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Gray Area Retirees

 
Gray Area Retirees Now Have a New Avenue to Stay Connected: A New Kind of myPay Account

For Army National Guard, Air National Guard, Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Air Force Reserve Gray Area Retirees, there is a new avenue to stay connected and informed between the time they stop drilling and the time they start receiving retired pay.

It’s a new kind of myPay account especially for Gray Area Retirees.

This basic “Future Retiree” myPay account provides Gray Area Retirees a convenient way to keep their contact information updated with DFAS during the gray area period, so that they can receive important news from DFAS and from their Branch of Service.

With their current contact information, DFAS and their Branch of Service can keep them informed about changes in the laws or policies that may affect them, send them their Services’ Retiree Newsletter and the DFAS Retiree Newsletter, and remind them when the window to apply for retired pay is approaching.

In addition, with current contact information in the new myPay account, when DFAS receives a completed Gray Area Retiree application for retired pay from the Branch of Service, DFAS will send email status notifications to the retiree: when DFAS receives the application, when DFAS begins working on the application, and when DFAS completes it. Note: Gray Area Retirees should always work with their Branch of Service to complete their retired pay application. Please see specific information from your Service for the procedure and contacts.
 
 
New: Helpful Tips & Tools for Retirees New to Retired Pay - Download and Share!
We have new helpful tips for you if you are new to Retired Pay: Quick links to the pay calendar, information about taxes and SBP, the VA Waiver, CRDP, CRSC, and more! 
Right click HERE and choose save as to download your PDF today!
Who Are Gray Area Retirees?

Gray Area Retirees are members who served in the Guard or Reserve, are qualified for retired pay, and have retired from their service (stopped drilling), but are not yet at the age where they can start receiving retired pay. The time between their retirement from the service and the date when they are eligible to begin receiving retired pay is the “gray area.” The “gray area” applies even if the member is in the Retired Reserve. 

A Guard or Reserve member is generally not eligible to start receiving retired pay until they reach age 60. However, some periods of active duty or active service can reduce the age requirement below 60 years of age (Reduced Age Retirement). Please consult with your Branch of Service for the applicable periods of active duty or active service. The earliest age that a Gray Area Retiree can start receiving reduced age retired pay is age 50.
 
How to Access a Gray Area Future Retiree myPay Account

We have helpful downloadable “Gray Area Future Retiree myPay Account Login Tips” to assist you in logging in to your new myPay account. Click here or Right Click here and choose Save As to save it to your computer. 
 
If you previously used myPay and DO have access to the email in your myPay account:

You may be able to use the myPay login you created prior to your retirement from your service, if you previously set up a Login ID and you have access to the email address in your myPay account.

If you have access to the email address in your myPay account and you don’t remember your Login ID or your password (or your password has expired), you can use the “Forgot your Login ID?” Or “Forgot or Need a Password?” links on the myPay homepage: https://mypay.dfas.mil.

If you have not accessed myPay since November 2009, have never created a Login ID, or there was a delay that prevented DFAS from receiving your gray area status, please follow the instructions below for new myPay users.
 
If you previously used myPay and don’t have access to the email in your myPay account:

You may be able to use the myPay login you created prior to your retirement from your service, if you previously set up a Login ID and security questions and remember them, even if you do not have access to the email address in your myPay account.

If it’s been more than a year since you used myPay, your password has expired. With your Login ID, you can reset your password by using the “Forgot or Need a Password?” link on the myPay homepage (https://mypay.dfas.mil) and correctly answering the security questions. You can then use your Login ID and your new password to log in and update your contact information.

If you have not set up the Security Questions, or if you fail to answer the questions correctly, you may:
  • Select Contact Us on the myPay homepage, then Trusted Agents to locate a Trusted Agent in your area that can provide an in-person password reset.
  • Call the myPay Customer Support Unit Toll-Free at 1-888-332-7411 or 216-522-5096 for additional assistance. Please identify yourself as a Gray Area Retiree.
  • Or, use the “Forgot or Need a Password?” link to request to have a new temporary password mailed to you. The new temporary password will be mailed to your address of record in the DFAS Retired Pay system.
Please note: delivery time will vary based upon your location and postal service volume. If you do not receive your Password Letter within ten business days, please verify your mailing address with DFAS Retired & Annuitant Pay.

The mailing address in the DFAS Retired Pay system is based on your DEERS information. If your mailing address in DEERS is not current, you will need to update your mailing address with DFAS so we can mail you the temporary password.

You can update your mailing address by:
  • Calling our Customer Care Center Toll-Free at 1-800-321-1080. Please identify yourself as a Gray Area Retiree.
  • Or, writing or faxing your request. Either (A) complete Part I of the Retiree Change of Address/State Tax Withholding Request (DD2866), sign and date, and mail or fax it. Or (B) send us a written request to update your mailing address. Please identify yourself as a Gray Area Retiree and include the date, your full name, daytime phone number, social security number and signature.
Mail or fax your request to:
Defense Finance and Accounting Service
U.S. Military Retired Pay
8899 E 56th Street
Indianapolis IN 46249-1200
 
Or, Fax: 800-469-6559
 
Allow 30-45 days from the time you send us your written request. Then, go to the myPay homepage at https://mypay.dfas.mil and click on the “Forgot or Need a Password?” link and request we mail a new temporary password to you.
 
