2016 NDAA Changes SBP Coverage

The 2016 National Defense Authorization Act fixed a quirk in the Survivor Benefit Program (SBP) that had prevented divorced retirees from transferring the benefit to a new spouse if their ex-spouse died. The SBP is an annuity paid to survivors of retired servicemembers; retirees pay a portion of their retired pay to enroll in the program. Upon the retiree's death, eligible beneficiaries can receive up to 55% of the veteran's retired pay. The program is designed to give a veteran piece of mind that his spouse and children will have some type of income upon his death. For more details, see this Military.com article.