Survivor Link: Issue 8
The Survivor Link is the Army Survivor Outreach Services Newsletter. This newsletter is published on a quarterly basis to provide information about benefits changes, program updates, opportunities to connect with other survivors and to stay linked to the Army.
Army Survivors can subscribe to The Survivor Link at any time. To subscribe just follow the link in this newsletter. You can choose to have the Survivor Link delivered to your email address or as a text message to your cell phone.
When you subscribe you will be asked a few questions. Please complete your first name, the component of your Soldier (Regular Active Army, US Army National Guard or US Army Reserve), your relationship to the Soldier (spouse, child, parent, staff or other), and your State of residence.
Did you know that the Army has more than 150 Survivor Outreach Service Coordinators ready to assist Surviving Families who are having problems with benefits such as the Survivor Benefit Plan, TRICARE, or education benefits?
Click on the map to use the SOS Coordinator Locator and find the coordinator nearest to your home.
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SBP Annuitants:
2022 Tax Year Statements
2022 tax statements for annuitants are available in myPay as of Dec. 15, 2022
Tax statements sent through the U.S. Postal Service will be mailed no later than Jan. 31, 2023. In many cases, the electronic online forms are available through myPay (https://mypay.dfas.mil) much earlier and more securely than those sent to customers electing delivery by mail.
1099-R Reissues can be sent beginning February 10, 2023. Retirees and annuitants can request a 1099-R reissue online: https://dvidshub.net/r/8bu5qm The online 1099R reissue tool also accepts international addresses.
2023 DIC rates for spouses and dependents
Review 2023 VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) rates for the surviving spouses and dependent children of Veterans. These VA survivor benefits are tax exempt. This means you won’t have to pay any taxes on your compensation payments. These rates are effective December 1, 2022.
Review your summary VA summary of payments online at: https://va.gov/my-va. You will need your DS logon to access your records.
If you do not have a DS Logon, you can create your account at: https://myaccess.dmdc.osd.mil/identitymanagement/app/registration
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SBP Payment Changes in 2023
Effective January 1, 2023, there were several changes that impacted the payments of SBP.
- 2023 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA): Based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index, there was an 8.7 percent COLA for most SBP annuities effective December 1, 2022. Annuitants saw a change in their January 3, 2023 payment.
- SBP-DIC Offset Repeal: The SBP-DIC offset was repeal was fully implemented on January 1, 2023. Spouses receiving SBP may see increases in their SBP annuity in the payment on February 1, 2023.
- SBP Taxes in 2023: Families are encouraged to review their tax withholdings in 2023. An individual is taxed based upon their income tax bracket. If a surviving spouse is receiving the SBP that prior to 2023 was paid to the surviving child, there may be a change in the tax liability. MilitaryOneSource offers free tool to estimate your tax withholding: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator
Now is a good time to check on your SBP annuity. You can retrieve an online pay statement from DFAS by going to myPay. If you do not have a myPay account you can create one at: https://mypay.dfas.mil/
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Tax Filing
The Department of Defense offers MilTax to eligible survivors of active-duty, National Guard and reserve deceased service members regardless of conflict or activation status.
MilTax is a suite of free tax services for the military from the Defense Department that includes easy-to-use tax preparation and e-filing software, personalized support from tax consultants and current information about filing taxes. It’s designed to address the realities of military life — including deployments, combat and training pay, housing and rentals, and multistate filings.
All MilTax services are free — with no hidden surprises. Whether you’re ready to e-file or have questions about preparing a tax return, MilTax is available 24/7 and focused on helping you save time and money. Before you pay a commercial tax service to prepare your income taxes, learn more about MilTax.
Bereavement Camps:
A Place to Grieve and Heal
Grieving can be a lonely experience. Being with others who are also grieving can reassure you that what you’re feeling is perfectly normal. Bereavement camps, seminars and retreats offer a place for you to connect with people who understand grief. They can help you with your grief journey.
Professionals and volunteers run the camps. Grants and donations help support the camps, making them available at little or no cost to families. Separate camps are conducted for adults and children to provide specialized grieving spaces.
If you are considering attending a grief camp in 2023, use the link below to find more information. Many organizations begin their application process in the early spring and have limited availability.
PACT Act Resources
The PACT Act is a historic new law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. The law empowers VA to provide generations of Veterans—and their survivors—with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve.
Dine and Dial
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
7:00 PM Central Time
Financial Education for Military Survivors
The call number is:
(1-605-475-5910; Access Code 7681905#)
These sessions are hosted by the Ft. Leonard Wood Survivor Outreach Office as an outreach way to inform military survivors of potential resources.
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