SBP Child Annuitants Turning Age 18 

SBP child annuitants between 18 and 22 years old who do not have a documented incapacitation must regularly certify their status as unmarried or a full-time student to continue to receive annuity payments. Certification is completed by finishing and submitting the DD 2788 School Certification form and Previous Attendance Letter.  

High school or college students turning 18 will receive DD Form 2788 School Certification form and Direct Deposit Authorization for Retired and Annuitant Pay form 60-90 days prior to their 18th birthday. If returned prior to the child turning 18, the forms must be filled out and signed by the legal representative and returned to DFAS by the first day of the month of the child annuitant’s 18th birthday. Once the child reaches age 18, they will need to complete and submit a new Direct Deposit form with their signature, as they are recognized of legal age.
 
The completed, signed School Certification and Direct Deposit forms can be uploaded to the askDFAS online upload tool at www.dfas.mil/askdfas 
If you do not receive a School Certification in the mail and you fit the criteria above, you still need to submit the document. If DFAS doesn’t receive the completed School Certification when due, we will suspend payment until we receive the properly completed document. Please ensure your mailing address is always up-to-date with DFAS so you can receive important communications.

You can download the DD 2788 School Certification Form Wizard by visiting: https://www.dfas.mil/schoolcerts