10 U.S.C. § 1451
(a) Computation of Annuity for a Spouse, Former Spouse, or Child.—
(1) Standard annuity.— In the case of a standard annuity provided to a beneficiary under section 1450(a) of this title (other than under section 1450(a)(5)), the monthly annuity payable to the beneficiary shall be determined as follows:
(B) Beneficiary 62 years of age or older.—
(i) General rule.— If the beneficiary (other than a dependent child) is 62 years of age or older when becoming entitled to the annuity, the monthly annuity shall be the amount equal to the product of the base amount and the percent applicable to the month, as follows:
(2) Reserve-component annuity.— In the case of a reserve-component annuity provided to a beneficiary under section 1450(a) of this title (other than under section 1450(a)(5)), the monthly annuity payable to the beneficiary shall be determined as follows:
(A) Beneficiary under 62 years of age.— If the beneficiary is under 62 years of age or is a dependent child when becoming entitled to the annuity, the monthly annuity shall be the amount equal to a percentage of the base amount that—
(B) Beneficiary 62 years of age or older.—
(i) General rule.— If the beneficiary (other than a dependent child) is 62 years of age or older when becoming entitled to the annuity, the monthly annuity shall be the amount equal to a percentage of the base amount that—
(b) Insurable Interest Beneficiary.—
(2) Reserve-component annuity.— In the case of a reserve-component annuity provided to a beneficiary under section 1450(a)(5) of this title, the monthly annuity payable to the beneficiary shall be the amount equal to a percentage of the retired pay of the person who elected to provide the annuity after the reduction in such pay in accordance with section 1452(c) of this title that—
(3) Computation of reserve-component annuity when participant dies before age 60.— For the purposes of paragraph (2), a person—
shall be considered to have been entitled to retired pay at the time of death. The retired pay of such person for the purposes of such paragraph shall be computed on the basis of the rates of basic pay in effect on the date on which the annuity provided by such person is to become effective in accordance with the designation of such person under section 1448(e) of this title.
(c) Annuities for Survivors of Certain Persons Dying During a Period of Special Eligibility for SBP.—
(1) In general.— In the case of an annuity provided under section 1448(d) or 1448(f) of this title, the amount of the annuity shall be determined as follows:
(A) Beneficiary under 62 years of age.— If the person receiving the annuity is under 62 years of age or is a dependent child when the member or former member dies, the monthly annuity shall be the amount equal to 55 percent of the retired pay to which the member or former member would have been entitled if the member or former member had been entitled to that pay when he died determined as follows:
(B) Beneficiary 62 years of age or older.—
(d) Reduction of Annuities at Age 62.—
(2) Amount of annuity as reduced.—
(e) Savings Provision for Certain Beneficiaries.—
(1) Persons covered.— The following beneficiaries under the Plan are eligible to have an annuity under the Plan computed under this subsection:
(B) A spouse or former spouse beneficiary of a person who on —
(2) Amount of annuity.— Subject to paragraph (3), an annuity computed under this subsection is determined as follows:
(B) Reserve-component annuity.— In the case of the beneficiary of a reserve-component annuity, the annuity shall be the percentage of the base amount that—
(3) Social security offset.— An annuity computed under this subsection shall be reduced by the lesser of the following:
(4) Special rules for social security offset computation.—
(B) Treatment of certain periods for which social security refunds are made.— In the computation of any reduction made under paragraph (3), there shall be excluded any period of service described in section 210(l)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 410(l)(1))—
(f) Determination of Percentages Applicable to Computation of Reserve-Component Annuities.— The percentage to be applied in determining the amount of an annuity computed under subsection (a)(2), (b)(2), or (e)(2)(B) shall be determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense. Such regulations shall be prescribed taking into consideration the following:
