2013
The Survivor Benefits Program
PEB Liaison
Mr. Dean Trio
Prevent Delays ♦ Reduce Frustration ♦ Achieve the Best Possible Outcome
Terminal Learning Objectives
2
As an RCC help Marines and
families…
Prevent
Delays

N/A – Marines will be automatically enrolled in the SBP at
transition unless they opt out
Provide basic factual information and discuss the program with
Marines and families
 Explain each of the SBP election options to Marines and families
 Clearly outline the steps needed to opt out of the program

Reduce
Frustration
Achieve the
Best
Possible
Outcome
Provide Marine with sufficient information and lead time to make
an informed decision
 Assist the Marine with finding a Notary Public if necessary
 Follow-up on steps to ensure Marine properly executes his or her
elections

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Enabling Learning Objectives
3
 Identify the six possible SBP coverage elections
 Define a “base amount”
 Describe the basic pros and cons of the program
 Describe the impact of a “suspended” SBP coverage
 Identify life events that can cause SBP coverage to be suspended or reinstated
 Identify all of the circumstances which allow Marines to change SBP elections






after retirement
Identify the forms used to make an SBP election
Describe how the SBP and DIC offset works
Identify the elections that a married Marine can make without spousal
concurrence
Describe at least three ways that Marines are educated about SBP
Describe the process for making an SBP election
Identify the resources available to help Marines make an informed decision
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Benefit Profile
4
Frequency
70% of Marines in the Recovery Care Program will become eligible for the SBP and must make an election
Every Marine who retires (PDRL, TDRL, non-medical retirement) is eligible.
Drawbacks
Changes to the initial SBP election are heavily restricted and a Marine may be “stuck” with a decision that
no longer makes financial sense
Unlike a life insurance policy, nobody will receive any money from SBP if the beneficiary dies before or at
the same time as the Marine.
Family members who ultimately are entitled to both the VA’s Dependent Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
and the Survivor Benefit Program will have their SBP offset (with premium reimbursement)
Importance
to Marines
The lifetime premiums and/or the lifetime benefit could exceed $100,000.
Challenges
The SBP election is made right at the point of transition when a Marine’s attention is divided.
For a married Marine to decline SBP (or opt for less than full coverage) the spouse must concur in writing.
This must be notarized.
The best election is never known with certainty because future life events are not known with certainty; the
decision must weigh pros and cons, risks and rewards
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Rules of the Road
5
Provide basic factual information about the program, its benefits
and its drawbacks
 Encourage the Marine and family to consider carefully when making
an election
 Ensure Marine completes SBP training through MarineNet and
attends Seps/TAPS class


Ensure the Marine and family understand the program if they make
a decision that does not appear to be in their best interest
Tell a Marine whether or not it is in his best interest to enroll in the
SBP
 Referee in the event that the Marine and spouse do not agree on a
course of action

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SBP Process Overview
6
Educate
Elect
Follow-Up
Attend Seps/TAPS class
Complete DD Form 2656
Keep D-FAS informed of
address changes
Review WWR fact sheet
Obtain spouse’s notarized
signature (certain elections)
Notify D-FAS of divorce,
remarriage (self or spouse),
birth or death of children
Review Military Benefits
Website
Complete DD Form 2656-1
(certain elections)
Promptly consider changes to
elections when eligible –
windows to change are rare
Take Mandatory SBP Training
on MarineNet
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The SBP Election
7
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The Challenge
8
 An informed decision on SBP
elections must account for the
unknown
 Ability to change elections after retirement is greatly
restricted
 Whether the program will “pay-off” depends on several
unknown factors including life changes (divorce, remarriage,
birth of children) as well which members of the family outlive
the Marine and by how long
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Pros and Cons of SBP
9
Pros
Cons
 Instead of a lump sum,
 Changes to election are
the benefit is in monthly
installments – amount
will be greater if death is
sooner
 Program pays out more
than it takes in (net
subsidy)
 No proof of health
required
heavily restricted
 In some cases there is no
benefit paid
 Premium rates assume a
max of 30 years of
premiums (but medically
retired Marines may pay
50!)
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Multi-Faceted Decision
10
 The SBP Election is more than a
simple yes or no.
