Military pay reference
2026 Military Retiree Pay Dates
Military retired pay is monthly. Use the entitlement-month label to see which month each deposit covers.
Military retired pay is issued once a month. Read the entitlement month and deposit date together, especially near weekends and holidays.
Official 2026 retiree payment schedule
| Entitlement month | Retired 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 entitlement month
The entitlement month identifies the period the retired pay covers. The deposit normally arrives after that month closes, so the month name and the calendar month of the deposit can differ. Use the dated row rather than assuming every payment will post on the same numbered day.
A financial institution may display the incoming deposit before the DFAS payment date under an early-availability policy. That does not change the official entitlement month or create a second payment due later.
Retiree and annuitant dates can differ
Do not use a retiree calendar for a Survivor Benefit Plan annuity. DFAS sometimes schedules an annuitant payment on a different business day, including January, February, July, October and December entitlement cycles shown in the official schedule.
View the separate 2026 annuitant calendar →
Why the retired-pay amount can change
The annual cost-of-living adjustment is one reason a net payment changes, but it is not the only one. Federal or state withholding, Survivor Benefit Plan premiums, allotments, garnishments, debts and other deductions can change the deposit without changing the gross retired-pay entitlement.
Use the Retiree Account Statement in myPay to reconcile gross pay, deductions and net pay. After changing a bank account, tax election or allotment, retain the confirmation and review the first statement showing the update.
If retired pay does not arrive
- Confirm the applicable date in the official schedule above.
- Check myPay for the current statement and direct-deposit destination.
- Ask the financial institution whether the ACH credit is pending, rejected or returned.
- Contact DFAS Retired and Annuitant Pay with the statement date and account details available.
Military retiree pay-date questions
Is military retired pay issued twice monthly?
No. The active-duty mid-month and end-of-month rhythm does not apply. Military retired pay follows the monthly schedule shown above.
Are VA disability and retired pay deposited together?
They are separate federal payments administered by different agencies. A concurrent recipient can receive them on different schedules and as separate bank transactions.
Why did my bank show the deposit before the listed date?
Some banks release an incoming federal payment early. Treat that as the bank’s availability practice, not a permanent change to the official DFAS schedule.
Where do I verify the exact net amount?
Review the current Retiree Account Statement in myPay. The schedule establishes timing; the statement explains gross retired pay, deductions and the net payment.