10 U.S.C. § 1450: Payment of annuity: beneficiaries

The eligible surviving spouse or the eligible former spouse. The surviving dependent children in equal shares, if the eligible surviving spouse or the eligible former spouse is dead, dies, or otherwise becomes ineligible under this section. The dependent children in equal shares if the person to whom section 1448 of this title applies (with the concurrence of the person’s spouse, if required under section 1448(a)(3) of this title ) elected to provide an annuity for dependent children but not for the spouse or former spouse. Notwithstanding subsection (i), a supplemental or special needs trust established under subparagraph (A) or (C) of section 1917(d)(4) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396p(d)(4) ) for the sole benefit of a dependent child considered disabled under section 1614(a)(3) of that Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1382c(a)(3) ) who is incapable of self-support because of mental or physical incapacity. The natural person designated under section 1448(b)(1) of this title , unless the election to provide an annuity to the natural person has been changed as provided in subsection (f). An annuity payable to the beneficiary terminates effective as of the first day of the month in which eligibility is lost. An annuity for a surviving spouse or former spouse shall be paid to the surviving spouse or former spouse while the surviving spouse or former spouse is living or, if the surviving spouse or former spouse remarries before reaching age 55, until the surviving spouse or former spouse remarries. If the surviving spouse or former spouse remarries before reaching age 55 and that marriage is terminated by death, annulment, or divorce, payment of the annuity shall be resumed effective as of the first day of the month in which the marriage is so terminated. However, if the surviving spouse or former spouse is also entitled to an annuity under the Plan based upon the marriage so terminated, the surviving spouse or former spouse may not receive both annuities but must elect which to receive. During the period beginning on January 1, 2020 , and ending on December 31, 2020 , the amount that the annuity otherwise payable under this section would exceed such dependency and indemnity compensation. During the period beginning on January 1, 2021 , and ending on December 31, 2021 , the amount that the annuity otherwise payable under this section would exceed two-thirds of such dependency and indemnity compensation. During the period beginning on January 1, 2022 , and ending on December 31, 2022 , the amount that the annuity otherwise payable under this section would exceed one-third of such dependency and indemnity compensation. On and after January 1, 2023 , the full amount of the annuity under this section. A reduction in an annuity under this section required by paragraph (1) shall be effective on the date of the commencement of the period of payment of such dependency and indemnity compensation under title 38. a single notice of the net amount to be recouped or the net amount to be refunded, as applicable, under this subsection or subsection (e); a written explanation of the statutory requirements for recoupment of the offset amount and for refund of any applicable amount deducted from retired pay; a detailed accounting of how the offset amount being recouped and retired pay deduction amount being refunded were calculated; and contact information for a person who can provide information about the offset recoupment and retired pay deduction refund processes and answer questions the surviving spouse or former spouse may have about the requirements, processes, or amounts. If, upon the death of a person to whom section 1448 of this title applies, that person had in effect a waiver of that person’s retired pay for the purposes of subchapter III of chapter 83 of title 5 or chapter 84 of such title, an annuity under this section shall not be payable unless, in accordance with section 8339(j) or 8416(a) of title 5, that person notified the Office of Personnel Management that he did not desire any spouse surviving him to receive an annuity under section 8341(b) or 8442(a) of that title. If an annuity under this section is not payable because of subsection (c), any amount deducted from the retired pay or combat-related special compensation of the deceased under section 1452 of this title shall be refunded to the surviving spouse or former spouse. If, because of subsection (c), the annuity payable is less than the amount established under section 1451 of this title , the annuity payable shall be recalculated under that section. The amount of the reduction in the retired pay required to provide that recalculated annuity shall be computed under section 1452 of this title , and the difference between the amount deducted before the computation of that recalculated annuity and the amount that would have been deducted on the basis of that recalculated annuity shall be refunded to the surviving spouse or former spouse. A person who elects to provide an annuity to a person designated by him under section 1448(b) of this title may, subject to paragraph (2), change that election and provide an annuity to his spouse or dependent child. The Secretary concerned shall notify the former spouse or other natural person previously designated under section 1448(b) of this title of any change of election under subparagraph (A). Any such change of election is subject to the same rules with respect to execution, revocation, and effectiveness as are set forth in section 1448(a)(5) of this title (without regard to the eligibility of the person making the change of election to make such an election under that section). