Mapping your financial future can be complicated, even if you are not experiencing difficult times. However, if you are a surviving spouse or other eligible beneficiary, you do not have to navigate your options on your own. You may view current and estimated future benefits by accessing your interactive online survivor benefits report.
Your survivor benefits report can be a great resource as you set up your savings and spending plans and can also give you an idea of your financial future.
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With your report, you can explore:
- The “what ifs” — See how different scenarios, such as changes to marital, education and disability status, will impact your current and future benefits. For example, if a spouse remarries before age 55, the Survivor Benefit Plan annuity is suspended, but can be reinstated if the remarriage ends by death or divorce. If the surviving spouse remarries at age 55 or older, the annuity continues uninterrupted for the duration of the spouse’s life. Current and “what if” reports can be saved or printed.
- Homeownership possibilities — Look at your current finances and your financial future and decide if, or when, you should buy a home. Surviving spouses who have not remarried may be eligible for a Department of Veterans Affairs home loan guaranty, which they can use to buy a home, build a home or refinance an existing loan. Additional information about the VA home loan program is available on the VA website.
- Education benefits — Whether you’re thinking about your own education or your child’s, the interactive report can help you financially plan for obtaining higher education, certification, technical or vocational school, apprenticeships or other educational programs. As a surviving spouse, you may access education benefits from the VA up to 20 years after the death of your service member. Surviving military children can typically use their benefits between the ages of 18 and 26.
- Retirement options — Retirement may still be a few years away, but planning should start now. Your report will show you how much money you should be receiving now and project your future benefits. That can help you decide how much money to set aside now for your retirement years.
- Your wish list — Don’t forget to build in some fun. Maybe you’ve always wanted to take your children to Disneyland or travel to Paris. You can make those dreams a reality with the help of your interactive online survivor benefits report.
Start preparing for your future by accessing your online survivor benefits report, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. To log in and view personal reports, select your loved one’s branch of service below and follow instructions on the site:
If you don’t already have a Premium DS Logon account you can create one on the Defense Manpower Data Center’s website.
Contact the Family Assistance Support Team at 877-827-2471, or by email at osbr@afsc.com, about any questions concerning your report. Recipients of Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance are entitled to a lifetime of free financial advice from FinancialPoint, an independent company whose team of professionals are experts in handling a wide range of financial matters.
The services’ long-term survivor care programs also provide free services with financial counselors: