What SBP Annuitants Need to Know About Annual Eligibility Verifications

In 2023, DFAS Retired & Annuitant Pay simplified eligibility verifications for SBP annuitants. Now, SBP annuitants only need to complete and submit one annual verification each year.

When Your Annual Verification is Due

The due dates of annual verifications for:

•     School Certifications + Previous Attendance Letter = Due the first day of the last month of your school year (based on the information you provided to us about your school year academic calendar).

•     Survivor Benefit Plan - Marital Status Update (SBP-MSU) = Due the first day of the month of your birthday.

•     Foreign Address Update for Mailed Checks (FAUMC) = Due the first day of the month of your birthday.

Who Needs to Submit an Annual Eligibility Verification

•     Child annuitant ages 18-22 attending school full-time (not documented as incapacitated): must submit the School Certification + Previous Attendance Letter each year.

•     Child annuitant ages 14-17 (not documented as incapacitated) must submit the Survivor Benefit Plan-Marital Status Update each year.

•     If caring for an incapacitated child annuitant age 14 or over, parent/legal representative must submit the Survivor Benefit Plan-Marital Status Update each year.

•     Spouse/former spouse annuitant under the age of 55, must submit the Survivor Benefit Plan-Marital Status Update each year.

•     Any annuitant receiving a check in the mail outside the United States who does not need to submit a School Certification or a Survivor Benefit Plan-Marital Status Update must submit the Foreign Address Update for Mailed Check each year.

Where to Get the Verification Form or Letter to Submit

The DD Form 2788 Child Annuitant’s School Certification and Child Annuitant’s Certification for Previous Attendance Letter are mailed approximately 60 days prior to the annuitant’s school year end, based on the academic calendar the annuitant previously submitted to us. The Previous Attendance Letter is pre-filled with the dates the annuitant previously told us they would attend school full-time. We also have a helpful Form Wizard for the DD 2788. See our special School Certifications webpage for more information: https://www.dfas.mil/schoolcerts

The Survivor Benefit Plan-Marital Status Update is mailed approximately 90 days prior to the annuitant’s birthday. You can also download the SBP-MSU from our website Forms Library (https://www.dfas.mil/raforms) and submit that instead.

Foreign Address Update for Mailed Check (FAUMC) is mailed approximately 90 days prior to the annuitant’s birthday. You can also download the FAUMC from our website Forms Library (https://www.dfas.mil/raforms) and submit that instead.

How to Submit Your Annual Eligibility Verification

SBP-MSU Online Upload Tool

We have a new, convenient online upload tool on our website for submitting the SBP-MSU. Once you complete and sign your SBP-MSU, you can save it as a PDF file, then upload it online at askDFAS. Find out more here: https://www.dfas.mil/askdfas.

School Certifications Online Upload Tool

DFAS created an online upload tool where students can upload a school certification form and Previous Attendance Letter through askDFAS on the DFAS.mil website, which is also accessible on a mobile browser. Find out more: https://www.dfas.mil/schoolcerts.

FAUMC

The FAUMC can be mailed or faxed. To mail or fax an eligibility verification form or letter:

Mail:

Defense Finance and Accounting Service
U.S. Military Annuitant Pay
8899 E 56th Street
Indianapolis IN 46249-1300

Annuitant/Survivor Pay Fax:
800-982-8459

What is the Purpose of the Annual Eligibility Verifications?

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.

Survivor Benefit Plan-Marital Status Update (SBP-MSU)

The Survivor Benefit Plan-Marital Status Update (SBP-MSU) is required annually for SBP annuitants ages 14-55 (except those child annuitants 18-22 who are required to submit a School Certification) to confirm marital status and continued eligibility for the Survivor Benefit Plan. The SBP-MSU replaces the Certificate of Eligibility (COE). It is due the first day of the month of the annuitant’s birthday.

School Certification

The DD Form 2788 Child Annuitant’s School Certification and the Child Annuitant’s Certification for Previous Attendance Letter are required annually from child annuitant’s ages 18-22 to confirm full-time school attendance and marital status for continued eligibility for the Survivor Benefit Plan. The School Certification is due the first day of the month the annuitant’s school year ends. Note: The School Certification and Previous Attendance Letter are now the only annual verification child annuitant’s 18-22 attending school full-time need to submit.

Foreign Address Update for Mailed Check (FAUMC)

The Foreign Address Update for Mailed Check (FAUMC) is required annually for any annuitant receiving a check in the mail outside the United States who does not need to submit a School Certification or a Survivor Benefit Plan-Marital Status Update. The FAUMC replaces the Report of Existence (ROE). The FAUMC is due the first day of the month of the annuitant’s birthday.

Find Out More About the Annuitant Eligibility Verifications and Changes   

We have additional information about the changes on our “Manage Your SBP Annuity” webpage, including a downloadable PDF Public Fact Sheet with an overview of what is required, when it is mailed, and when it should be completed and returned: https://www.dfas.mil/managesbp.

We have additional information about School Certifications, a Form Wizard to help you fill out the DD 2788 correctly, and a helpful checklist on our “School Certifications” webpage: https://www.dfas.mil.

Page updated Apr 24 2024