(g) Adjustments to Annuities.—
(1) Periodic adjustments for cost-of-living.—
(h) Adjustments to Base Amount.—
(1) Periodic adjustments for cost-of-living.—
(Added Pub. L. 92–425, § 1(3), , 86 Stat. 709; amended Pub. L. 94–496, § 1(4), , 90 Stat. 2375; Pub. L. 95–397, title II, § 204, , 92 Stat. 846; Pub. L. 96–402, § 3, , 94 Stat. 1705; Pub. L. 97–22, § 11(a)(4), , 95 Stat. 137; Pub. L. 98–94, title IX, § 922(a)(14)(B), , 97 Stat. 642; Pub. L. 98–525, title VI, § 641(a), , 98 Stat. 2545; Pub. L. 99–145, title VII, § 711(a), (b), , 99 Stat. 666, 670; Pub. L. 99–348, title III, § 301(a)(2), (b), (c), , 100 Stat. 702; Pub. L. 99–661, div. A, title VI, § 642(b), title XIII, § 1343(a)(8)(D), , 100 Stat. 3886, 3992; Pub. L. 100–26, § 7(h)(1), , 101 Stat. 282; Pub. L. 100–224, § 3(a), (c), , 101 Stat. 1537; Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, title VI, § 652(a), , 102 Stat. 1991; Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title XIV, §§ 1403(a), 1407(a)(5)–(8), (b)(1), , 103 Stat. 1579, 1588, 1589; Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title X, § 1070(e)(4), , 108 Stat. 2859; Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title VI, § 634, , 110 Stat. 2566; Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title X, § 1073(a)(28), , 111 Stat. 1901; Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title VI, § 643(a)(1), , 113 Stat. 663; Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title VI, § 642(b), (c)(2), , 115 Stat. 1152; Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title X, § 1062(a)(6), , 116 Stat. 2650; Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title VI, § 644(a), , 118 Stat. 1960; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title VI, § 642(a), , 130 Stat. 2164; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title X, § 1081(a)(25), , 131 Stat. 1595; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title VI, § 622(a)(2), , 133 Stat. 1427.)
The Social Security Act, referred to in subsec. (e)(3)(A), (4)(A), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620, as amended. Title II of the Social Security Act is classified generally to subchapter II (§ 401 et seq.) of chapter 7 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of Title 42 and Tables.
Section 6413(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, referred to in subsec. (e)(4)(B)(ii), is classified to section 6413(c) of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code.
2019—Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 116–92 inserted “a portion (calculated under section 1450(c) of this title) of” before “the amount”.
2017—Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 115–91 substituted “section 1450(a)(5)” for “section 1450(a)(4)” in two places.
2016—Subsec. (c)(1)(A)(i). Pub. L. 114–328, § 642(a)(1), inserted “or 1448(f)” after “section 1448(d)” and “or (iii)” after “clause (ii)”.
Subsec. (c)(1)(A)(iii). Pub. L. 114–328, § 642(a)(2), substituted “section 1448(f)(1)(A) of this title by reason of the death of a member or former member not in line of duty” for “section 1448(f) of this title” and “service” for “active service”.
2004—Subsec. (a)(1)(B)(i). Pub. L. 108–375, § 644(a)(1)(A), substituted “the product of the base amount and the percent applicable to the month, as follows:” and subcls. (I) to (V) for “35 percent of the base amount.”
Subsec. (a)(1)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 108–375, § 644(a)(1)(B), struck out “, at the time the beneficiary becomes entitled to the annuity,” after “subsection (e) and if”.
Subsec. (a)(2)(B)(i)(I). Pub. L. 108–375, § 644(a)(2), substituted “the percent specified under subsection (a)(1)(B)(i) as being applicable for the month” for “35 percent”.
Subsec. (c)(1)(B)(i). Pub. L. 108–375, § 644(a)(3)(A), substituted “the applicable percent” for “35 percent” and inserted at end “The percent applicable for a month under the preceding sentence is the percent specified under subsection (a)(1)(B)(i) as being applicable for that month.”
Subsec. (c)(1)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 108–375, § 644(a)(3)(B), struck out “, at the time the beneficiary becomes entitled to the annuity,” after “subsection (e) and if”.
Subsec. (d)(2)(A). Pub. L. 108–375, § 644(a)(4), substituted “Computation of annuity” for “35 percent annuity” in heading.
