Dispute period begins soon for paid-up SBP

RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFRNS) – Air Force retirees who believe that the Survivor Benefit Plan monthly premium counter on the annual Retiree Account Statement is incorrect will be given the opportunity to dispute it.

The dispute period begins Jan. 1 and ends June 30. All disputes must be made by completing a DD Form 2656-11, Statement Certifying Number of Months of Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) Premiums Paid. Completed forms are sent to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service.

The paid-up provision of SBP program became effective Oct. 1. All retirees who are at least 70 years of age and have paid SBP premiums for at least 360 months will no longer be required to make monthly payments beginning the month they meet the eligibility requirements.
Participants in the Retired Serviceman’s Family Protection Plan who were age 70 or older Oct. 1 will also have their premiums stopped.

Retiree Account Statements now have a premium counter tracking the number of months of paid premiums credited to a retiree’s account. This counter automatically increases for each month a full premium payment is made, and will help retirees monitor their eligibility status. Each time a retiree receives an RAS it will display the current number of monthly premium payments toward paid-up status.

No action is required by the retiree to initiate the termination of premiums. DFAS will notify members of their paid-up status and when
premiums will be stopped.

DFAS is working in conjunction with the Defense Manpower Data Center, the agency that maintains historical pay data on all military retirees, to ensure retirees receive proper credit for all premiums paid.

The DD Form 2656-11, used to file a dispute, is available by clicking here http://www.dfas.mil/retiredpay/paid-upsurvivorbenefitpaymentsbp/dd2656-11.pdf

DFAS officials ask retirees to complete all fields on the form that apply. Section II should be filled out by each retiree, but if he or
she did not serve any time on the Temporary Disability Retired List, then Blocks 9 and 10 must be left blank.

For more information, contact DFAS at (800) 321-1080 after Jan. 1.