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Direct Remittance: News You Can Use


(Note: This article is for retirees who pay their SBP premiums by direct remittance. If your SBP premiums are automatically deducted from your retired pay, Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC), or VA compensation, you can disregard this article.)

We have some important updates for retirees who pay Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) premiums directly to DFAS. Learn how to ensure your direct remittance SBP payments are processed efficiently and how to keep your account in good standing.
The Best Ways to Pay: Secure, Electronic, and Hassle-Free
At DFAS, we are actively working to modernize payment options to serve you better. Mailing a physical check can lead to postal delays, processing issues, and manual errors. To ensure your payment is credited on time and securely, we strongly encourage all direct remitters to use one of our modern electronic payment options:
  • Pay.gov: If you prefer to manage your payments monthly, Pay.gov is the quickest and most convenient way to pay online using your bank account or a debit card. The online form is simple, secure, and provides immediate confirmation. To get started: have your DoD ID handy from your billing statement and navigate to the “DOD Military Retired Pay SBP Premium” online form. Please note: this is a separate government webpage located outside of DFAS.mil.
  • Deductions from VA Compensation: This is the ultimate "set it and forget it" method. If you receive Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) compensation, having your premiums deducted automatically is the most reliable way to ensure timely payments. To set this up, complete the DD Form 2891 Interim available in our Forms Library and submit back to DFAS. We’ll handle the coordination with the VA from there.
Still Mailing a Check or Using Online Bill Pay? The Old Lockbox is Closed
 If you are unable to transition to electronic payments and must continue mailing a paper check, it is crucial that you verify you are sending payments to the correct address. This includes those who use your bank’s online bill pay service – where your bank may send a physical check to DFAS even if the payment setup is digital from your perspective.

Previously, our billing was handled by the Treasury's Centralized Receivables Service (CRS), and many retirees have continued sending payments to the old CRS lockbox. That CRS lockbox, P.O. Box 790145, is now closed. Any payments sent to the old address will only be forwarded for a short period of time – so please act now to ensure your payments do not get returned. If you must mail a check, please send it to our correct direct remittance address:
         
          Defense Finance and Accounting Service, DFAS-CL
          SBP Remittances
          P.O. Box 979013
          St. Louis, MO 63197-9000

Please also be sure to discontinue referencing your CRS account number on any payments. If you use your bank’s online bill pay, please change the payment details to reflect these updates since CRS is obsolete and DFAS is now billing you directly.

Any payment must include your full name and the DoD ID number on the front of your check or money order. Reminder: your DoD ID can be found on your monthly SBP premium billing statement from DFAS. Under the Privacy Act, you are not required to supply your Social Security Number, but you may add it to the front of the check to improve success matching payments to your account.

If space permits, please add a note that the payment is for “SBP Direct Remittance” or “SBP DR”. It is also ideal if your last name appears on the check. Please keep this in mind especially if you are paying from a joint or third-party bank account.

Direct Remittance Mailing: Did You Receive a Letter from Us? Here’s What to Do Next
We recently sent letters to some retirees for whom we may have an outdated mailing address and who haven’t made an SBP premium payment recently. We obtained one-time mailing addresses from the VA for a special attempt to reconnect with you.

Even if your retired pay is fully offset by your VA compensation, you may still have active SBP coverage that requires monthly premium payments. It is vital that we have your correct contact information.

Only a certain group of direct remitters received a letter based on the targeted circumstances stated above. If you received a letter about this topic, please determine which of the two scenarios below applies to you:

Scenario 1: Your Letter Was an Address Update Request
If your letter asked you to confirm and update your mailing address, that is its primary purpose. Having your correct address on file is essential for you to receive your monthly SBP bills and other important correspondence. Please use one of the many convenient methods listed in the letter (myPay, AskDFAS, or DD Form 2866) to update your contact information with DFAS right away.

Scenario 2: Your Letter Included a "DD Form 2656-8"
If your letter mentioned automatic SBP coverage and included a DD Form 2656-8, "SBP Automatic Coverage Fact Sheet," it requires an additional step. This means we need you to help us verify your family composition at the time you retired to ensure your SBP coverage and premiums are calculated correctly.

It is very important that you:
 
  1. Update your mailing address using the methods described in the letter.
  2. Complete, sign, and return the DD Form 2656-8. This form is the key to resolving any questions about your SBP account. If our records show a past-due balance, this form will allow us to confirm your beneficiary status and make the necessary corrections. Alternatively, this process could validate your automatic SBP coverage, and you will need to begin paying monthly SBP premiums and make plans to pay any past due SBP balance.
Returning the DD Form 2656-8 promptly will ensure your account is accurate and will stop future billing if it is determined you had no eligible beneficiaries at retirement.

You may learn more about online self-service options for managing your retired pay account and updating contact information by visiting the Quick Tools webpage.

For more information about paying SBP premiums, please visit our “Paying for SBP” webpage.

We are committed to making your SBP payment process as smooth and secure as possible; stay tuned for more important updates for our direct remitters in the months ahead!


 


Paged updated June 26, 2026