Reporting Death to DFAS

How do I report the death of a military retiree or SBP annuitant to the Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS)?

You should report a retired service member’s death as soon as possible to help avoid delay and possible financial hardship to surviving beneficiaries, family member or executors, who will be required to return any unearned military retirement payments. Eligibility for military retired pay ends with the death of the retiree. Therefore, if a retired pay payment was issued for the month in which the retiree died, the bank will be notified to return the unearned portion of the payment upon notification of death. The beneficiary of the Arrears of Pay (AOP) may be due a prorated amount for the month of death.

DFAS provides the option to report the death of a military retiree online using their AskDFAS online form.  To use the online Notice of Death option, click on the “Click to report the death of a retiree” link at the top of the Retired Military & Annuitants main page, which is located at www.dfas.mil/retiredmilitary.html .  This will take you to a form where you will enter all of the pertinent information.  When reporting a retiree’s death, be sure to have the following information available:

• Retiree’s full name

• Retiree’s SSN

• Retiree’s date of death

• Cause of death (natural, accident, suicide, homicide)

• Marital status (if married, the wedding date)

• Names and addresses of retiree’s designated beneficiaries or next of kin, living and deceased

The form also asks for your name, address, phone number and email address. If you are completing this form on behalf of someone else, such as the spouse or child of the deceased retiree, please use the contact information of the person you are helping to make the report. Updates on the status of the claim will be sent to the email address provided, including an email verifying that the notification was received.

You can also call the Customer Care Center at 800-321-1080.  For more info see:

You also need to notify DFAS for the death of a Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuitant.  Eligibility for Survivor Benefit Plan annuity pay ends with the death of the annuitant. Prompt reporting of the annuitant's death can help avoid delay in the final settlement of the annuity.  All outstanding checks or direct deposits must be returned to DFAS before a settlement of arrears of annuity may be made.

To report the death of an annuitant, call 800-321-1080 and send a copy of the annuitant’s death certificate showing cause of death to:

DFAS U.S. Military Annuitant Pay

8899 E 56th Street

Indianapolis IN 46249-1300

You can also Fax the info to 800-982-8459.