Retired Military & Annuitants (2024)

R&A Pay establishes, maintains and pays military retirees, and their eligible surviving spouses and other family members.

Who We Are, What We Do
Who to Contact? DFAS, the VA or the Military
How Long Does It Take?

LATEST NEWS

Retiree Newsletter

Survivor SBP Newsletter

Find out the latest news and other helpful information.

Retiree and Annuitant Pay Dates - See the full pay schedule here

Retireeswill be paid as scheduled onJuly 1, 2024. Annuitants will be paid as scheduled onJuly 1, 2024.

Important Changes to Direct Monthly SBP Payments Made Through CRS

If you are a retiree who pays your monthly Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) or RCSBP premiums directly through the Centralized Receivables Service (CRS), please see your mailed statement for important changes. You may also call CRS at their NEW customer service number, 1-888-618-3104, for assistance.

SBP Student Child Annuitants:Need to submit your school cert?We have helpful tools for you!

See our Form Wizard to help you fill out the DD Form 2788 easily and correctly and our online upload tool on DFAS.mil. Remember, you need to submit both the DD Form 2788 and your Previous Attendance Letter

Check them out on the

New Quick Tools Webpage for Retirees and SBP Annuitants - Check it Out Here

The quick and easy way to get to our askDFAS online upload tools, Form Wizards, checklists, guides and other helpful tools.

You Asked, We Delivered! What to Do When a Military Retiree Dies- New Helpful Checklist

Please see our expanded webpage that outlines how to report adeath and the steps to take after the death is reported.We also have a helpful "When a Military Retiree Dies" Checklist you can download and follow as you complete the steps.

New, Simpler Eligibility Verification Requirements for SBP Annuitants - New Quick Reference Guide now available!

Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuitants need to verify their eligibility regularly to continue to receive SBP annuity payments. The requirements depend on the SBP annuitant’s age and relationship to the military service member.

Beginning August 2023, we are reducing the requirements for SBP annuitants to one annual eligibility verification. Previously, some SBP annuitants needed to complete multiple forms each year. Now, SBP annuitants will only need to complete and submit one of the annual verifications each year.

See our webpage, “Manage Your SBP Annuity” for FAQs, a Quick Reference Guide,and additional information.

Retirees and SBP Annuitants: Helpful Customer Guidefor DFAS Online Tools

We have a helpful customer guideto assist in navigating the use of the online tools available for retirees and SBP annuitants.

Click here to download the PDF Customer Guide for retirees and SBP annuitants

Helpful Tips & Tools for Retirees New to Retired Pay - Download and Share!

We havehelpful 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!

Retirees and Annuitants: 2023 Tax Year Statements

2023 tax statements for retirees areavailable in myPay.
2023 tax statements for annuitants are available in myPay
2023 tax statements for former spouses are available in myPay.
https://mypay.dfas.mil

Tax statements sent through the U.S. Postal Service were in the mail as of January 13, 2024.1099-R Reissues for tax year 2023 can be mailed as of February 12, 2024. Retirees and annuitants can request a 1099-R reissue online. The online 1099-R reissue tool also accepts international addresses.

The Affordable Care Act 1095-B/C statements are available in myPay. The online tool to request a mailed Affordable Care Act 1095-B/C statement is available on askDFAS. For more information, please see https://www.dfas.mil/taxes/aca/.

NDAA 2023 SBP Open Season Ended January 1, 2024 - Open Season Enrollment and Discontinuance Forms must have been RECEIVEDby DFAS before midnight Eastern Standard Time on January 1, 2024

Please check our special focus webpage for important post-deadline information: https://www.dfas.mil/sbpopenseason23.

Please note: We received an unexpectedly large number of requests near the January 1 deadline, and we are still working on processing some of them. When we have completed the final processing of your request, we will send you a letter in the mail. Please see our SBP Open Season webpage for more information.

SBP Open Season Enrollment and Discontinuance documents will no longer be accepted UNLESS you received a request from us to provide information. If we do send you a request for information, it is important that you respond promptly.

2024 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)

Based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index, there wasa 3.2 percent Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for most retired pay and Survivor Benefit Plan annuities, effective December 1, 2023.

Retirees saw the change in their December 29, 2023 payment and annuitants in their January 2, 2024 payment.

For details, see the Fiscal Year 2024 COLA Memorandum:
https://militarypay.defense.gov/Pay/Retirement/cola

SBP-DIC Offset Elimination- Effective January 1, 2023

Beginning with the February 1, 2023 payday, the SBP-DIC Offset was fully eliminated. That means spouses now receive their full SBP monthly payments from DFAS and their full Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payment from the VA.

The Special Survivors Indemnity Allowance (SSIA) will no longer be paid.

Find out more:
Check Out Our Quick Reference Guide!
Listen to ourMilitary OneSource podcast episode explaining the SBP-DIC Offset Elimination
Watch ourMilitary OneSource webinar explaining the SBP-DIC Offset Elimination
See our full range ofFAQs on the SBP-DIC News webpage.

