Many states let a Power of Attorney (POA) handle another person’s finances or other legal paperwork regardless of that person’s competency. These state laws often conflict with federal laws. Military retirement and annuities fall under federal law, which takes priority over state law.
DFAS has several avenues for allowing a loved one or trusted individual to help with a retiree’s account or an annuitant’s account.
These avenues are called “third-party representation” and they fall into two categories, either non-pay-related or pay-related representation.
More details on the third-party options for retiree accounts are available on the “Powers of Attorney/Third Party Representatives for Retirees” page.
More details on the third-party options for annuitant accounts are available on the “Powers of Attorney/Third Party Representatives for Annuitants” page.
Page updated July 26, 2019.