10 U.S.C. § 1448
Section 1448 · Application of Plan
Current version, with additions and removals from the October 5, 1994 version.
(a) General Rules for Participation in the Plan.—
(A) Persons entitled to retired pay.
(A) Persons entitled to retired pay.
(B) Persons who would be eligible for reserve-component retired pay but for the fact that they are under 60 years of age.
(B) Persons who would be eligible for reserve-component retired pay but for the fact that they are under 60 years of age.
(2) The Plan applies—
(2) Participants in the plan.—The Plan applies to the following persons, who shall be participants in the Plan:
(3) Elections.—
(i) not to participate in the Plan;
(i) not to participate in the Plan;
(ii) to provide an annuity for the person's spouse at less than the maximum level; or
(ii) to provide an annuity for the person's spouse at less than the maximum level; or
(iii) to provide an annuity for a dependent child but not for the person's spouse.
(iii) to provide an annuity for a dependent child but not for the person's spouse.
(i) not to participate in the Plan;
(ii) to designate under subsection (e)(2) the effective date for commencement of annuity payments under the Plan in the event that the member dies before becoming 60 years of age to be the 60th anniversary of the member's birth (rather than the day after the date of the member's death);
(i) that the spouse's whereabouts cannot be determined; or
(i) that the spouse's whereabouts cannot be determined; or
(ii) that, due to exceptional circumstances, requiring the person to seek the spouse's consent would otherwise be inappropriate.
(ii) that, due to exceptional circumstances, requiring the person to seek the spouse's consent would otherwise be inappropriate.
(4) Irrevocability of elections.—
(5) Participation by person marrying after retirement, etc.—
(A) Election to participate in plan.—A person who is not married and has no dependent child upon becoming eligible to participate in the Plan but who later marries or acquires a dependent child may elect to participate in the Plan.
(6)(A) A person—
(C) Limitation on revocation of election.—Such an election may not be revoked except in accordance with subsection (b)(3).
(D) Effective date of election.—The election is effective as of the first day of the first calendar month following the month in which the election is received by the Secretary concerned.
(E) Designation if rcsbp election.—In the case of a person providing a reserve-component annuity, such an election shall include a designation under subsection (e).
(6) Election out of plan by person with spouse coverage who remarries.—
(A) General rule.—A person—
(ii) who does not have an eligible spouse beneficiary under the Plan; and
(ii) who does not have an eligible spouse beneficiary under the Plan; and
(iii) who remarries,
(iii) who remarries,
may elect not to provide coverage under the Plan for the person's spouse.
may elect not to provide coverage under the Plan for the person's spouse.
(C) Terms and conditions of election.—An election under this paragraph—
(i) is irrevocable;
(i) is irrevocable;
(ii) shall be made within one year after the person's remarriage; and
(ii) shall be made within one year after the person's remarriage; and
(iii) shall be made in such form and manner as may be prescribed in regulations under section 1455 of this title.
(iii) shall be made in such form and manner as may be prescribed in regulations under section 1455 of this title.
(i) not to participate in the Plan;
(i) not to participate in the Plan;
(ii) to provide an annuity for the person's spouse at less than the maximum level; or
(ii) to provide an annuity for the person's spouse at less than the maximum level; or
(iii) to provide an annuity for a dependent child but not for the person's spouse,
(iii) to provide an annuity for a dependent child but not for the person's spouse,
the person's spouse shall be notified of that election.
the person's spouse shall be notified of that election.
(b) Insurable Interest and Former Spouse Coverage.—
(1) Coverage for person with insurable interest.—
(F) Vitiation of election by disability retiree who dies of disability-related cause.—If a member retired after November 23, 2003, under chapter 61 of this title dies within one year after the date on which the member is so retired and the cause of death is related to a disability for which the member was retired under that chapter (as determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense)—
(i) an election made by the member under paragraph (1) to provide an annuity under the Plan to any person other than a dependent of that member (as defined in section 1072(2) of this title) is vitiated; and
(ii) the amounts by which the member's retired pay was reduced under section 1452 of this title shall be refunded and paid to the person to whom the annuity under the Plan would have been paid pursuant to such election.
