Military pay reference
2026 Military Annuitant Pay Dates
The Survivor Benefit Plan annuitant calendar is not always identical to the military retiree calendar.
This page is for DFAS-administered Survivor Benefit Plan annuity payments. It is separate from the military retiree schedule and from VA survivor benefits.
Official 2026 annuitant payment schedule
| Entitlement month | Annuitant pay date |
|---|---|
| December 2025 | |
| January 2026 | |
| February 2026 | |
| March 2026 | |
| April 2026 | |
| May 2026 | |
| June 2026 | |
| July 2026 | |
| August 2026 | |
| September 2026 | |
| October 2026 | |
| November 2026 | |
| December 2026 |
How to read the annuitant schedule
The entitlement-month label identifies the month covered by the annuity. The corresponding date shows when DFAS schedules that monthly payment. Because payment follows the entitlement period, the deposit can appear in the next calendar month.
Weekends and federal holidays are already reflected in the published dates. Do not independently subtract a day from the table unless a financial institution is describing its own optional early-availability service.
Why dates can differ
DFAS separately identifies retired pay and annuitant pay. Around weekends and federal holidays, those payments can settle on different business days. Always choose the calendar matching the payment named on your account.
An SBP annuity is not the deceased retiree’s continuing retired-pay deposit. It is a separate survivor payment with its own account, tax withholding, statements and administrative requirements.
How to verify the annuity amount
Use the annuitant account statement in myPay to compare gross annuity, tax withholding and any deductions with the net deposit. A tax-election change, debt, eligibility update or annual adjustment can alter the net amount even when the schedule has not changed.
Keep contact and direct-deposit information current with DFAS. Some survivor accounts also require periodic eligibility documentation; respond through the official channel and retain proof of submission.
If an annuitant payment is missing
- Verify the entitlement month and official payment date above.
- Check the annuitant statement and direct-deposit account in myPay.
- Ask the receiving bank whether a federal ACH credit was rejected or returned.
- Contact DFAS Retired and Annuitant Pay if the official date passed.
Annuitant pay-date questions
Is an SBP annuity paid on the military retiree date?
Not always. DFAS publishes separate columns, and several 2026 entitlement cycles use different payment dates. Use the annuitant column on this page.
Is a VA survivor benefit included in this calendar?
No. VA survivor benefits are administered separately from a DFAS Survivor Benefit Plan annuity and can follow a different payment and account process.
Can a bank release the annuity early?
A bank may offer early availability for an incoming federal deposit, but that is not guaranteed by this DFAS calendar. Budget against the official date.
Why can the deposit amount change?
Tax withholding, account adjustments, debts and annual changes can affect net pay. The annuitant statement—not the calendar—provides the amount breakdown.