Paying for SBP
There are four methods of paying for your SBP coverage if you elect it:
- Deductions from your retired pay
- Deductions from your CRSC Pay
- Deductions from your VA pay
- Direct remittance
Deductions from your Retired Pay (Normal Payment Method)
The normal method of paying for SBP coverage is by an automatic deduction from your retirement pay. The vast majority of retired members with SBP coverage pay through this means. It is implemented automatically if you elect SBP coverage at the time you retire.
Deductions from your CRSC Pay
Beginning with the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) monthly premiums due in April of 2018, DFAS started deducting SBP recurring monthly premiums from Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) when retired pay is not sufficient to cover the full amount of the monthly premiums. This new deduction was due to a change in the law which requires DFAS to deduct SBP recurring monthly premiums from CRSC.
The change in the law only affects SBP recurring monthly premiums. It does not affect past due SBP premium amounts. DFAS is not deducting past due premiums from CRSC pay. Retirees who have past due SBP premiums are still responsible for paying the past due SBP premium amount and any interest accrued through direct remittance to DFAS.
This change benefits retirees and their survivors by preventing a debt when a retiree forgets to pay the SBP premiums directly. When SBP premiums are not paid during a retiree’s lifetime, it creates a debt which must be repaid from the SBP annuity a survivor receives.
Special note: the SBP recurring monthly premium deduction will show under the garnishments category on your CRSC statement. Beginning with the April 2018 CRSC entitlement (paid on May 1, 2018), there is a note (“Garnishment amount of $XX is for SBP Deduction") on your CRSC monthly statement with the amount of your SBP recurring monthly premium deduction that appears in the garnishments category on your statement. This note does NOT mean that past due SBP premiums are deducted from CRSC. It is only to identify the recurring monthly premium deduction.
Deductions from your VA Pay
If you have been ruled disabled by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and your VA compensation exceeds your retired pay, you don't receive retired pay from DFAS. If you don’t receive retired pay or CRSC pay, we cannot automatically deduct SBP premiums from your monthly pay. (See Disability Entitlements for information about the Branch of Service/VA offset).
In this case, the best way to pay for your SBP coverage is to have your payments deducted from your VA compensation and forwarded to DFAS Retired and Annuitant Pay by the VA. Thousands of retirees take advantage of this process. If you are interested in having your SBP monthly premiums deducted from your VA disability pay, complete an Authorization for SBP Cost Deduction (DD 2891) You DO NOT need VA to fill out the form. Just fill out Section I labeled “To be completed by member.” Remember to sign and date your form. Send the completed form to DFAS via our askDFAS online upload tool (see https://www.dfas.mil/retonlinetools for info) or send via postal mail to:
Defense Finance and Accounting Service
U.S. Military Retired Pay
8899 E 56th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46249-1200
Direct Remittance
Direct remittance is only for retirees who do not receive retired pay from DFAS or who do not receive sufficient retired pay and/or CRSC to satisfy the monthly SBP premium. Direct remittance members who choose not to have their SBP payments deducted from their VA pay must remit SBP premium payments.
If paying by check or money order, please mail your payment with the payment coupon to:
Defense Finance and Accounting Service
SBP Remittances
P.O. Box 979013
St. Louis, MO 63197-9000
Changes Coming in Mid-2025
Many direct remitters currently receive their SBP recurring monthly premium bills from the Centralized Receivables Service (CRS), a division of the U.S. Department of Treasury. This bill will only show your current monthly premium amount due, even if you owe past due premiums. Payment in excess of your current monthly premium will be applied to any past due premiums. For your exact balance, please contact our customer care center.
However, starting in mid-2025, DFAS will change the payment process for retirees who pay their SBP premiums directly through Treasury CRS. Retirees will be billed by and pay DFAS directly instead of through Treasury CRS.
Retirees who pay their SBP monthly premiums directly to DFAS will have several payment options, including paying online via Pay.gov, or requesting to have their payment deducted from their VA disability compensation.
It’s important that DFAS has your current mailing address so you receive the billing statement with the new payment instructions. If your address has changed, DFAS has several convenient options for updating the mailing address on your retired pay account.
1. Use our askDFAS online tool to update your address: find out more on our Quick Tools webpage at https://www.dfas.mil/raquicktools.