When you receive your new temporary password, return to the myPay homepage at https://mypay.dfas.mil and log in using your temporary password.
 
If you’ve forgotten your Login ID, you can also use the “Forgot Your Login ID” link on the homepage to get a reminder, using your temporary password.
 
If you have not accessed myPay since November 2009, have never created a Login ID, or there was a delay that prevented DFAS from receiving your gray area status, please follow the instructions below for new myPay users.
 
If you’ve never used myPay, here’s how to get started:

Go to the myPay homepage at https://mypay.dfas.mil and click on the “Forgot or Need a Password?” link. Follow the instructions to have a temporary password emailed to you. If you don’t receive the emailed password, it is likely we don’t have a current email address for you.
 
You can:
  • Select Contact Us, then Trusted Agents to locate a Trusted Agent in your area that can provide an in-person password reset.
  • Call the myPay Customer Support Unit Toll-Free at 1-888-332-7411 or 216-522-5096 for additional assistance. Please identify yourself as a Gray Area Retiree.   
  • Or, use the “Forgot or Need a Password?” link to request to have a new temporary password mailed to you. The new temporary password will be mailed to your address of record in the DFAS Retired Pay system.
The mailing address in the DFAS Retired Pay system is based on your DEERS information. If your mailing address in DEERS is not current, you will need to update your mailing address with DFAS so we can mail you the temporary password.

You can update your mailing address by:
  • Calling our Customer Care Center Toll-Free at 1-800-321-1080
  • Or, writing or faxing your request. Either (A) complete Part I of the Retiree Change of Address/State Tax Withholding Request (DD2866), sign and date, and mail or fax it. Or (B) send us a written request to update your mailing address. Please identify yourself as a Gray Area Retiree and include the date, your full name, daytime phone number, social security number and signature.
Mail or fax your request to:
Defense Finance and Accounting Service
U.S. Military Retired Pay
8899 E 56th Street
Indianapolis IN 46249-1200
 
Or, Fax: 800-469-6559
 
Allow 30-45 days from the time you send us your written request for your mailing address to be updated. Then, go to the myPay homepage at https://mypay.dfas.mil and click on the “Forgot or Need a Password?” link. Follow the instructions to have a temporary password mailed to you.
 
When you receive your temporary password, return to the myPay homepage at https://mypay.dfas.mil, go to the New User Module and click the “Create your myPay Profile” button. Enter your Social Security Number and your temporary password and click the “Submit” button.

You will be prompted to create a Login ID and a permanent password. Follow the on-screen instructions for creating your Login ID and Password, and creating your profile.
 
If You Need Additional Assistance

If you need additional assistance with accessing a myPay account, please contact the myPay Customer Support Unit Toll-Free at 1-888-332-7411 or 216-522-5096.

If you need additional assistance with updating your mailing address, please contact the Customer Care Center Toll-Free at 1-800-321-1080.
 
Reminder to Continue to Update DEERS and your Branch of Service

Your DFAS myPay account information will not update your DEERS account or your Branch of Service account. Please remember to continue to keep your contact information current in those accounts, as well.

For DoD ID/CAC email address: contact your RAPIDS Station point of contact, Personnel Center or the DMDC Help Desk at (800) 538-9552.
https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco
 
Gray Area Retirees Who Receive a Voluntary Separation Incentive (VSI) or Special Separation Benefit (SSB)

Your VSI or SSB payments will not show in your Gray Area Future Retiree account in myPay.

For information on VSI or SSB, please see our webpage:
https://www.dfas.mil/RetiredMilitary/plan/separation-payments
 

Family Members of Gray Area Reservists


We have information about reporting the death and starting a Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Annuity here:
https://www.dfas.mil/RetiredMilitary/survivors/Grey-Area-Reservist-Survivor-Starting-your-SBP
 
Check Out Our New Survivor SBP Newsletter - April Issue Now Online! 


DFAS has a new Survivor SBP Newsletter! Check out the April issue, with a special article for surviving spouses who lost a loved one in the line of duty and chose the SBP Optional Annuity for Dependent Children, helpful information about the second phase of the SBP-DIC Offset Phased Elimination, news about our initiative to provide online upload tools and status notifications, and more! We also have a downloadable PDF of the newsletter you can share with other survivors. Get it here: https://go.usa.gov/x7eMc  


Please see our  SBP-DIC News webpage for details and Frequently Asked Questions about the SBP-DIC Offset Phased Elimination. 

Please see our  new, special focus webpage for Active Duty/Line of Duty survivors who chose the SBP optional child annuity.


 

 

 
Page updated May 2, 2022