2002—Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 107–314 struck out “section” before “clause (ii)”.
2001—Subsec. (c)(1)(A). Pub. L. 107–107, § 642(b)(1), substituted “when he died determined as follows:” and cls. (i) to (iii) for “based upon his years of active service when he died.”
Subsec. (c)(1)(B)(i). Pub. L. 107–107, § 642(b)(2), substituted “as determined under subparagraph (A)” for “if the member or former member had been entitled to that pay based upon his years of active service when he died”.
Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 107–107, § 642(c)(2), substituted “clause (ii) or (iii) of section 1448(d)(1)(A)” for “1448(d)(1)(B) or 1448(d)(1)(C)”.
1999—Subsec. (h)(3). Pub. L. 106–65 inserted “of certain members” after “retirement” in heading.
1997—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 105–85 substituted “annuity.—” for “annuity—” in heading.
1996—Pub. L. 104–201 amended section generally, revising and restating provisions relating to amounts of annuities and inserting subsec., par., and subpar. headings.
1994—Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 103–337 substituted “section 1311(a) of title 38” for “section 411(a) of title 38”.
1989—Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 101–189, § 1403(a), amended par. (3) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (3) read as follows: “In the case of an annuity provided by a member described in section 1448(d)(1)(C) of this title, the retired pay to which the member would have been entitled when he died shall be determined based upon the rate of basic pay in effect at the time of death for the highest grade other than a commissioned officer grade in which the member served on active duty satisfactorily, as determined by the Secretary concerned.”
Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 101–189, § 1407(a)(5), inserted “by reason of the service of a person who first became a member of a uniformed service before ”.
Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 101–189, § 1407(a)(6), substituted “beneficiaries under the Plan” for “beneficiaries under the plan” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (e)(1)(B). Pub. L. 101–189, § 1407(a)(7), in cl. (i), substituted “was” for “is”, in cl. (ii), substituted “was” for “is” in two places and “had” for “has”, and in cl. (iii), substituted “would have been” for “would be” and “was” for “is”.
Subsec. (e)(2)(A), (B). Pub. L. 101–189, § 1407(a)(8), struck out “(as the base amount is adjusted from time to time under section 1401a of this title)” after “base amount”.
Subsec. (e)(3)(A), (4)(A). Pub. L. 101–189, § 1407(b)(1), inserted “or former spouse” after “widow or widower”.
1988—Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 100–456 substituted “widow, widower, or former spouse” for “widow or widower” in subpar. (A), and inserted “or former spouse” after “A spouse” in subpar. (B).
1987—Subsec. (a)(1)(A), (B), (2)(A), (B). Pub. L. 100–224, § 3(a)(2), struck out “(as the base amount is adjusted from time to time under section 1401a of this title)” after “base amount”.
Subsec. (e)(4)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 100–26 substituted “Internal Revenue Code of 1986” for “Internal Revenue Code of 1954”.
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 100–224, § 3(a)(1), designated existing provisions of subsec. (h) as par. (3) and added pars. (1) and (2).
Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 100–224, § 3(c), substituted “so as to be the amount equal to the amount of the annuity that would be in effect on that date if increases under subsection (h)(1) in the base amount applicable to that annuity to the time of the death of the member or former member, and increases in such annuity under subsection (g)(1), had been computed as provided in paragraph (2) of section 1401a(b) of this title (rather than under paragraph (3) of that section)” for “on the basis of the amount of retired pay to which the member or former member would have been entitled upon recomputation of such pay effective on such date under section 1410 of this title, had the member or former member attained such age”.
1986—Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 99–661, § 1343(a)(8)(D), substituted “section” for “subsection” before “1401a of this title”.
Pub. L. 99–661, § 642(b)(1)(A), inserted “or is a dependent child”.
Subsec. (a)(1)(B). Pub. L. 99–661, § 642(b)(1)(B), inserted “(other than a dependent child)”.
Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 99–661, § 642(b)(1)(A), inserted “or is a dependent child”.
Subsec. (a)(2)(B). Pub. L. 99–661, § 642(b)(1)(B), inserted “(other than a dependent child)”.