 Marine elects the type of coverage
•
•
•
•
•
•
Spouse Only
Spouse and Child
Child Only
Insurable Interest
Former Spouse
Former Spouse and Child
 Marine elects the “base amount”
•
•
•
Minimum is $300
Maximum is full retired base pay
Benefit will be 55% of “base amount”
Note: If the Marine is married at the time
of retirement, the spouse must concur with
any combination of elections other than:
•
•
Spouse Only – full retired base pay, or
Spouse and Child – full retired base pay
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Six SBP Elections
Note on Premiums
Premiums are not due in any case if:
•
The Marine is at least 70 years
old, and
•
The Marine has paid at least 30
years of premiums
11
Coverage
Premiums are due when…
Spouse
•
Benefits are paid when…
Marine is lawfully married
•
Marine’s lawful spouse at the time of the Marine’s death:
• Is alive, and
• Is not currently remarried (unless the marriage
occurred after the age of 55)
Any legal spouse
Note: premiums will be suspended upon divorce or death of
the spouse, but will be reinstated if the Marine remarries
Child Only
•
Marine has at least one child who is:
• The Marine’s legal dependent, and
• Under age 18, or
• Under age 23 and a full time student, or
• Permanently disabled if the disability occurred
when the child was otherwise eligible
•
Marine has at least one child who was:
• The Marine’s legal dependent at the time of the
Marine’s death, and remains
• Under age 18, or
• A full time student under age 23, or
• Permanently disabled if the disability occurred
when the child was otherwise eligible
•
Premiums would be due if the Marine elected
• Spouse Only, or
• Child Only coverage
•
To the spouse when:
• The spouse is eligible per the Spouse Only rules
above
To the children (in equal shares) when:
• There is no eligible spouse beneficiary, and
• There is at least one child eligible under the Child
Only rules
Any eligible child
Note: eligible
children will split the
benefit equally
Spouse and Child
Any legal spouse /
eligible child
•
Note: premiums will be reduced when only children are
eligible
Former Spouse
•
Former Spouse is not currently remarried (unless the
marriage occurred after the age of 55)
•
Former Spouse is not currently remarried (unless the
marriage occurred after the age of 55)
•
•
Former Spouse is not remarried, or
Marine has at least one child who is:
• From his marriage to his Former Spouse, and
• Meets all of the other criteria in the Child Only
plan
•
•
Former Spouse is not remarried, or
Marine has at least one child who is:
• From his marriage to his Former Spouse, and
• Meets all of the other criteria in the Child Only
plan
•
Designated beneficiary is alive
•
Designated beneficiary is alive
A specific person identified
on DD Form 2656-1
Former Spouse
and Child
A specific person identified
on DD Form 2656-1 and the
children of that marriage
Insurable Interest
A specific person
Can only be selected if Marine is
unmarried and has no dependent
children or one dependent child
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Suspended Status
12
 With certain SBP elections, future
life events may result in the SBP
being suspended, and possibly
reinstated
 While SBP is suspended…
•
•
No premiums are paid by the Marine
No benefit is paid in the event of the
Marine’s death
 Suspension events include…
•
•
•
Death of spouse
Divorce of Marine and Spouse
Death or “aging-out” of all children
 SBP is reinstated if a new eligible
beneficiary is created or the original
beneficiary becomes eligible again;
reinstatement events include…
•
•
Remarriage of Marine (at any age)
Birth (or adoption) of another child
Note: Marine is responsible for notifying D-FAS of life
events which would suspend or reinstate SBP. Failure to
notify always works to the Marine’s detriment – i.e.,
premiums collected will not be repaid to the Marine;
however, benefits will not be paid out even if premiums
were collected if there is no eligible beneficiary.
