Special Allowance for Surviving Spouses

Week of November 10, 2008

The new 2008 National Defense Authorization Act (110-181) established a special payment for surviving spouses who are Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) beneficiaries, but whose SBP annuity is reduced by their Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). The Act now states that survivors of members who died on active duty are eligible for this benefit. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service-Cleveland (DFAS-CL) will automatically pay Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance (SSIA) to surviving spouses whose SBP accounts show a DIC offset beginning October 2008. Surviving spouses entitled to SSIA can update their bank account information by contacting DFAS-CL at 1-800-321-1080 or by calling their Retirement Services Officer.