R&A Pay establishes, maintains and pays military retirees, and their eligible surviving spouses and other family members.
LATEST NEWS
The latest news, tips and tools for managing your pay, and other helpful information.
Retirees will be paid as scheduled on May 1, 2025. SBP annuitants will be paid as scheduled on May 1, 2025.
Retirees and SBP Annuitants: 2024 Tax Year Statements
2024 tax statements for retirees are available in myPay as of Dec. 17, 2024.
2024 tax statements for SBP annuitants are available in myPay as of Dec. 17, 2024.
2024 tax statements for former spouses are available in myPay as of Dec. 17, 2024.
Tax statements sent through the U.S. Postal Service were in the mail prior to January 31, 2025. In many cases, the electronic online forms are available through myPay (https://mypay.dfas.mil) much earlier and more securely than those sent to customers electing delivery by mail.
1099-R Reissues can be mailed beginning February 10, 2025. Retirees and SBP annuitants can request a 1099-R reissue online using askDFAS. The online 1099-R reissue tool also accepts international addresses.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) 1095-B and 1095-C statements are available in myPay as of Dec.21, 2024. The 1095-B and 1095-C Tax Statements for tax year 2024 are available for reissue via askDFAS.
Check Out Our New Online Tools to Make Managing Your Pay Account Easier! Click Here to Watch Our New askDFAS Tips Video to See How Easy it Can Be!
With our askDFAS online tools, you can conveniently update your mailing address, request a duplicate 1099-R tax statement, or request verification of pay using an online form. Simply and securely submit forms and documents online using our askDFAS Online Upload tools. Use our askDFAS “Ask a Question” tools to send a question and get a response via askDFAS.
Click here to watch a helpful video on the DFAS YouTube channel with a brief guided tour of the tools.
Retirees: See our online tools explainer webpage for retirees:
SBP Annuitants: See our online tools explainer webpage for annuitants
What is Needed to Establish a Special Needs Trust (SNT)? – New Helpful Checklist Now Available
Military members and retirees have the option to direct payment of a Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) Annuity for a dependent child to a Special Needs Trust (SNT). A SNT is a legal instrument specifically designed for the benefit of a person with a disability. This may preserve the beneficiary’s eligibility for other federal or state benefits.
There are specific documents that are required in order to properly establish the SNT. We now have a helpful checklist that details eligibility, required documentation, and options to submit your SNT request. See our webpage, https://www.dfas.mil/sbpsnt, to download the new SNT checklist.
2025 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)
Based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index, there is a 2.5 percent Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for most retired pay and Survivor Benefit Plan annuities, effective December 1, 2024.
Retirees saw the change in their December 31, 2024 payment and annuitants in their January 2, 2025 payment.
For details, see the Fiscal Year 2025 COLA Memorandum:
https://militarypay.defense.gov/Pay/Retirement/cola
Mid-2025 Changes Coming for Retirees Who Pay SBP/RCSBP Monthly Premiums Through Treasury CRS
In mid-2025, DFAS will change the payment process for retirees who pay their SBP or RCSBP premiums directly through Treasury CRS. In the coming months, please watch for communications that will provide details and information about the mid-2025 changes and the actions you will need to take.
There is no action you need to take right now, other than to make sure your mailing address is up to date so you can receive important communications. See our Quick Tools webpage for how to update your mailing address.
You Asked, We Listened! What to Do When a SBP Annuitant Dies - New Helpful Checklist, Online Reporting
You asked for an easier way to report the death of a SBP annuitant. We now have an online option to report the death, a new, helpful checklist, and additional information on what your loved ones need to do and what happens when the death of a SBP annuitant is reported to DFAS. Find out more: See our informative "Report a SBP annuitant's death" webpage.
New Quick Tools Webpage for Retirees and SBP Annuitants - Check it Out Here
You Asked, We Delivered! What to Do When a Military Retiree Dies - New Helpful Checklist
Please see our expanded webpage that outlines how to report a death and the steps to take after the death is reported. We also have a helpful "When a Military Retiree Dies" Checklist you can download and follow as you complete the steps.
Retirees and SBP Annuitants: Helpful Customer Guide for DFAS Online Tools
We have a helpful customer guide to assist in navigating the use of the online tools available for retirees and SBP annuitants.
Click here to download the PDF Customer Guide for retirees and SBP annuitants
New, Simpler Eligibility Verification Requirements for SBP Annuitants - Quick Reference Guide Available!
Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuitants need to verify their eligibility regularly to continue to receive SBP annuity payments. The requirements depend on the SBP annuitant’s age and relationship to the military service member.
We reduced the requirements for SBP annuitants to one annual eligibility verification. Previously, some SBP annuitants needed to complete multiple forms each year. Now, SBP annuitants only need to complete and submit one of the annual verifications each year.
See our webpage, “Manage Your SBP Annuity” for FAQs, a Quick Reference Guide, and additional information.
Helpful Tips & Tools for Retirees New to Retired Pay - Download and Share!
We have helpful tips for you if you are new to Retired Pay: Quick links to the pay calendar, information about taxes and SBP, the VA Waiver, CRDP, CRSC, and more!
Right click HERE and choose save as to download your PDF today!
SBP Student Child Annuitants: Need to submit your school cert? We have helpful tools for you!
See our Form Wizard to help you fill out the DD Form 2788 easily and correctly and our online upload tool on DFAS.mil. Remember, you need to submit both the DD Form 2788 and your Previous Attendance Letter
Check them out on the School Certifications webpage.
