TN 82 (05-00)

A. Introduction

1. General

The Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard pay military pensions to military retirees and survivors normally on the first day of the month.

2. Categories of beneficiaries

There are three categories of beneficiaries who may be entitled to military payments:

• RETIREE - A person with 20 years of service who meets the requirements for entitlement;

• ANNUITANT - A survivor who is designated by the retiree to receive benefits upon the death of the retiree under the Retired Serviceman's Family Protection Plan (RSFPP), Survivor's Benefit Plan (SBP), or both;

• ALLOTTEE - Anyone other than an annuitant of the RSFPP or SBP who is designated to receive money out of the service member's or retiree's check. Entitlement as an allottee terminates upon the death of the retiree. However, an allottee can become an annuitant when the retiree dies.

3. Types of annuitants

The RSFPP and SBP annuitant programs pay money to surviving spouse(s) and children.

The SBP program also pays:

• "Insurable interest" persons: i.e., someone other than a surviving spouse or child that a service member designated to receive survivor benefits based on monies withheld from his or her retirement payment under the provisions of the SBP program; and

• Minimum income level widows (MIW) who are certified by the VA as having low income and are referred by the Department of Defense (DOD).

B. Policy

Military pensions (before deductions) are unearned income.

Payments to MIW's are income based on need not subject to the $20 general income exclusion.

C. Procedure

1. General

Obtain evidence from the individual's own records, if available.

If developing information received from the DOD interface, see SI 02310.020.

If the individual does not have sufficient evidence, see SI 00830.240C.2.

2. Contacting the Military Finance Centers

1. Send the request directly to the appropriate address listed below:

   For Retirees of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps

   Defense Finance Accounting Service
   Retired Pay Operations
   Anthony J. Celebrezze Building
   1240 E. 9th Street
   Cleveland, OH 44199
   

   For Annuitants of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps

   Defense Finance Accounting Service
   Annuity Pay Operations
   6760 Irvington Place
   Denver, CO 80279
   

   For Retirees/Annuitants of the Coast Guard

   United States Coast Guard Pay
   and Personnel Center RPD
   444 S.E. Quincy Street
   Topeka, KS 66683-3591
   

2. Include the following information on the request:

   • The service member's given name, middle initial and surname;

   • The service member's service identification number (if available);

   • The service member's SSN;

   • The annuitant's or allottee's name; and

   • The annuitant's or allottee's SSN.

3. Specify the period for which payment information is needed and identify the pay plan (e.g., RSFPP, SBP).

4. If developing information from the DOD interface, include a copy of the DOD extract (SI 02310.999D) to the request.

D. References

• Income based on need - SI 00830.170.

• DOD interface - SI 02310.020.