, 2024

July 2024 August 1, 2024 August 1, 2024

August 2024 August 30, 2024 September 3, 2024

September 2024 October 1, 2024 October 1, 2024

October 2024 November 1, 2024 November 1, 2024

November 2024 November 29, 2024 December 2, 2024

December 2024 December 31, 2024 January 2, 2025
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Contact Us

DFAS Retired & Annuitant Pay Website

https://www.dfas.mil/retiredmilitary

DFAS Retired & Annuitant Pay

Mailing Addresses

Annuitants:

Defense Finance and Accounting 

Service

U.S. Military Annuitant Pay

8899 E 56th Street

Indianapolis IN 46249-1300

Retirees:

Defense Finance and Accounting 

Service

U.S. Military Retired Pay

8899 E 56th Street

Indianapolis IN 46249-1200

DFAS Retired & Annuitant Pay

Phone and Fax Numbers

Customer Care Phone:

Toll-free: 800-321-1080

Local: 317-212-0551

DSN: 699-0551

Annuitant/Survivor Pay Fax: 

800-982-8459

myPay Customer Care:

https://mypay.dfas.mil

Phone: 888-332-7411