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Suspension and Reinstatement Events
Marine is responsible for notifying
DFAS of all relevant life eventsc
13
Coverage
Automatic Suspension Events
Spouse
•
•
Marine and spouse divorce
Death of spouse
Automatic Reinstatement Events
•
Marine remarries at any age
All of the Marine’s legally dependent children are too old
to be beneficiaries (based on full time student status)
The Marine has no more living children who are legal
dependents
•
•
Marine has another dependent child
A dependent child between the ages of 18-23 goes back
to school full time
The suspension criteria for both…
• Spouse Only election, and
• Child Only election
…are met
•
The reinstatement events for either…
• Spouse only election, or
• Child only election
…are met
Note: in the event of divorce the Marine has one year to
convert the Spouse Only SBP election to Former Spouse
Only
Child Only
•
•
Spouse and Child
•
Note: in the event of divorce the Marine has one year to
convert the Spouse and Child SBP election to Former Spouse
and Child
Former Spouse
•
Former Spouse remarries before the age of 55
•
Former Spouse’s remarriage ends through divorce,
annulment or the death of the new spouse
Former Spouse
and Child
•
•
Former Spouse remarries before the age of 55, and
All of the Marine’s legally dependent children from the
marriage with the Former Spouse have “aged-out” or
passed away
•
•
Either the Former Spouse’s remarriage ends, or
One of the children from the marriage between the
Marine and the Former Spouse who is between the ages
of 18-23 returns to school full time
Insurable Interest
•
N/A
•
N/A
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Cancellation or Conversion of SBP
14
Coverage
Events Allowing Cancellation or Reduction
Spouse
•
Allowed between the 24th and 36th months of retirement
DIVORCE: Can convert to Former Spouse Only
Child Only
•
Allowed between the 24th and 36th months of retirement
N/A
Spouse and Child
•
Allowed between the 24th and 36th months of retirement
N/A
Former Spouse
•
•
At any time, however
Former spouse must concur if election of Former
Spouse Only coverage was part of divorce proceedings
*If the initial Former Spouse election was made because of a
divorce agreement, the Marine may make another election
when the Spouse concurs with termination of Former Spouse
election
Former Spouse
and Child
•
•
At any time, however
Former spouse must concur if election of Former
Spouse and Child coverage was part of divorce
proceedings
•
???
Insurable Interest
•
At any time
•
N/A
No Participation
•
N/A
•
Marine can begin participation within 12 months of
marriage, provided
• Marine has never previously enrolled in SBP, and
• Marine had no eligible dependents (spouse or
children) at the time of retirement
Marine can begin participation within 12 months of the
birth of his or her first dependent child, provided:
• Marine has never previously enrolled in SBP, and
• Marine had no eligible dependents (spouse or
children) at the time of retirement
Marine is responsible for notifying
DFAS of all relevant life events
Events Allowing Conversion
•
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Calculating the Premiums
15
Coverage
Factors Included Are:
Premium Adjusts When…
Spouse
• SBP “Base Amount” elected
• Annual Cost of Living Adjustment
Child Only
• SBP “Base Amount” elected
• Age of Marine
• Age of youngest eligible child
• Annual Cost of Living Adjustment
• Birth of new eligible child
• Youngest child “ages-out” or passes away
Spouse and Child
•
•
•
•
Former Spouse
• SBP “Base Amount” elected
Former Spouse
and Child
•
•
•
•
Insurable
Interest
• SBP “Base Amount” elected
• Age difference between the Marine and the
beneficiary
SBP “Base Amount” elected
Age of Marine
Age of youngest eligible child
Premiums are reduced when only the spouse
remains eligible or only children remain eligible
SBP “Base Amount” elected
Age of Marine
Age of youngest eligible child
Premiums are reduced when only the former spouse
remains eligible or only children remain eligible
• Annual Cost of Living Adjustment
• Birth of new eligible child
• Youngest child “ages-out” or passes away
• Annual Cost of Living Adjustment
• Annual Cost of Living Adjustment
• Annual Cost of Living Adjustment
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Calculating the Premium
16
 The amount of the premium will
vary significantly based on the SBP
election
 SCENARIO: Marine is 43, Spouse is 41, children are 13 and 10. He is considering
several SBP options and wants to know what his premium would be for a $2000
base amount.
Program
Premium
Spouse Only
$130.00
Spouse and Child
$130.46
Child Only
$7.80
RCCs should be careful not to quote exact
premiums or benefits as SBP has many
nuances; however, this is example is
provided to illustrate the wide variation in
premium amounts. Marines may be referred
to the DoD’s military pay website:
http://militarypay.defense.gov/survivor/sbp/in
dex.html
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DIC Primer
17
What is DIC?
• Dependent Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a VA program
that pays to the eligible family members a tax exempt survivor
benefit after the death of certain retired or separated Marines
receiving VA compensation.
Note
The surviving family
member(s) must
apply for DIC,
payment is not
automatic
In what cases will eligible family members receive DIC?
• Death stems from a service connected disability for which the
Service Member was receiving VA compensation (or was
entitled to it)
• Service Member was rated as completely and permanently
disabled by the VA at any point
• Service Member was rated as 100% disabled by the VA for at
least 5 years
Challenge
Whether the family
will ultimately be
eligible for DIC is
normally uncertain
when the SBP
election is made
If a Marine’s death meets the criteria above, who are the eligible
family members for DIC?
• DIC follows the same rules as the SBP Spouse and Child election in determining the
appropriate recipient; the one exception is that the remarriage age is 57 instead of 55.