(G) Election of new beneficiary upon death of previous beneficiary.—
(i) Authority for election.—If the reason for discontinuation in the Plan is the death of the beneficiary, the participant in the Plan may elect a new beneficiary. Any such beneficiary must be a natural person with an insurable interest in the participant. Such an election may be made only during the 180-day period beginning on the date of the death of the previous beneficiary.
(ii) Procedures.—Such an election shall be in writing, signed by the participant, and made in such form and manner as the Secretary concerned may prescribe. Such an election shall be effective the first day of the first month following the month in which the election is received by the Secretary.
(iii) Vitiation of election by participant who dies within two years of election.—If a person providing an annuity under a election under clause (i) dies before the end of the two-year period beginning on the effective date of the election—
(I) the election is vitiated; and
(II) the amount by which the person's retired pay was reduced under section 1452 of this title that is attributable to the election shall be paid in a lump sum to the person who would have been the deceased person's beneficiary under the vitiated election if the deceased person had died after the end of such two-year period.
(2) Former spouse coverage upon becoming a participant in the plan.—
(A) General rule.—A person who has a former spouse upon becoming eligible to participate in the Plan may elect to provide an annuity to that former spouse.
(3)(A) A person—
(C) Designation if more than one former spouse.—If there is more than one former spouse, the person shall designate which former spouse is to be provided the annuity.
(D) Designation if rcsbp election.—In the case of a person providing a reserve-component annuity, such an election shall include a designation under subsection (e).
(3) Former spouse coverage by persons already participating in plan.—
(A) Election of coverage.—
(i) Authority for election.—A person—
may (subject to subparagraph (B)) elect to provide an annuity to that former spouse.
(ii) Termination of previous coverage.—Any such election terminates any previous coverage under the Plan.
(i) the person was married to that former spouse for at least one year, or
(i) the person was married to that former spouse for at least one year, or
(ii) that former spouse is the parent of issue by that marriage.
(ii) that former spouse is the parent of issue by that marriage.
(E) Effective date of election.—An election under this paragraph is effective as of—
(i) the first day of the first month following the month in which the election is received by the Secretary concerned; or
(ii) in the case of a person required (as described in section 1450(f)(3)(B) of this title) to make the election by reason of a court order or filing the date of which is after October 16, 1998, the first day of the first month which begins after the date of that court order or filing.
(A) whether the election is being made pursuant to the requirements of a court order; or
(B) whether the election is being made pursuant to a written agreement previously entered into voluntarily by such person as a part of, or incident to, a proceeding of divorce, dissolution, or annulment and (if so) whether such voluntary written agreement has been incorporated in, or ratified or approved by, a court order.
(6) Special needs trusts for sole benefit of certain dependent children.—A person who has established a supplemental or special needs trust under subparagraph (A) or (C) of section 1917(d)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396p(d)(4)) for the sole benefit of a dependent child considered disabled under section 1614(a)(3) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 1382c(a)(3)) who is incapable of self-support because of mental or physical incapacity may elect to provide an annuity to that supplemental or special needs trust.
(7) Effect of death of former spouse beneficiary.—
(A) Termination of participation in plan.—A person who elects to provide an annuity to a former spouse under paragraph (2) or (3) and whose former spouse subsequently dies is no longer a participant in the Plan, effective on the date of death of the former spouse.
(B) Authority for election of new spouse beneficiary.—If a person's participation in the Plan is discontinued by reason of the death of a former spouse beneficiary, the person may elect to resume participation in the Plan and to elect a new spouse beneficiary as follows:
(i) Married on the date of death of former spouse.—A person who is married at the time of the death of the former spouse beneficiary may elect to provide coverage to that person's spouse. Such an election must be received by the Secretary concerned within one year after the date of death of the former spouse beneficiary.
(ii) Marriage after death of former spouse beneficiary.—A person who is not married at the time of the death of the former spouse beneficiary and who later marries may elect to provide spouse coverage. Such an election must be received by the Secretary concerned within one year after the date on which that person marries.
(C) Effective date of election.—The effective date of election under this paragraph shall be as follows:
(i) An election under subparagraph (B)(i) is effective as of the first day of the first calendar month following the death of the former spouse beneficiary.
