Directors Message - April 2022

 

Greetings from Cleveland, and welcome to another edition of our Survivor SBP Newsletter. As always, our goal with this newsletter is to you keep informed and updated on what’s happening with the Survivor Benefit Plan.

We began the newsletter in late 2020, just in time to help explain the recently enacted SBP-DIC Offset phase-out legislation. We know this legislation is complicated, no question, but we’re doing our best to untangle it for you.

Past newsletter editions have included updates on how changes in SBP-DIC Offset impact certain annuitants. This edition is no different. This time we provide additional information on phase two of the offset elimination. As we progress through the final phase of offset elimination, we’ll keep you in the loop.

A related article explains the elimination of the Optional Annuity for Dependent Children and the reversion of the SBP annuity to surviving spouses. This affects those spouse annuitants who lost a spouse on Active Duty and requested to have their annuity paid to an eligible dependent child.

Also in the news, School Certification season is here again. We go through the steps you need to take to ensure the continued eligibility of a child annuitant.

We also have an article for those child annuitants turning 18 who need to set up their own direct deposit. By following the steps we outline, these child annuitants, once they are 18, can receive their annuity directly via direct deposit with no interruption.

We will continue to share news of interest to survivors in our quarterly DFAS Retiree Newsletter, and twice a year we will also provide this focused newsletter especially for you. We hope this newsletter, along with our other communications tools, will help to clarify your annuity benefits.

Please share this information with your community of survivors.

Remember, our website puts a lot of helpful information at your fingertips. Check it out: https://www.dfas.mil/retiredmilitary. Look for “Survivors and Beneficiaries” in the menu for links of special interest to survivors.

We honor the service and sacrifices made by you, your family, and your loved one. We are proud to serve those who have served, and we wish you and your family a safe and happy spring and summer season.