Change in DFAS "interpretation" of SBP for divorced/remarried Veterans affect you?

Lt Col Fred Marheine, PMP — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 16:49:07 -0400

I'm guessing this doesn't affect many of us, but the manner in which DFAS adjusted their interpretation is troubling at least. In essence, those divorced retirees with a "former spouse" election on SBP can no longer transfer the SBP benefits to a subsequent spouse should the ex-spouse pre-decease the veteran. What are your thoughts? Are there other "interpretations" they've changed we don't know about?

http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/benefits/2015/04/20/dfas-sbp-interpretation-former-spouse/25826965/

New survivor benefit policy vexes retiree

DFAS' new SBP interpretation blocks transfer after death of former spouse

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Apr 26 at 2015 4:59 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 16:59:15 -0400

Thanks for putting this out to the community. I need to make some phone calls and make sure my current wife is the actual recipient of my SBP bennies. If my ex discovers a glitch in the system because of these changes, I'm a dead man.

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Apr 26 at 2015 5:17 PM

SSG Trevor S. — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 17:17:47 -0400

Thank you for letting us know. I hope to stay married, but if some issue happens it is good to know I would need to make these changes.
I agree with MAJ Ken Landgren that this is a scheme to cheat retiree spouses out of money actually invested. Watch for the Government to try this with Social Security at some point with the same goal of cheating people to save money.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Apr 26 at 2015 10:41 PM

MSG Brad Sand — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 22:41:32 -0400

Considering I would already be dead, and my daughter is already getting my SBP, I guess I just don't care all that much?

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Apr 27 at 2015 5:36 PM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 17:36:29 -0400

Posted a week ago ...

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/new-survivor-benefit-policy-who-knew

New Survivor Benefit Policy . . . Who Knew? | RallyPoint

For decades, DFAS had allowed the transfer of SBP benefits to a new spouse if a former spouse died before the retiree. But, in 2013, DFAS --- with no public notice --- changed the way it interprets the law governing SBP. With the change, retirees are no longer automatically allowed to transfer the benefits. Were you aware of this change?...