Survivor Benefit Plan

Annuitant Eligibility Verification 2023

Quick Reference

What Happens in 2023

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

DFAS is simplifying the eligibility verification process for SBP annuitants beginning August 2023.

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

ONE annual verification each year.

Annual Verification Types Beginning August 2023

Survivor Benefit Plan-Marital Foreign Address Update for School Certification

Status Update (SBP-MSU) Mailed Check (FAUMC)

The Survivor Benefit Plan-Marital The Foreign Address Update for The DD Form 2788 Child AnnuiStatus Update (SBP-MSU) is Mailed Check (FAUMC) is required tant’s School Certification and the

required annually to confirm marital annually from annuitant’s Child Annuitant’s Certification for

status and continued eligibility for receiving a check in the mail outside Previous Attendance Letter are

the Survivor Benefit Plan. The the United States if they don’t need required annually to confirm full-time

SBP-MSU replaces the COE. to submit a School Certification or a school attendance and marital

Survivor Benefit Plan-Marriage status for continued eligibility for the

Due the first day of the month

of annuitant’s birthday.

Status Update. The FAUMC

replaces the ROE.

Survivor Benefit Plan. Note: School

Certification requirements did not

change.

Due the first day of the month

of annuitant’s birthday. Due the first day of the month

annuitant’s school year ends.

Summary of New, Simpler Annual Verification Requirements

If you are:

Spouse/former spouse annuitant under the age of 55, the Caring for Incapacitated child annuitant age 14 or over,

Survivor Benefit Plan-Marital Status Update is the Survivor Benefit Plan-Marital Status Update is

your only required annual verification. the only required annual verification.

Child annuitant age 18-22 (and not documented as Receiving a check in the mail outside the United States

incapacitated), the School Certification/Previous and do not need to submit a School Certification or

Attendance Letter is your only required annual a Survivor Benefit Plan-Marriage Status Up

verification. date, the Foreign Address Update for Mailed

Check is your only required annual verification.

Child annuitant age 14-17 (and not documented as

incapacitated), the Survivor Benefit Plan-Marital

 See Page 2 for details Status Update is your only required annual

verification.

SBP = Department of Defense (DoD) Survivor Benefit Plan

DFAS = Defense Finance and Accounting Service; the DoD agency

that processes Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) payments Page 1 Public - Sep2023
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Survivor Benefit Plan

Annuitant Eligibility Verification 2023

Quick Reference

New, Simpler Requirements Beginning August 2023

New Requirements:

Spouse and Former Spouse SBP Annuitants

(Includes spouse/former spouse annuitants

documented as incapacitated)

Spouse and former spouse annuitants

under the age of 55 = Survivor Benefit

Plan-Marital Status Update (SBP-MSU)

due annually the first day of the month

of their birthday.

Spouse and former spouse annuitants age

55 and over receiving a check in the mail

outside the U.S.= Foreign Address Update

for Mailed Checks (FAUMC) letter due

annually the first day of the month of

their birthday.

Requirements:

Child SBP Annuitants Ages 18-22

(School Certification Requirements Did Not Change)

Student Child SBP Annuitants turning 18 =

School Certification and Direct Deposit

forms due once (the first day of the

month of their18th birthday).

Student Child SBP Annuitants ages 18-22

= School Certification/Previous

Attendance Letter due annually the

first day of the last month of their school

year.

New Requirements:

Child SBP Annuitants Under Age 18

Child SBP Annuitants age 14 and over =

Survivor Benefit Plan-Marital Status Update

(SBP-MSU) due annually the first of the

month of their birthday.

Child SBP Annuitants under 14 receiving a

paycheck in the mail to a foreign address =

Foreign Address Update for Mailed Checks

(FAUMC) letter due annually the first day of

the month of their birthday.

New Requirements:

Child SBP Annuitants Documented

as Incapacitated

Child SBP Annuitants Documented as

Incapacitated age 14 and over = Survivor

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

of their birthday.

Child SBP Annuitants Documented as

Incapacitated under age 14 and receiving a

paycheck in the mail to a foreign address =

Foreign Address Update for Mailed Checks

(FAUMC) letter due annually the first day of

the month of their birthday.

Notes:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Helpful DFAS Webpages for SBP Annuitants

Manage Your SBP Annuity DFAS Facebook

https://www.dfas.mil/managesbp www.facebook.com/DFASOfficial

School Certifications myPay

https://www.dfas.mil/schoolcerts https://mypay.dfas.mil

Quick Tools

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