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, a change of election under this subsection to provide an annuity to a spouse instead of a former spouse may (subject to paragraph (2)) be made at any time after the person providing the annuity remarries without regard to the time limitation in section 1448(a)(5)(B) of this title . furnishes to the Secretary concerned a certified copy of a court order which is regular on its face and which modifies the provisions of all previous court orders relating to such election, or the agreement to make such election, so as to permit the person to change the election; and certifies to the Secretary concerned that the court order is valid and in effect. furnishes to the Secretary concerned a statement, in such form as the Secretary concerned may prescribe, signed by the former spouse and evidencing the former spouse’s agreement to a change in the election under paragraph (1); and certifies to the Secretary concerned that the statement is current and in effect. A written request, in such manner as the Secretary shall prescribe, from the former spouse concerned requesting that such an election be deemed to have been made. a copy of the court order, regular on its face, which requires such election or incorporates, ratifies, or approves the written agreement of such person; or a statement from the clerk of the court (or other appropriate official) that such agreement has been filed with the court in accordance with applicable State law. the person enters, incident to a proceeding of divorce, dissolution, or annulment, into a written agreement to make such an election and the agreement (I) has been incorporated in or ratified or approved by a court order, or (II) has been filed with the court of appropriate jurisdiction in accordance with applicable State law; or the person is required by a court order to make such an election. An election may not be deemed to have been made under subparagraph (A) in the case of any person unless the Secretary concerned receives a request from the former spouse of the person within one year of the date of the court order or filing involved. An election deemed to have been made under subparagraph (A) shall become effective on the day referred to in section 1448(b)(3)(E)(ii) of this title . A court order may require a person to elect (or to enter into an agreement to elect) under section 1448(b) of this title to provide an annuity to a former spouse (or to both a former spouse and child). An election under this section may not be changed or revoked. a revocation of an election under section 1449(b) of this title ; or a change in an election under subsection (f). Except as provided in section 1451 of this title , an annuity under this section is in addition to any other payment to which a person is entitled under any other provision of law. Such annuity shall be considered as income under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Except as provided in subsection (a)(4) or ( l )(3)(B), an annuity under this section is not assignable or subject to execution, levy, attachment, garnishment, or other legal process. A reserve-component annuity shall be effective in accordance with the designation made under section 1448(e) of this title by the person providing the annuity. An annuity payable under section 1448(f) of this title shall be effective on the day after the date of the death of the person upon whose service the right to the annuity is based. If a surviving spouse or former spouse whose annuity has been adjusted under subsection (c) subsequently loses entitlement to dependency and indemnity compensation under section 1311(a) of title 38 because of the remarriage of the surviving spouse, or former spouse, and if at the time of such remarriage the surviving spouse or former spouse is 55 years of age or more, the amount of the annuity of the surviving spouse or former spouse shall be readjusted, effective on the effective date of such loss of dependency and indemnity compensation, to the amount of the annuity which would be in effect with respect to the surviving spouse or former spouse if the adjustment under subsection (c) had never been made. A surviving spouse or former spouse whose annuity is readjusted under paragraph (1) shall repay any amount refunded under subsection (e) by reason of the adjustment under subsection (c). If the repayment is not made in a lump sum, the surviving spouse or former spouse shall pay interest on the amount to be repaid. Such interest shall commence on the date on which the first such payment is due and shall be applied over the period during which any part of the repayment remains to be paid. The manner in which such repayment shall be made, and the rate of any such interest, shall be prescribed in regulations under section 1455 of this title . An amount repaid under this paragraph (including any such interest) received by the Secretary of Defense shall be deposited into the Department of Defense Military Retirement Fund. Any other amount repaid under this paragraph shall be deposited into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts. Upon application of the beneficiary of a participant in the Plan who is missing, the Secretary concerned may determine for purposes of this subchapter that the participant is presumed dead. the retired pay of the participant has been suspended on the basis that the participant is missing; or in the case of a participant in the Plan who would be eligible for reserve-component retired pay but for the fact that he is under 60 years of age, his retired pay, if he were entitled to retired pay, would be suspended on the basis that he is missing. the participant has been missing for at least 30 days; and the circumstances under which the participant is missing would lead a reasonably prudent person to conclude that the participant is dead. Upon a determination under paragraph (1) with respect to a participant in the Plan, an annuity otherwise payable under this subchapter shall be paid as if the participant