R&A Pay establishes, maintains and pays military retirees, and their eligible surviving spouses and other family members.
LATEST NEWS
Find out the latest news and other helpful information.
Retiree payday is September 29, 2023. Annuitant payday is October 2, 2023.
New Quick Tools Webpage for Retirees and SBP Annuitants - Check it Out Here
The quick and easy way to get to our askDFAS online upload tools, Form Wizards, checklists, guides and other helpful tools.
NDAA 2023 SBP Open Season Ends January 1, 2024 - See Our Special Focus Webpage: https://www.dfas.mil/sbpopenseason23.
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023 includes a Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) Open Season. The SBP Open Season began on December 23, 2022 and ends on January 1, 2024.
The SBP Open Season allows for retirees receiving retired pay, eligible members, or former members awaiting retired pay who who were NOT enrolled in SBP or RCSBP (Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan) as of December 22, 2022 to enroll.For retirees currently receiving retired pay, the SBP Open Season Letter of Intent, SBP Open Season Enrollment Form and FAQs about the enrollment process are now available on our special focus webpage.
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. For retirees currently receiving retired pay, the SBP Open Season Discontinuance Form and FAQs surrounding discontinuing participation in the Plan are now available on our special focus webpage.
Please check our special focus webpage for the most up-to-date news and information: https://www.dfas.mil/sbpopenseason23.
New, Simpler Eligibility Verification Requirements for SBP Annuitants - New Quick Reference Guide now 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.
Beginning August 2023, we are reducing the requirements for SBP annuitants to one annual eligibility verification. Previously, some SBP annuitants needed to complete multiple forms each year. Now, SBP annuitants will 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.
It's Here! SBP-DIC Offset Elimination - First Payment for Phase Three was February 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.
Please keep in mind that the SBP payment you received on January 3, 2023 is for your December entitlement, which included the 2023 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). It is NOT the first payment with the elimination of the Offset.
*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 - February 1, 2023 Payday was the Day
February 1, 2023 was the first payday after the 2023 changes to the SBP Optional Child Annuity.
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 directed that as of January 1, 2023, the Optional Annuity for Dependent Children will be 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
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!
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 for the Retiree Newsletter article or click here to find out how to log on.
SBP Student Child Annuitants: Need to submit your school cert? We have helpful tools for you!
We have helpful tools and info for you: a Form Wizard to help you fill out the DD 2788 form easily and correctly and an online upload tool on DFAS.mil.
Check them out on the School Certifications webpage.
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.
New Status Notifications Rolling Out
Retired & Annuitant Pay is rolling 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.
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 Sep 14, 2023