Subsec. (c)(1)(A). Pub. L. 99–661, § 642(b)(2)(A), inserted “or is a dependent child”.
Subsec. (c)(1)(B). Pub. L. 99–661, § 642(b)(2)(B), inserted “(other than a dependent child)”.
Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 99–348, § 301(b), struck out “by the same total percent” after “same time” in first sentence, and inserted provision that the increase, in the case of any annuity, be by the same percent as the percent by which the retired pay of the person providing the annuity would have been increased at such time if the person were alive, and otherwise entitled to such pay.
Subsecs. (h), (i). Pub. L. 99–348, § 301(a)(2), (c), added subsecs. (h) and (i).
1985—Pub. L. 99–145, § 711(a), amended section generally, eliminating the social security offset to the Plan and establishing a two-tier system under which the beneficiary would receive 55 percent of retired pay before age 62 and 35 percent thereafter in recognition of the entitlement to social security based on military service, and providing benefits to certain beneficiaries under either the old social security offset system or the new two-tier system, whichever is higher.
Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 99–145, § 711(b), repealed Pub. L. 98–525, § 641(a), effective . See 1984 Amendment note below.
1984—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 98–525, § 641(a), which substituted “is entitled” for “would be entitled” after “widow or widower” in first sentence and inserted “or to the extent that the benefit to which the beneficiary is entitled is based on the beneficiary’s own earnings or self-employment” at end of second sentence, was repealed effective , by Pub. L. 99–145, § 711(b). See Effective Date of 1984 Amendment note below.
1983—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 98–94 added subsec. (e).
1981—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 97–22 substituted “” for “the effective date of the Uniformed Services Survivor Benefits Amendments of 1980”.
1980—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–402, § 3(a), in revising subsec. (a), designated as par. (1)(A) and (B) existing first sentence containing cls. (1) and (2) and provided in subpar. (A) for adjustment of the annuity from time to time under section 1401a of this title and in subpar. (B) for a similar adjustment after the date the person becomes entitled to retired pay under chapter 67 of this title; designated as par. (2) existing second sentence but provided for reduction of the annuity by the lesser of amounts indicated in subpar. (A) or (B), previously limited to reduction by amount prescribed in predecessor of subpar. (A) provision; designated existing third and fourth sentences as par. (3) and inserted annuity reduction provision described for par. (2); and added par. (4).
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 96–402, § 3(b), substituted in first sentence “this section or under section 1448(d) of this title” for “this section, or section 1448(d) of this title, on the day before the effective day of that increase” and in second sentence “title or under” for “title, or” before “subsection (a)”.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 96–402, § 3(c), substituted reference to “subsection (a)(1)(B)” for “subsection (a)(2)”.
1978—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–397, § 204(a), (b), substituted “The monthly annuity payable to a widow, widower, or dependent child who is entitled under section 1450(a) of this title to an annuity shall be—” for “If the widow or widower is under age 62 or there is a dependent child, the monthly annuity payable to the widow, widower, or dependent child, under section 1450 of this title shall be equal to 55 percent of the base amount.”, and added pars. (1) and (2), and substituted “For the purpose of the preceding sentence, a widow or widower shall not be considered as entitled to a benefit under subchapter II of chapter 7 of title 42 to the extent that such benefit has been offset by deductions under section 403 of title 42 on account of work” for “For the purpose of the preceding sentence, a widow or widower shall be considered as entitled to a benefit under subchapter II of chapter 7 of title 42 even though that benefit has been offset by deductions under section 403 of title 42 on account of work”.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–397, § 204(c), substituted “The monthly annuity payable under section 1450(a)(4) of this title shall be—” for “The monthly annuity payable under section 1450(a)(4) of this title shall be 55 percent of the retired or retainer pay of the person who elected to provide that annuity after the reduction in that retired or retainer pay in accordance with section 1452(c) of this title.”, added pars. (1) and (2) and provision following par. (2) relating to the entitlement to retirement pay, and computation thereof, by a person who provided an annuity and who dies before becoming 60 years of age.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 95–397, § 204(d), added subsec. (d).