2. Send us a completed and signed DD Form 2866 to request we update your mailing address:
A-Upload your signed form as a PDF using our askDFAS online upload tool. Find out more at https://www.dfas.mil/retonlinetools.
B-Or mail your form to:
Defense Finance and Accounting Service
U.S. Military Retired Pay
8899 E 56th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46249-1200
3. Call our Customer Care Center during normal business hours to update your address: 800-321-1080.
If your mailing address on file with DFAS is current, watch for the updated bill to arrive via postal mail in mid-2025.
**You don’t have to wait until the switchover. You can make the change to one of the new payment options below to pay DFAS directly now.**
If you have an electronic/automatic payment set up with your bank, ensure that you make the change early enough that your payment will be sent to DFAS instead of CRS.
We strongly recommend making your payment online through the Pay.gov website. Pay.gov is available 24 hours a day/7 days a week using your checking/savings account or debit card utilizing the DOD Military Retired Pay SBP Premium (https://www.pay.gov/public/form/start/1463931154) online form. Complete the online form by entering the information that appears on your billing statement. Enter your name (first and last), DoD ID, amount paid, email address, and phone number. Please allow four business days for DFAS processing.
You may not be able to receive a bill from CRS for a variety of reasons, including living outside the United States. If you do not receive a bill from CRS, you will continue to receive your bill from DFAS and make payments to the address above.
If you currently get a bill from CRS, below are their payment options:
Remember, you can start paying DFAS directly now instead of waiting to change your payment options.
Pay.Gov eBilling: Make an online payment 24 hours a day/7 days a week using your checking/savings account or debit card utilizing the DOD Military Retired Pay SBP Premium online form. Complete the online form by entering the information that appears on your billing statement. Enter your name (first and last), DoD ID, amount paid, email address, and phone number. Please allow four business days for DFAS processing.
Another option is using the Federal Government’s secure Treasury.gov website at: Centralized Receivables Service Guest Pay (treasury.gov). Your access code will be on the bill you receive in the mail. If you need your security answer, please contact CRS at 1-888-618-3104.
Deductions from Your VA Disability Pay: See information above in how you can simplify your SBP monthly premium payments by having them deducted from the VA disability pay.
Online Bill Pay: Use your financial institution’s Online Bill Pay by searching for biller DFAS R&A Pay – CRS. For proper processing of your payment, ensure the biller name entered appears exactly as underlined above. When prompted for the account number, enter the CRS Invoice number printed on your bill.
Payment by Phone: Make a payment by calling 1-855-649-1182 between the hours of 7:00am and 7:00pm central time, Monday through Friday, excluding Holidays. Please have your checking/savings account or credit card information available before calling.
Payment by Check or Money Order: Make a payment by enclosing your check or money order with the payment coupon attached to the bill you received in the mail. To ensure proper processing of your payment, write your full name and the CRS invoice number on the front of your check or money order and send them to:
Defense Finance and Accounting Service, DFAS-CL
SBP Remittances
P.O. Box 790145
St. Louis, MO 63179
Payments by check or money order must be mailed in time to be received by the payment due date. Do not send cash.
If you receive a bill from CRS and have any questions about the invoice or payment options, please contact CRS at 1-888-618-3104 until the switchover. After the switchover, please contact DFAS at one of the numbers below.
For all other questions about your SBP account, please contact DFAS at 1-800-321-1080 or 317-212-0551.
Payments sent to any other location other than those listed above, including Retired and Annuitant Pay offices at DFAS Cleveland, may be delayed or not be received. Any delinquent amounts carried over into a new billing month will accrue with an interest fee.
Beginning Oct. 1, 2008, any retiree who has paid 360 months of SBP premiums and has reached the age of 70 is no longer be required to make monthly payments for their SBP coverage. If you meet these requirements, your SBP election and account will remain active, and benefits to annuitants will be uninterrupted, but there will be no further cost to you. To help you track your status, Retiree Account Statements (RAS) include a "premium counter" indicating the number of months of paid premiums credited to your account.
Related Links:
Note: The information on this website is provided to explain typical situations regarding retiree and annuitant benefits. For details and exceptions, please see applicable laws, financial management regulations, and instructions.
Page updated Apr 23 2025