What You Need to Know About the Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP)

Our website is a great resource for getting the most up-to-date information about Retired and Annuitant Pay. We recently updated our webpage on the Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP). Whether you are still drilling, in the Gray Area, or receiving your retired pay, it is important to understand how RCSBP benefits your loved ones and what you need to do if you go through a life changing event. This page contains all the needed information including the benefits paid, the costs, and what you need to do if something changes regarding your beneficiaries.

It is critical that you notify your Branch of Service of any changes if you are still in the gray area, or DFAS if you are already receiving your retired pay. Some changes have a one-year time limit, and once that time limit is reached, the change is permanent. For example, If you get married,  you have one year from the date of marriage to add your new spouse or decline coverage if you previously had a spouse. After one year, the election defaults to your election when you first became eligible and it cannot be changed. Likewise, if you gain your first child, you only have one year to add child coverage, otherwise children will be excluded from future coverage. Please know that if you gain an additional child and already have child coverage, the new youngest child will automatically be covered and there is no change in cost. However, you do still need to notify DFAS and your BOS of the new child. If your marriage ends due to the death of your spouse or divorce, you must let DFAS and your BOS know about that as well so the premiums can be adjusted and coverage type changed.

Please go to https://www.dfas.mil/RetiredMilitary/provide/rcsbp/ to read all about RCSBP and SBP.