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Payment to participant in Survivor Benefit Plan whose spouse dies before the participant

Division A · Title VI: MILITARY COMPENSATION AND OTHER BENEFITS · Subtitle D: Family and Survivor Benefits

Plain-language summaryAI

Starting July 1, 2027, military retirees who join the Survivor Benefit Plan and name their spouse as beneficiary will receive a one-time $1,000 payment if their spouse dies before them. To cover this payment, the retiree's monthly retired pay will be reduced by an additional amount set by the Department of Defense.

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Section Text · Sec. 631.
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(a) Establishment

Subchapter II of chapter 73 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting, after section 1448a, the following new section:

1448b. Payment to participant whose spouse dies before the participant

(a) Payment required

The Secretary concerned shall make a one-time payment of $1,000 to a participant described in subsection (b).

(b) Eligible participant

A participant described in this subsection is a person—

(1)

who becomes a participant in the Plan on or after July 1, 2027;

(2)

whose beneficiary under the Plan is the spouse of such person; and

(3)

whose spouse dies before such person.

(b) Conforming reduction in retired pay

Section 1452(a)(1) of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

(C) Additional reduction for payment to participant whose spouse dies before the participant

The reduction under subparagraph (A) or (B) for a participant in the Plan who elects to provide spouse coverage on or after July 1, 2027, shall be increased by an amount prescribed in regulations by the Secretary of Defense as a premium for coverage under section 1448b of this title.