Quick Tools
askDFAS
Forms Library

Customer Service

800-321-1080
M-F, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET

Direct Remittance Roundup: Help Us Process Your SBP Payments More Efficiently


(Note: This article is for retirees who pay their Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) premiums by direct remittance. If your SBP premiums are automatically deducted from your pay, you can disregard this article.)

DFAS is always working to improve processes for our valued retirees. In this article, we're focusing on direct remittance for Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) premiums. If you are a retiree who pays your premiums directly to DFAS, this article has important information for you.
         
We have recently identified a common issue that can delay the posting of SBP premium payments, especially for retirees who use a bank’s online bill pay service. With your help, we can easily fix this and ensure your payments are credited to your account without delay.

The Challenge of Unidentified Payments
When DFAS receives a payment without enough identifying information, it requires extra research to determine which account to credit. This detective work can delay the processing of your payment.
 
A frequent cause of this issue stems from bank online bill pay services. Many of these services do not send funds electronically but instead print and mail a paper check on your behalf. If the memo or account field in the bill pay setup is not completed correctly, the check arrives but cannot be applied to your account.

How You Can Help
To prevent delays, please take a moment to review your process if you mail a check or use your online banking service to make SBP premium payments. Please ensure your payments follow these requirements:
 
  1. Include Your DoD ID Number: This is the most crucial piece of information. It can be found on your monthly SBP premium bill. Please add your DoD ID Number to the “account number” or “memo” field.
  2. Discontinue Use of CRS Number: The Centralized Receivables Service (CRS) is no longer used for SBP billing, and your old CRS number is obsolete. To avoid confusion, please remove it from your payment details.
  3. Include Additional Details: If space allows, consider adding a note such as “SBP Direct Remittance” or “SBP DR” and your last name. This is particularly important if the payment originates from a joint or third-party bank account.
  4. Optional - Add your SSN: Under the Privacy Act, DFAS cannot require you to include your SSN on your payment, but you may do so to improve payment matching.

Better Ways to Pay: Featured Payment Options
To avoid the uncertainty of mailed checks, we strongly encourage you to switch to one of the following secure and convenient electronic payment options:
 
  • Pay.gov: This is the most convenient way to make SBP premium payments directly from your bank account or with 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 (https://www.pay.gov/public/form/start/1463931154). Please note: this is a separate government webpage located outside of DFAS.mil.
  • Deductions from VA Compensation: If you receive disability compensation from the VA, you may be eligible to have your SBP premiums deducted directly from those payments. This "set it and forget it" option ensures timely payments every month. To set this up, complete the DD Form 2891 Interim, which is available on our Forms Library (https://www.dfas.mil/raforms), and submit it to us. We recommend using AskDFAS (https://www.dfas.mil/askdfas) for all document submissions.
Taking these small steps will make a big difference, ensuring your SBP account remains in good standing. For more information, please visit our “Paying for SBP” webpage (https://www.dfas.mil/payforsbp).


 
Page updated Mar. 25, 2026