*Note: the change in the law does NOT affect the amount of DIC you receive from the VA. You should continue to receive your normal DIC amount from the VA.*

Special Information for Active Duty/Line of Duty Surviving Spouses Who Elected the Optional Annuity for Dependent Children-February 1, 2023 Payday was the Day

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 directed that as of January 1, 2023, the Optional Annuity for Dependent Children was eliminated and the SBP annuity payment must revert to the surviving spouse (if the spouse submits documentation and is eligible).

Find out more:
Check Out Our Quick Reference Guide!
Listen to ourMilitary OneSource podcast episode explaining the SBP Optional Child Annuity Reversion
Watch ourMilitary OneSource webinar explaining the SBP Optional Child Annuity Reversion
See our full range ofFAQs on the SBP Optional Child Annuity Reversionwebpage

Please check our special focus webpage for news and information regarding the changes:

If you are thesurviving spouse of an Active Duty/Line of Duty member who requested to have the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuity paid directly to an eligible dependent child or children and you have NOT submitted a Spouse Eligibility Packet, we need your informationas soon as possible.Please download, fill out and submittheeligibility packetfrom our special focus webpage as soon as possible:

If you are thesurviving child or the parent or guardian of a surviving childof an Active Duty/Line of Duty member whose surviving spouse requested to have the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuity paid directly to the child or children at the time of the member’s passing, please see our special focus webpage formore information:

Please note: This does not affect children of retirees.

Spouses, Eligible Former Spouses

We have tools and information to assist you with the DD Form 2656-7 for starting a Survivor Benefit Plan Annuity. We have a Form Wizard to help fill out the form correctly and easily. And we have an online upload option that will provide you with status notifications.

Please note regarding the DD Form 2656-7:
If the member’s death occurred on or after January 1, 2023, Section 6 of the DD Form 2656-7 does not pertain to your application. You can leave Section 6 blank.
If the member’s death occurred prior to January 1, 2023, Section 6 of the DD Form 2656-7 may or may not pertain to your application, depending on your individual circ*mstances. We recommend you complete Section 6 so we have the information if needed.

Please see the

Great News for Reserve and Guard Gray Area Retirees

If you’re retired from the Guard or Reserve but not yet at the age to receive retired pay, we have important news for you. Gray Area Retirees now have a new way to stay connected and informed between the time they stop drilling and when they receive retired pay. It’s a new kind of myPay account that helps you keep your contact information current so that you can stay on top of your future retired pay. Click here for the Retiree Newsletter articleor click here to find out how to log on.

Retired & Annuitant Pay Customer Service Local Phone Number Changed

The local phone number to reach Retired & Annuitant Pay Customer Service changed.The new number is: 317-212-0551.

The 216-522-5955 local phone number is no longer available to use (after July 1, 2022).

The DSN number to reach Retired & Annuitant Pay Customer Service also changed. The new DSN number is 699-0551.

This change does NOT affect the toll-free number (1-800-321-1080). The toll-free number remains the same.

Status Notifications Rolling Out

Retired & Annuitant Pay is rolling out new, helpful Status Notificationsto keep you in the loop as forms or documents you submit move through the retired pay or annuitant pay processing cycles. The Status Notifications will be sent primarily via SmartDoc email, so make sure you have an up-to-date email in your myPay profile so you can receive them.

Spouses and Children of Recently-Deceased Retirees

We havetools and information to assist you with the SF 1174 for claiming the retiree’s Arrears of Pay. We can now deposit an Arrears of Pay (AOP) payment directly to an eligible claimant’s bank account instead of mailing a check. And we have an online upload option that will provide you with status notifications. Please see the How to Claim Arrears of Pay Using the 1174 page for details.

Spouses, Eligible Former Spouses, and Children of Deceased Retirees

We have tools and information to assist you with the DD Form 2656-7 for starting a Survivor Benefit Plan Annuity. We have a Form Wizard to help fill out the form correctly and easily. And we have an online upload option that will provide you with status notifications.Please see the Start an SBP Annuity page for details.

Processing Time Frames - How Long Does It Take?

Please see our new webpage for current typical processing time frames: How Long Does It Take?

R&A Pay is Expanding Communication through Emailed SmartDocs

As part of our commitment to continually improving our customer service, R&A Pay is expanding the use of emailed SmartDocs as a way to communicate about changes to your account and actions that may be needed. Email notifications will speed up the time it takes to notify you about your account. If you don’t yet have an email address in myPay, please add one now so you can receive these email notifications.

Direct Deposit Required

A treasury mandate requires us to pay our customers electronically. Most military retirees and annuitants getting paper checksneed to set up direct deposit. Start direct deposit now.Direct Express® Debit Card Program provides members who do not have a bank account an alternative to payment by EFT.

FIND IT FAST

Pay Schedule

Pay Verification / Proof of Income

Survivor Benefit Plan Information

HOW DO I?

GetMy 1099RCorrect My1099RChangeMy Arrears of Pay BeneficiaryStart or Change Direct DepositChangeMy AddressManage My AllotmentsStart International Direct DepositReport a Retiree's DeathReport an SBP Annuitant's Death