Child coverage may be added to spouse or former spouse coverage. In this case, SBP payments will be made to the children only if your surviving spouse or former spouse remarries before age 55 or dies. Eligible children equally divide benefits equal to 55 percent of the base amount.

When you include child coverage with former spouse coverage, only your children of that former spouse are covered. Any other children will not be paid benefits under this option. In the child only option or when you include children with spouse (not former spouse) coverage, all of your children are covered.

Cost

The cost of child coverage that is in conjuction with spouse or former spouse coverage is the sum of spouse/former spouse coverage and an additional cost for the child. The additional child portion of the cost is based upon the following factors:

  • Your age.
  • Your spouse/former spouse's age.
  • And your youngest covered child's age.

The tables below show the monthly cost of the child portion of spouse (former spouse) and child coverage per $100 of covered retired pay. These tables show costs for differing ages of the youngest child. This cost is in addition to the cost for your spouse (former spouse) coverage.

Youngest Child Age 5:

Your Age
Spouse's Age
35
40
45
50
40
6.1 Cents
4.5 Cents
3.3 Cents
3.2 Cents
45
9.1 Cents
6.6 Cents
5.0 Cents
4.7 Cents
50
15.7 Cents
11.4 Cents
8.5 Cents
8.0 Cents

Example: If you are age 45, your spouse is age 35, and your youngest child is age 5 at the time of your retirement the cost per $100 of covered retired pay is 9.1 cents.

Youngest Child Age 10:

Your Age
Spouse's Age
35
40
45
50
40
3.1 Cents
2.2 Cents
2.4 Cents
1.8 Cents
45
4.5 Cents
3.2 Cents
2.4 Cents
1.8 Cents
50
8.0 Cents
5.6 Cents
4.2 Cents
3.2 Cents

Example: If you are age 45, your spouse is age 45, and your youngest child is age 10 at the time of your retirement the cost per $100 of covered retired pay is 2.4 cents.

Youngest Child Age 15:

Your Age
Spouse's Age
35
40
45
50
40
1.1 Cents
0.8 Cents
0.5 Cents
0.4 Cents
45
1.5 Cents
1.1 Cents
0.8 Cents
0.6 Cents
50
2.7 Cents
2.0 Cents
1.4 Cents
1.1 Cents

Example:

If you are age 45, your spouse is age 40, and your youngest child is age 15 at the time of your retirement the cost per $100 of covered retired pay is 1.1 cents.

Benefit Payments


Under this option, SBP payments will be made to the children only if your surviving spouse or former spouse remarries before age 55 or dies. Eligible children equally divide benefits equal to 55 percent of the base amount.

Special Note:

Public Law provides that a participant is considered "paid-up after completing 30 years (360 payments) in the Plan. This applies to a specific category of beneficiary (i.e., spouse), at a specific base amount (i.e., full retired pay). Contact your personnel counselor for details on this feature, which is not effective until Oct. 1, 2008.