SBP-DIC Offset Elimination - Effective January 1, 2023
Beginning with the February 1, 2023 payday, the SBP-DIC Offset was fully eliminated. That means spouses now receive their full SBP monthly payments from DFAS and their full Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payment from the VA.
The Special Survivors Indemnity Allowance (SSIA) will no longer be paid.
Find out more:
Check Out Our Quick Reference Guide!
Listen to our Military OneSource podcast episode explaining the SBP-DIC Offset Elimination
Watch our Military OneSource webinar explaining the SBP-DIC Offset Elimination
See our full range of FAQs on the SBP-DIC News webpage.
*Note: the change in the law does NOT affect the amount of DIC you receive from the VA. You should continue to receive your normal DIC amount from the VA.*
Special Information for Active Duty/Line of Duty Surviving Spouses Who Elected the Optional Annuity for Dependent Children - Effective January 1, 2023
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 directed that as of January 1, 2023, the Optional Annuity for Dependent Children was eliminated and the SBP annuity payment must revert to the surviving spouse (if the spouse submits documentation and is eligible).
Find out more:
Check Out Our Quick Reference Guide!
Listen to our Military OneSource podcast episode explaining the SBP Optional Child Annuity Reversion.
Watch our Military OneSource webinar explaining the SBP Optional Child Annuity Reversion.
See our full range of FAQs on the SBP Optional Child Annuity Reversion webpage.
Please check our special focus webpage for news and information regarding the changes: https://www.dfas.mil/sbp2023childoptrev.
If you are the surviving spouse of an Active Duty/Line of Duty member who requested to have the Survivor Benefit Plan (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.
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 Survivor Benefit Plan (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.
Please note: This does not affect children of retirees.
Spouses, Eligible Former Spouses
We have tools and information to assist you with the DD Form 2656-7 for starting a Survivor Benefit Plan Annuity. We have a Form Wizard to help fill out the form correctly and easily. And we have an online upload option that will provide you with status notifications.
Please note regarding the DD Form 2656-7:
If the member’s death occurred on or after January 1, 2023, Section 6 of the DD Form 2656-7 does not pertain to your application. You can leave Section 6 blank.
If the member’s death occurred prior to January 1, 2023, Section 6 of the DD Form 2656-7 may or may not pertain to your application, depending on your individual circumstances. We recommend you complete Section 6 so we have the information if needed.
Please see the Start an SBP Annuity page for details.
Great News for Reserve and Guard Gray Area Retirees
If you’re retired from the Guard or Reserve but not yet at the age to receive retired pay, we have important news for you. Gray Area Retirees now have a new way to stay connected and informed between the time they stop drilling and when they receive retired pay. It’s a new kind of myPay account that helps you keep your contact information current so that you can stay on top of your future retired pay: click here to find out how to log on.
Retired & Annuitant Pay Customer Service Local Phone Number Changed
The local phone number to reach Retired & Annuitant Pay Customer Service changed. The new number is: 317-212-0551.
The 216-522-5955 local phone number is no longer available to use (after July 1, 2022).
The DSN number to reach Retired & Annuitant Pay Customer Service also changed. The new DSN number is 699-0551.
This change does NOT affect the toll-free number (1-800-321-1080). The toll-free number remains the same.
Status Notifications Rolling Out
Retired & Annuitant Pay continues to roll out new, helpful Status Notifications to keep you in the loop as forms or documents you submit move through the retired pay or annuitant pay processing cycles. The Status Notifications will be sent primarily via SmartDoc email, so make sure you have an up-to-date email in your myPay profile so you can receive them.
Spouses and Children of Recently-Deceased Retirees
We have tools and information to assist you with the SF 1174 for claiming the retiree’s Arrears of Pay. We can now deposit an Arrears of Pay (AOP) payment directly to an eligible claimant’s bank account instead of mailing a check. And we have an online upload option that will provide you with status notifications. Please see the How to Claim Arrears of Pay Using the 1174 page for details. We also have a helpful "When a Military Retiree Dies" Checklist you can download and follow as you complete the steps.
Spouses, Eligible Former Spouses, and Children of Deceased Retirees
We have tools and information to assist you with the DD Form 2656-7 for starting a Survivor Benefit Plan Annuity. We have a Form Wizard to help fill out the form correctly and easily. And we have an online upload option that will provide you with status notifications. Please see the Start an SBP Annuity page for details.
Processing Time Frames - How Long Does It Take?
Please see our new webpage for current typical processing time frames: How Long Does It Take?
R&A Pay is Expanding Communication through Emailed SmartDocs
As part of our commitment to continually improving our customer service, R&A Pay is expanding the use of emailed SmartDocs as a way to communicate about changes to your account and actions that may be needed. Email notifications will speed up the time it takes to notify you about your account. If you don’t yet have an email address in myPay, please add one now so you can receive these email notifications.
A treasury mandate requires us to pay our customers electronically. Most military retirees and annuitants getting paper checks need to set up direct deposit. Start direct deposit now.
Direct Express® Debit Card Program provides members who do not have a bank account an alternative to payment by EFT.
FIND IT FAST
HOW DO I?
The most convenient way to manage your retirement account is through myPay, our online account management system.
myPay Login Instructions:
If you've never logged into myPay
*Note: The information on this website is provided to explain typical situations regarding retiree and annuitant benefits. For details and exceptions, please see applicable laws, financial management regulations, and instructions.
Page Updated Apr 14 2025