Divorce and the Survivor Benefit Plan
The Survivor Benefit Plan is a monthly income annuity provided to eligible beneficiaries when a servicemember or veteran passes away. Learn how the SBP is impacted by divorce.
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- Military retirees must complete DD Form 2656-1 and submit it to DFAS within one year of a divorce decree to ensure a former spouse remains covered under the Survivor Benefit Plan.
- Former spouses should independently file DD Form 2656-10 with DFAS within one year of the court order to protect their own SBP coverage, they cannot rely solely on the retiree to submit the required paperwork.
- SBP coverage for a former spouse is automatically suspended if they remarry before age 55, but resumes if that remarriage ends in divorce or the death of a new spouse.
Nobody gets married with the intention of getting divorced later, but divorce still happens. The process of splitting assets and determining alimony and child support payments is not easy, but it’s important that you work with a lawyer or representative to ensure that you and your soon-to-be-ex-spouse reach an agreement that is fair to all.
When it comes to a divorce between a service member and their spouse, there are additional considerations, including the impact on the service member’s pay, the former spouse’s benefits, and what happens with the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP).
The Survivor Benefit Plan Explained
The Survivor Benefit Plan is a government-subsidized monthly income annuity provided to eligible beneficiaries upon the death of a service member or veteran. Since military retirees receive a monthly pension for life that stops upon their death, the Survivor Benefit Plan provides a way to preserve part of that monthly income for a beneficiary.
Participation is free and automatic while service members are on active duty, but to continue the coverage into their retirement, service members must elect to continue participating in the Survivor Benefit Plan by their last day on active duty and begin paying premiums. After the service member’s death, monthly benefit payments to their beneficiary begin.
What Happens to the Survivor Benefit Plan After a Divorce?
If a retiree elects SBP at the time of retirement and lists their current spouse as the beneficiary, what would happen if they were later to divorce?
There are a couple of common occurrences:
- The retiree is mandated to maintain their former spouse (and children) as their SBP beneficiary by a court order or divorce decree.
- The retiree and their former spouse agree voluntarily that the retiree will maintain the former spouse (and children) as their SBP beneficiary.
- The retiree is not mandated to maintain their former spouse as their SBP beneficiary by a court order or divorce decree, and the retiree can suspend their coverage by providing their divorce decree to DFAS. In the future, the retiree can update their SBP beneficiary to cover a new spouse or a new spouse and children.
If the court mandates that SBP coverage be provided to a former spouse, they can decide who is liable for the premiums.
- They may order the retiree to pay the premiums in full, in which case they would continue to come out of their military retirement pay each month, or
- they may order the retiree and the former spouse to split the cost.
Because premiums are automatically paid out of the retiree’s retirement pay, the former spouse may then owe money to the retiree each month. Additionally, if the former spouse is entitled to receive a portion of the retiree’s military retirement pay each month, the SBP premium will first be deducted from the gross monthly retirement amount, and then the remainder will be divided based on the court-ordered percentage. It is up to the retiree and the former spouse to work out an arrangement for reimbursing costs, if necessary.
How to Ensure a Former Spouse Remains Covered Under the SBP
If the court requires the retiree’s SBP beneficiary to remain the now-former spouse or the now-former spouse and children, OR if the retiree and former spouse agree to maintain coverage voluntarily:
A retiree should not assume that if they elected current spouse coverage at the time of retirement, the coverage will continue when that spouse becomes a former spouse. The retiree must complete DD Form 2656-1 (Survivor Benefit Plan Election Statement for Former Spouse Coverage) and submit the completed form, as well as a copy of their divorce decree and settlement agreement, to Defense Finance and Accounting Services (DFAS) within one year of the court order.