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SBP/DIC Offset
18
 A family member eligible for both SBP payments and DIC
payments will see the SBP offset
• DIC is tax exempt so they still come out ahead
• Family member is reimbursed for a portion of the SBP premiums
paid (essentially turning these premiums into an interest free loan
from the Marine to the Government)
 However, if the SBP and DIC beneficiaries are different family
members, there is no offset
• For example, this means that a Marine who is terminally ill, married,
and has at least one child must carefully weigh the Spouse and Child
vs Child Only SBP options.
 Also, if the SBP beneficiary is receiving DIC for a different
service member (such as a Former Spouse), there is no offset
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SBP and TDRL
19
 If the Marine’s final DoD rating
when he is transferred to the
PDRL differs from the initial
rating, this may affect SBP
If the Marine elected…
Coverage will…
Premiums will…
Benefit will…
Full Gross Retired Pay
Automatically change to the
new Full Gross Retired Pay
Go up or down accordingly
Go up or down accordingly
Reduced Base Amount
Higher than the new Full
Gross Retired Pay
Automatically change to the
new Full Gross Retired Pay
Go down accordingly
Go down accordingly
Reduced Base Amount
Lower than the new Full
Gross Retired Pay
Be unchanged
Be unchanged
Be unchanged
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The Election Process
20
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Automatic Enrollment
21
 Any Marine who retires is
automatically enrolled in the SBP
unless he opts out
 Marine must decline in writing
 If the Marine is married, the spouse must also decline by
writing a notarized letter
 Marine must opt out before retirement date or he will be in
the program until a rare amnesty occurs
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SBP Election Process
22
Click the box to see a DD 2656
Start
Marine
educated
on SBP
Marine
makes
election on
DD 2656
Single?
Benefit
elections
honored
Yes
No
Every Marine
who retires
(regular
retirement,
TDRL, or
PDRL) must
make an SBP
Election
SBP education
is conducted
through:
• Seps/TAPS
class
• Fact sheets
• Discussions
with RCC
• Mandatory
training
through
Marine Net
online
DD 26561 must
also be
completed
to elect
Former
Spouse or
Former
Spouse
and Child
Electing
Spouse or
Spouse
and Child
?
No
Yes
Electing
Full
Retired
Base Pay?
Yes
No
Spouse must sign DD
2656 in front of
notary public
Spouse
concurs
with
Notary?
No
If a Marine does not complete the DD 2656, does not fill out the SBP section, or makes an
election requiring spouse consent without obtaining it, he will be enrolled in the max benefit
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Yes
Marine
enrolled in
max SBP
Responsibility to Keep D-FAS informed
23
 Failure to keep D-FAS informed of
life events and / or mailing
address can hurt the Marine
 SCENARIO 1: A Marine who elected Spouse only SBP coverage is divorced in
January 2013 but he never notifies D-FAS. D-FAS will continue to take premiums
out of his retirement pay. However, if the Marine dies, the now Former Spouse
will not receive any benefit.
 SCENARIO 2: A Marine who elected Spouse Only SBP coverage is divorced in
January 2013 and notifies D-FAS. He does not convert to Former Spouse Only so
his policy is put into suspended status. He remarries in January 2021 but does not
notify DFAS. However, DFAS discovers this in 2025. They will bill him for four
years of premiums!
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Key Points for Marines Eligible for SBP
24
Timely
Decisions
Family
Decision
Keep
DFAS
Informed
• Marines need to make their election prior to retirement
• Marines should take MarineNet training and read up on SBP
• Enrollment is automatic if not declined
• Spouse must concur (notarized signature on DD Form 2656)
if less than full SBP is elected
• Marines must inform DFAS of life events and address
changes
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Common Pitfalls
Uninformed Decisions
Discussion: How can an RCC help avoid these pitfalls?
•
A Marine makes an SBP election without understanding what he is signing up
for
•
A terminally ill Marine declines SBP because he heard from fellow Marines
that is not a good program
•
A Marine doesn’t realize he needs his wife’s signature to be notarized until the
day he is trying to check out
•
A Marine whose retirement pay is fully offset by VA Disability Compensation
doesn’t realize he is receiving SBP until he receives a bill in the mail
25
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Resources
26
Basic Resources
Advanced Resources
Seps/TAPS class
SBP is covered
DoD Military Pay Website
http://militarypay.defense.gov/survivor/sbp/inde
x.html
Marine Net SBP Training
Mandatory Online Training
Wounded Warrior Regiment
PEB Liaison
Dean Trio
703-432-1856
WWR External Fact Sheet
https://ehqmc.usmc.mil/sites/wwr/wrc/External%
20Fact%20Slick%20Sheets/Survivor%20Benefit%2
0Plan%20Slick%20Sheet.pdf
WWR Internal Fact Sheet
https://ehqmc.usmc.mil/sites/wwr/wrc/Internal%
20Slick%20Fact%20Sheets/Survivor%20Benefit%2
0Plan%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf
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Knowledge Check
27
Sgt Monteith is transferred from active duty to the PDRL Gross
Retired Pay of $2000. What is the highest base amount that she
can elect for SBP?
