The Survivor Benefit Plan provides an ongoing monthly annuity payment to military spouses or children if a military member dies while on active duty, on inactive duty in the line of duty, or after retirement (if the retiree chooses to purchase coverage). A child’s eligibility to receive SBP payments ends when the child turns 18, unless they are proven to be in school or incapacitated/incapable of self-support and/or handling their own affairs.
If a child annuitant attends school full time (in high school or at an accredited college or university), the SBP annuity payments can continue until they reach age 22 or otherwise become ineligible. SBP child annuitants from 18 to 22 years of age must annually certify their status as an unmarried, full-time student to continue receiving annuity payments using DD Form 2788, the Child Annuitant’s School Certification.