DD Form 2656-1 does not require a signature from the former spouse, and a retiree may neglect to submit it on time or at all. To protect themselves and ensure that the SBP changes go through, the former spouse should complete DD Form 2656-10 (Survivor Benefit Plan Former Spouse Request for Deemed Election) and send it to DFAS within one year of the court order mandating the SBP beneficiary change. Along with the form, the former spouse must also submit a copy of the divorce decree and settlement agreement. If the deemed election form and divorce decree are not received within one year of the divorce, DFAS is not required to honor them.
If child coverage is required along with former spouse coverage:
It is important to note that only children from the retiree’s marriage to the former spouse are covered. Children from another marriage (of either the retiree or former spouse) are ineligible for coverage under this SBP beneficiary election.
A beneficiary designation for a former spouse and child(ren) does not indicate that both the spouse and child(ren) will receive annuity payments at the same time. Provided that the former spouse remains alive and eligible for SBP, they will receive the entire payment each month. If the former spouse passes away or becomes ineligible through remarriage before age 55, each child will receive monthly annuity payments instead, provided that:
- The child remains unmarried, and
- The child is under age 18 or under age 22 if they are enrolled in school, or
- The child is disabled and cannot support themselves, and the disability occurred while the child was under the age of 18 or 22 (if a student).
If the former spouse remarries after age 55, their coverage is unaffected.
Note: Retirees can designate only one main beneficiary at a time. If a former spouse is designated as the retiree’s SBP beneficiary, a current spouse (and any affiliated children) cannot also be listed.
What Happens When the Former Spouse Remarries?
If a former spouse was designated as a retiree’s SBP beneficiary and remarries before age 55:
The SBP coverage for the former spouse is suspended for the duration of their remarriage. Either the former spouse or the retiree must submit a written notification of the marriage and a copy of the marriage certificate to DFAS for the premiums to be suspended. If the remarriage also ends in divorce, the former spouse’s SBP coverage will resume. In this case, DFAS must be given written notification and a copy of the divorce decree. If the remarriage ends with the death of the former spouse’s new spouse, coverage will resume after DFAS receives notification and a copy of the death certificate.
If the former spouse remarries after age 55, their coverage is unaffected.
What Happens When a Former Spouse Passes Away?
If a former spouse was designated as a retiree’s SBP beneficiary and passes away:
SBP coverage can be transferred to the retiree’s current spouse, provided they notify DFAS of the former spouse’s death within one year of its occurrence. If the retiree was not married at the time of their former spouse’s death, but later marries, the new spouse can still be listed as the SBP beneficiary. DFAS must be notified within one year of the marriage.
Other Ways to Change Your SBP Beneficiary
There are four other situations in which a retiree may be able to change their SBP beneficiary away from their former spouse:
- If the retiree obtains a court order stating that the former spouse no longer needs to be designated as their SBP beneficiary.
- If the original SBP election was based on a written agreement between the retiree and the former spouse, and not a court order, the former spouse can agree in writing to the beneficiary change.
- If the retiree provided former spouse coverage voluntarily, and not as part of a court order or written agreement, the retiree can change the beneficiary designation, provided the retiree obtains a notarized letter from the former spouse agreeing to be removed from the program.
- If the retiree wants to cancel their SBP coverage in the one-year window between the second and third anniversaries of their initial receipt of retired pay, the retiree must provide a copy of a modified court order allowing SBP termination or, if SBP was originally provided voluntarily and based on a written agreement, the former spouse must consent to SBP termination. A retiree who chooses this option cannot add or change a beneficiary; it is a complete withdrawal from SBP.
Final Thoughts on Divorce and the Survivor Benefit Plan
The Survivor Benefit Plan allows military retirees to ensure their eligible beneficiaries receive a monthly annuity after they pass away. Because this is such a valuable benefit, it’s important to understand how the SBP works, especially in the event of a divorce.
The rules surrounding SBP and divorce are complex, and the consequences of missing deadlines or failing to submit the correct paperwork can be significant. Both the retiree and the former spouse should take independent steps to protect their interests, do not assume that the other party has handled the required forms. When in doubt, consult with a military legal assistance attorney or a Veterans benefits specialist who can guide you through the process.
