SURVIVOR BENEFIT PLAN (SBP) INTERIM POLICY CHANGE

R 182122Z JAN 08
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-12//
TO ALCOAST
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UNCLAS //N01332//
ALCOAST 022/08
COMDTNOTE 1332
SUBJ: SURVIVOR BENEFIT PLAN (SBP) INTERIM POLICY CHANGE
A. DODI 1332.42, SURVIVOR AND ANNUITY PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION, 24
AUG 2004
B. UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MEMO DTD 19 DEC 2007
1. SBP AND THE RESERVE COMPONENT SBP (RC-SBP) PROVIDE MONTHLY
ANNUITY PAYMENTS TO THE SURVIVORS OF A RETIREE IF THE MBR ELECTS
COVERAGE PRIOR TO RETIREMENT. A RETIRING MBR MAY DECLINE SBP BUT
THE SPOUSE MUST PROVIDE A SIGNATURE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. IF THE SPOUSE
DOES NOT DECLINE THE SBP THEN SBP IS PROVIDED BY LAW.
2. REF A CURRENTLY REQUIRES A WITNESS TO CONFIRM THE SIGNATURE OF
THE SPOUSE. HOWEVER, A WITNESS SIGNATURE HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN
ADEQUATE TO CONFIRM THE VALIDITY OF THE SPOUSAL SIGNATURE. REF B
IS AN INTERIM CHANGE TO REF A THAT FORMALIZES THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
OF SPOUSAL CONCURRENCE. BEGINNING 1 MAY 2008, WHENEVER A MBR
ELECTS LESS THAN MAXIMUM SBP OR RC-SBP, THE SPOUSAL CONSENT
SIGNATURE MUST BE NOTARIZED.
3. PARAGRAPH E3.5.1 OF REF A IS CHANGED TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
E3.5.1. WRITTEN SPOUSE CONCURRENCE IS REQUIRED WHEN THE MEMBER
ELECTS TO DECLINE COVERAGE OR PROVIDE THE SPOUSE WITH LESS THAN THE
MAXIMUM SBP COVERAGE AVAILABLE (TO INCLUDE ELECTING CHILD ONLY
COVERAGE) AND IN THE CASE OF A MEMBER ELIGIBLE FOR THE RC-SBP WHO
DECLINES COVERAGE OR ELECTS COVERAGE THAT PROVIDES LESS THAN A
MAXIMUM IMMEDIATE SPOUSE ANNUITY. THE SIGNATURE OF THE SPOUSE MUST
BE NOTARIZED. THE REQUIREMENT TO HAVE THE SPOUSES SIGNATURE
NOTARIZED IS NOT TO SUGGEST THAT THE SPOUSE HAS RECEIVED ADDITIONAL
COUNSELING REGARDING THE OPTION BEING SELECTED. IT SIMPLY PROVIDES
CERTIFICATION THAT THE SPOUSE SIGNED THE FORM.
4. THE COAST GUARD CONFORMS IN MOST RESPECTS WITH DOD REGULATIONS
CONCERNING SBP AND RC-SBP. THIS CHANGE IS ADOPTED BY POLICY.
5. THIS CHANGE DOES NOT EFFECT SBP PROVIDED DUE TO THE DEATH OF A
MBR WHILE ON ACTIVE DUTY. THAT COVERAGE IS AUTOMATIC BASED ON
SECTIONS 1475-1480 OF TITLE 10, U.S. CODE. IT CANNOT BE DECLINED.
6. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
7. RELEASED BY RDML DANIEL A. NEPTUN, DIRECTOR OF PERSONNEL
MANAGEMENT.
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