Annual School Certification: Time to Act 

The end of the school year signals an important annual requirement for Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) child annuitants between the ages of 18 and 22. To remain eligible and continue receiving your annuity payments without interruption, you must certify your full-time school attendance with the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). 

Understanding the Two Key Documents in Your Packet 

Your annual school certification packet from DFAS contains two critical documents that you must complete and return. 
 

Document Name	Purpose	What You Need to Do
DD Form 2788: School Certification	This is your future-looking statement. You use this form to officially declare your intention to attend school on a full-time basis for the upcoming school year.	You must fill this form out. DFAS provides an online "Form Wizard" to help you do this accurately.
Child Annuitant’s Certification for Previous Attendance Letter	This is your past-looking verification. This letter comes pre-populated with the enrollment information DFAS has on file for the school year that is ending.	If correct: Simply sign and date the letter. If incorrect: You must contact DFAS immediately to correct the record and avoid potential overpayment and debt. Instructions are on the letter.

  
DFAS must receive both the completed DD Form 2788 and the signed Previous Attendance Letter to certify your eligibility. 

Completing Your Forms with the DD Form 2788 Form Wizard 

DFAS strongly encourages you to use the online Form Wizard for your DD Form 2788. It simplifies the process by asking you a series of questions and automatically placing your answers in the correct fields on the form, minimizing errors. 
How to Use the Form Wizard: 

1. Access the Wizard: Navigate to the Retired & Annuitant Pay Forms Library (https://www.dfas.mil/RetiredMilitary/forms/) and find the DD Form 2788 Form Wizard. 

2. System Requirements: 

• The wizard must be downloaded and opened on a Windows or Mac computer. It is not compatible with mobile devices (phones, tablets) at this time. 

• You will need PDF software, such as the free version of Adobe Acrobat, to use the wizard. 

3. Answer the Questions: Proceed through the wizard, answering each question about your enrollment and intentions. 

4. Finalize the Form: Once complete, the wizard gives you two options: 

• Preferred Method: Electronically Sign & Submit: You can sign the form digitally and use a button to go directly to the AskDFAS online upload tool. 

• Alternate method: Print and Sign Manually: You can generate a completed PDF of the form to print, sign by hand, and then scan. 

Security Note: The Form Wizard handles Personally Identifiable Information (PII). It is recommended that you do not save the form on a shared or public computer. 

Submitting Your Documents via the AskDFAS Online Upload Tool 
You can also submit your documents through the secure AskDFAS online portal. This tool works on computers and mobile browsers. 
 

1. Prepare Your Documents: Make sure you have digital copies (PDFs) of: 

• Your completed and signed DD Form 2788. 

• Your signed and dated Previous Attendance Letter. 

2. Go to the https://www.dfas.mil/dd2788upload (https://www.dfas.mil/dd2788upload) 

3. Create a Submission Ticket: Fill out the required fields with your personal information as prompted. 

4. Upload Your Files: Attach both PDF documents to the ticket. You can attach them as separate files on the same ticket. 

5. Include Retiree's SSN: Before uploading, ensure the retiree’s Social Security Number is present on all documents you are submitting. This is critical for matching the forms to the correct account. 

Benefit of Using AskDFAS: You will receive a digital status notification via email. DFAS will update you when your submission is (1) received, (2) assigned to a DFAS technician, and (3) completed, giving you peace of mind that your certification is being processed. 
 Important Life Changes 

• If DFAS does not receive both completed documents by the first day of the last month of your current school year, your SBP annuity payments will be suspended. 

• Other Eligibility Changes: Your SBP annuity is dependent on your status. You must contact DFAS immediately if: 

• You get married. 

• You drop below full-time enrollment or stop attending school. 

Failure to report these changes promptly can lead to a significant debt from overpayment, which you will be required to pay back. 
For additional checklists and resources, visit the School Certifications webpage