$300
$1100
$2000
It depends on her DoD disability rating
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Knowledge Check
28
PFC Popovich is married with no children when he is transferred from
active duty to the PDRL. Because he never completes the DD Form
2656 properly he is enrolled in the Spouse Only benefit. When will he
be able to cancel this election?
Anytime within the first 90 days
Between the 24th and 36th months of retirement
Within 12 months of his divorce, if he divorces his spouse
Within 12 months of the birth of his first child, if he has one
A and B only
B and C only
C and D only
B, C, and D only
None of the above – he can never cancel this election
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Knowledge Check
29
Sgt Cumberstock is about to be transferred to the TDRL. He is currently
married (for the first time), and has a total of three children, including one with
a previous girlfriend and two with his wife. He wants to open a business with his
brother. What elections are available to him?
Spouse Only
Spouse and Child
Child Only
Insurable Interest (for the brother)
A and B only
A, B, and C only
B only
B and D only
All of the above
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Knowledge Check
30
GySgt O’Donnell is in his second marriage when he retires. After retirement he
divorces his second wife, remarries and has a child with his third wife. He and
his wife then both die in a car crash when their child is 1 year old. Under which
scenarios will this child automatically receive SBP benefits?
Original election was Former Spouse (1st wife) and Child and this was never
terminated
Original election was Spouse and Child and no changes were made when he divorced
his second wife
Original election was Spouse and Child and this was converted to Former Spouse (2nd
wife) and Child when he divorced his second wife
Original election was Child Only
D only
B and D only
B, C, and D only
All of the above
None of the above
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Knowledge Check
31
SSgt Jacobs, a married Marine with one child completes the DD Form 2656
electing Child Only with his full retired base pay as the base amount. His wife
does not sign the DD Form 2656. In which program is he enrolled?
Spouse Only
Spouse and Child
Child Only
He will not be enrolled in any SBP programs
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Knowledge Check
32
PFC Bivens is in the IDES when he is arrested for aggravated assault.
He is disenrolled from the IDES and administratively separated from
the Marine Corps. Can he enroll in SBP?
Yes
No
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Knowledge Check
33
PFC Montalvez is transferred to the PDRL at the age of 19. He enrolls in the
Spouse and Child SBP program. Assuming he and his 18 year old wife both life
to age 90 and never divorce, when will his SBP premiums stop?
In 30 years, when he is 49
In 51 years, when he is 70
In 71 years, when he passes away
He is too young to enroll in the SBP
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Knowledge Check
34
In which circumstances will SBP be offset?
If any family member of the Marine is receiving DIC from the VA for
the same deceased Marine
If any family member of the Marine is receiving DIC from the VA for
any deceased Service Member, including the Marine
If the same family member who is eligible to receive SBP is also
receiving DIC from the VA for the same deceased Marine
If the same family member who is eligible to rececive SBP is also
receiving DIC from the VA for any deceased Service Member,
including the Marine
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Knowledge Check
35
Cpl Wyatt is married with one child at the time he is transferred to the
TDRL. What paperwork will he need to complete in order to elect
Spouse Only – full retired pay base amount?
The DD Form 2656 (with or without spouse signature)
The DD Form 2656 with his spouse’s notarized signature
The DD Form 2656-1
A only
B only
A and C only
B and C only
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Knowledge Check
36
1LT Woodkin elects Spouse and Child coverage when he is transferred from active duty to
the PDRL. Three years later he and his wife divorce and the divorce agreement states that
he will convert SBP to Former Spouse and Child. However, neither he nor the Former
Spouse notify DFAS of the divorce. After three more years he passes away. His Former
Spouse has not remarried and his only child is now eight. Who, if anyone, receives SBP?
The child
The Former Spouse (provided she can find a copy of the divorce
agreement)
The Marine’s estate
Nobody
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Questions
37
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