died on the date as of which the retired pay of the participant was suspended. any annuity being paid under this subchapter by reason of this subsection shall be terminated; and the total amount of any annuity payments made by reason of this subsection shall constitute a debt to the United States. from any retired pay otherwise payable to the participant; if the participant is entitled to compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, from that compensation; or if the participant is entitled to any other payment from the United States, from that payment. If the participant dies before the full recovery of the amount of annuity payments described in subparagraph (A)(ii) has been made by the United States, the remaining amount of such annuity payments may be collected from the participant’s beneficiary under the Plan if that beneficiary was the recipient of the annuity payments made by reason of this subsection. the surviving spouse or former spouse is entitled to dependency and indemnity compensation under section 1311(a) of title 38 ; except for subsection (c) of this section, the surviving spouse or former spouse is eligible for an annuity by reason of a participant in the Plan under subsection (a)(1) of section 1448 of this title or by reason of coverage under subsection (d) or (f) of such section; and the eligibility of the surviving spouse or former spouse for an annuity as described in subparagraph (B) is affected by subsection (c) of this section. for months during fiscal year 2009, $50; for months during fiscal year 2010, $60; for months during fiscal year 2011, $70; for months during fiscal year 2012, $80; for months during fiscal year 2013, $90; for months during fiscal year 2014, $150; for months during fiscal year 2015, $200; for months during fiscal year 2016, $275; for months from October 2016 through November 2018, $310; and for months after November 2018, the amount determined in accordance with paragraph (6). The amount of the allowance paid to an eligible survivor under paragraph (1) for any month may not exceed the amount of the annuity for that month that is subject to offset under subsection (c). An allowance paid under this subsection does not constitute an annuity, and amounts so paid are not subject to adjustment under any other provision of law. The special survivor indemnity allowance shall be paid from amounts in the Department of Defense Military Retirement Fund established under section 1461 of this title . Whenever retired pay is increased for a month under section 1401a of this title (or any other provision of law), the amount of the allowance payable under paragraph (1) for that month shall also be increased. the amount payable pursuant to paragraph (2) for months during the preceding 12-month period; plus an amount equal to a percentage of the amount determined pursuant to clause (i), which percentage is the percentage by which the retired pay of the member would have increased for the month, as described in subparagraph (A), if the member was alive (and otherwise entitled to such pay). The monthly amount of an allowance payable under this subsection, if not a multiple of $1, shall be rounded to the next lower multiple of $1. Whenever an increase in the amount of the allowance payable under paragraph (1) is made pursuant to this paragraph, the Secretary of Defense shall publish the amount of the allowance so payable by reason of such increase, including the months for which payable. each annuity under section 1450 of title 10 , United States Code, that commenced before that month, is computed under a provision of section 1451 of that title amended by subsection (a), and is payable for that month shall be recomputed so as to be equal to the amount that would be in effect if the percent applicable for that month under that provision, as so amended, had been used for the initial computation of the annuity; and each supplemental survivor annuity under [former] section 1457 of such title that commenced before that month and is payable for that month shall be recomputed so as to be equal to the amount that would be in effect if the percent applicable for that month under that section, as amended by this section, had been used for the initial computation of the supplemental survivor annuity. October 2005. April 2006. April 2007. April 2008. If, as a result of the recomputation of annuities under section 1450 of title 10 , United States Code, and supplemental survivor annuities under [former] section 1457 of such title, as required by paragraph (1), the total amount of both annuities to be paid to an annuitant for a month would be less (because of the offset required by section 1450(c) of such title for dependency and indemnity compensation) than the amount that would be paid to the annuitant in the absence of recomputation, the Secretary of Defense shall take such actions as are necessary to adjust the annuity amounts to eliminate the reduction.” entered into a written agreement on or after August 19, 1983 , to make an election under section 1448(b) of such title to provide an annuity to the former spouse (the agreement thereafter having been incorporated in or ratified or approved by a court order or filed with the court of appropriate jurisdiction in accordance with applicable State law); or was required by a court order dated on or after such date to make such an election for the former spouse; and before making the election, died within 21 days after the date of the agreement referred to in paragraph (1)(A) or the court order referred to in paragraph (1)(B), as the case may be. For the purposes of paragraph (3)(C) of section 1450(f) of title 10 , United States Code, a court order or filing referred to in subsection (a)(1) of this section that is dated before October 19, 1984 , shall be deemed to be dated on the date of the enactment of this Act [ Oct. 5, 1999 ].”