Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)

A monthly annuity to a military retiree’s surviving spouse or child, generally 55% of the chosen base amount of retired pay, and automatic coverage for the survivors of a member who dies on active duty.

Also called: SBP, survivor annuity, RCSBP, military survivor benefit, SBP-DIC offset.

For: Child, survivor.

Where it applies

Applies in states and territories.

Federal

The Survivor Benefit Plan, under 10 U.S.C. 1447 to 1455, lets a military retiree provide a monthly annuity to a surviving spouse, former spouse or child. The annuity is 55% of the base amount the retiree chose, which can be full retired pay or less, and it rises with cost-of-living adjustments. The retiree pays a premium from retired pay. The Reserve Component SBP covers a reservist who dies before reaching retirement age. A member who dies on active duty is covered automatically, at the annuity the member would have received if retired at 100% disability on the date of death. Since January 1, 2023, the old offset of SBP against DIC is gone: a surviving spouse receives full SBP and full DIC together. SBP coverage elected at retirement is generally permanent, with a one-year window to drop it between the second and third years after retired pay begins. DFAS pays the annuity. The DIC offset ended under 10 U.S.C. 1450(c)(2)(D), which pays the full annuity on and after January 1, 2023.

Thresholds

Thresholds for Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)
Gate	Rule
Retiree election or death on active duty	The retiree elected coverage at retirement, or the member died on active duty.

Figures

Each figure is dated with the day it was read. A local figure moves whenever the statute or the local ordinance does, so confirm it with the office that grants it before you rely on it. Statute verified gives the day the weekly section check last found the statute standing on the legislature’s own code site; a figure without it rests on a statute the check does not read yet.

Dated figures for Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)
Figure	Amount	Read from
Standard annuity for a spouse	55% of the base amount10 U.S.C. 1451(a)(1)(A)	10 U.S.C. 1451, Amount of annuityRead 2026-10-08

Sources

10 U.S.C. 1451, Amount of annuityOfficial
10 U.S.C. 1450, Payment of annuity: beneficiariesOfficial

Updated

Last updated 2026-10-08.

What changed then:

First published.

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Disclaimer

VetTOC is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. Information is for reference only and is not an eligibility determination. Verify with VA, the relevant state or territory, or an accredited VSO.