1976—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–496 substituted “(a)(4)” for “(a)(3)”.
Amendment by Pub. L. 116–92 effective on the first day of the first month that begins after , see section 622(f) of Pub. L. 116–92, set out as a note under section 1448 of this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 114–328 inapplicable to accural of annuity benefits under subchapter II of chapter 73 of this title for any period prior to , with provisions for election of benefits payable to dependent children, see section 642(e) of Pub. L. 114–328, set out as a note under section 1448 of this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 107–107 effective , and applicable with respect to deaths of members of the Armed Forces occurring on or after that date, see section 642(d) of Pub. L. 107–107, set out as a note under section 1448 of this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 106–65 effective , see section 644 of Pub. L. 106–65, set out as a note under section 1401a of this title.
Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title XIV, § 1407(b)(2), , 103 Stat. 1589, provided that:
“The amendments made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall apply only with respect to the computation of an annuity for a person who becomes a former spouse under a divorce that becomes final after the date of the enactment of this Act [
Nov. 29, 1989].”
Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, title VI, § 652(b), , 102 Stat. 1991, provided that:
“The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to payments under the Survivor Benefit Plan established under subchapter II of chapter 73 of title 10, United States Code, for periods after
February 28, 1986.”
Amendment by section 642(b) of Pub. L. 99–661 applicable to payments for periods after , see section 642(c) of Pub. L. 99–661, set out as a note under section 1448 of this title.
Amendment by section 711(a) of Pub. L. 99–145 effective , with prohibition against accrual of benefits to any person by reason of the enactment of such title VII for any period before , see section 731 of Pub. L. 99–145, set out as a note under section 1447 of this title.
Pub. L. 99–145, title VII, § 711(b), , 99 Stat. 670, provided that the repeal of section 641 of Pub. L. 98–525 [amending this section and enacting provision set out below] is effective .
Section 641(b) of Pub. L. 98–525, which provided that the amendments made by subsection (a), amending this section, was applicable only in the case of payments of annuities payable for periods that began on or after , was repealed effective , by section 711(b) of Pub. L. 99–145.
Amendment by Pub. L. 98–94 effective , see section 922(e) of Pub. L. 98–94, set out as a note under section 1401 of this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 96–402 effective , applicable to annuities payable for months beginning on or after such date, and prohibiting accrual of benefits for any period before , see section 7 of Pub. L. 96–402, set out as a note under section 1447 of this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 95–397 effective , and applicable to annuities payable by virtue of amendment for months beginning on or after such date, see section 210 of Pub. L. 95–397, set out as a note under section 1447 of this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 94–496 effective , see section 3 of Pub. L. 94–496, set out as a note under section 1447 of this title.
Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title XIV, § 1403(b)–(d), , 103 Stat. 1579, provided that:
“(b) Adjustment of Annuities Already in Effect.—
- “(1) Recomputation.— The Secretary concerned shall recompute the annuity of any person who on the effective date specified in subsection (d) is entitled to an annuity under the Survivor Benefit Plan by reason of eligibility described in section 1448(d)(1)(B) or 1448(d)(1)(C) of title 10, United States Code, and who is further described in subsection (c).
- “(2) Amount of recomputed annuities.— The amount of the annuity as so recomputed shall be the amount that would be in effect for that annuity on the effective date specified in subsection (d) if the annuity had originally been computed subject to the provisions of paragraph (3) of section 1451(c) of title 10, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a).
“(c) Persons Eligible for Recomputation.— A person is eligible to have an annuity under the Survivor Benefit Plan recomputed under subsection (b) if—
- “(1) the annuity is based upon the service of a member of the uniformed services who died on active duty during the period beginning on , and ending on the effective date specified in subsection (d); and
- “(2) the retired pay of that member for the purposes of determining the amount of the annuity under the Survivor Benefit Plan was computed using a rate of basic pay lower than the rate of basic pay in effect at the time of death for the grade in which the member was serving at the time of death.
- “(d) Effective Date.— An annuity recomputed under subsection (b) shall take effect as so recomputed on .”