The retirement pay that your spouse receives from the military no doubt helps you to sustain the standard of living that you enjoy in Battle Creek. Were he or she to pass away, you may be protected from that financial loss through the military's Survivor Benefit Plan. Yet what happens to that protection if you get a divorce?
The dissolution of your marriage to a service member (even a retired one) discontinues your access to his or her military benefits. This includes any benefit offered through the SBP. At the same time, the military recognizes how the loss of such benefits may impact you financially (along with the career sacrifices you have made due to your spouse's military career that potentially may have impeded you from securing your own retirement benefit). Thus, it allows for SBP coverage to be extended to you even after your divorce.
According to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, SBP coverage can be either mandated in your divorce decree, or your ex-spouse can elect to continue your access to it on his or her own. In either case, he or she must to change your status to former spouse coverage through the DFAS. You must also submit a "deemed election" request to the same office. Both actions should be completed within one year of the date of your divorce.
It is important to remember, however, that you are responsible to pay the premiums for your continued SBP coverage. Your former spouse SBP benefits will be identical to those you would have received had you remained married. Any SBP benefits you may be receiving will continue even if you remarry if you are over the age of 55.
