When You Can Stop or Change Coverage?

In most cases, the Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP) elections you make during the 90-day period after being notified of retirement eligibility are irrevocable. Only in rare circumstances can you change elections or discontinue coverage.

While these occasions are very rare, a couple of the more common examples are:

• The member discontinues participation when they become totally disabled.

• A mentally incapacitated member is later determined to be mentally competent, and revokes or changes the RCSBP election within 180 days after that determination.

• The member voluntarily terminates RCSBP coverage for a natural person with an insurable interest who is not a former spouse.

• A member voluntarily discontinues RCSBP participation on the second anniversary of the date that his or her retired pay starts.
 

How to Stop or Change Coverage

Please contact our Customer Care Center either through the web, in writing, or via fax or phone to determine if you are able to change coverage, and what documentation would be required. Please send correspondence to:

Defense Finance and Accounting Service
U.S. Military Retired Pay
8899 E 56th Street
Indianapolis IN 46249-1200

Defense Finance and Accounting Service
U.S. Military Retired Pay
8899 E 56th Street
Indianapolis IN 46249-1300

For more information, call 800-321-1080.
 

NDAA 2023 SBP Open Season

For those looking for information regarding enrolling or discontinuing coverage during the 2023 SBP Open Season, we have a special focus webpage.
 
For retirees currently receiving retired pay, the SBP Open Season Discontinuance Form and FAQs surrounding discontinuing participation in the Plan are now available on our special focus webpage at https://www.dfas.mil/sbpopenseason23.   

DFAS is working to prepare the forms, policies and processes required for enrollment during this SBP Open Season. Please check our special focus webpage for the most up to date news and information: https://www.dfas.mil/sbpopenseason23.
 

Related Links:

RCSBP Overview
Enrollment
Cost
Benefit Amount

Page last updated February 15, 2023