(ii) An election under subparagraph (B)(ii) is effective as of the first day of the first calendar month following the month in which the election is received by the Secretary concerned.
(D) Level of coverage.—A person making an election under subparagraph (B) may not reduce the base amount previously elected.
(E) Procedures.—An election under this paragraph shall be in writing, signed by the participant, and made in such form and manner as the Secretary concerned may prescribe.
(F) Irrevocability.—An election under this paragraph is irrevocable.
(d) Coverage for Survivors of Members Who Die on Active Duty.—
(A) a member who dies while on active duty after—
(B) a member not described in subparagraph (A) who dies in line of duty while on active duty.
(A) may not pay an annuity under paragraph (1) or (2); but
(A) may not pay an annuity under paragraph (1) or (2); but
(B) shall pay an annuity to that former spouse as if the member had been a participant in the Plan and had made an election under subsection (b) to provide an annuity to the former spouse, or in accordance with that election, as the case may be, if the Secretary receives a written request from the former spouse concerned that the election be deemed to have been made in the same manner as provided in section 1450(f)(3) of this title.
(B) shall pay an annuity to that former spouse as if the member had been a participant in the Plan and had made an election under subsection (b) to provide an annuity to the former spouse, or in accordance with that election, as the case may be, if the Secretary receives a written request from the former spouse concerned that the election be deemed to have been made in the same manner as provided in section 1450(f)(3) of this title.
(6) Deemed election.—
(A) Annuity for dependent.—In the case of a member described in paragraph (1) who dies after November 23, 2003, the Secretary concerned may, if no other annuity is payable on behalf of the member under this subchapter, pay an annuity to a natural person who has an insurable interest in such member as if the annuity were elected by the member under subsection (b)(1). The Secretary concerned may pay such an annuity under this paragraph only in the case of a person who is a dependent of that member (as defined in section 1072(2) of this title).
(B) Computation of annuity.—An annuity under this subparagraph shall be computed under section 1451(b) of this title as if the member had retired for total disability on the date of death with reductions as specified under section 1452(c) of this title, as applicable to the ages of the member and the natural person with an insurable interest.
(1) the day after the date of his death; or
(2) the 60th anniversary of his birth.
(f) Coverage of Survivors of Persons Dying When or Before Eligible To Elect Reserve-Component Annuity.—
(A) is eligible to provide a reserve-component annuity and dies—
(B) is a member of a reserve component not described in subparagraph (A) and dies from an injury or illness incurred or aggravated in the line of duty during inactive-duty training.
(2) Dependent children annuity.—
(B) Optional annuity when there is an eligible surviving spouse.—The Secretary may pay an annuity under this subchapter to the dependent children of a person described in paragraph (1) under section 1450(a)(3) of this title, if applicable, instead of paying an annuity to the surviving spouse under paragraph (1), if the Secretary concerned, in consultation with the surviving spouse, determines it appropriate to provide an annuity for the dependent children under this paragraph instead of an annuity for the surviving spouse under paragraph (1).
(A) may not pay an annuity under paragraph (1) or (2); but
(A) may not pay an annuity under paragraph (1) or (2); but
(B) shall pay an annuity to that former spouse as if the person had been a participant in the Plan and had made an election under subsection (b) to provide an annuity to the former spouse, or in accordance with that election, as the case may be, if the Secretary receives a written request from the former spouse concerned that the election be deemed to have been made in the same manner as provided in section 1450(f)(3) of this title.
(B) shall pay an annuity to that former spouse as if the person had been a participant in the Plan and had made an election under subsection (b) to provide an annuity to the former spouse, or in accordance with that election, as the case may be, if the Secretary receives a written request from the former spouse concerned that the election be deemed to have been made in the same manner as provided in section 1450(f)(3) of this title.
(g)(1) A person—
(5) Deemed election to provide an annuity for dependent.—Paragraph (6) of subsection (d) shall apply in the case of a member described in paragraph (1) who dies after November 23, 2003, when no other annuity is payable on behalf of the member under this subchapter.
(g) Election To Increase Coverage Upon Remarriage.—
(1) Election.—A person—
(A) who is a participant in the Plan and is providing coverage under subsection (a) for a spouse or a spouse and child, but at less than the maximum level; and
(A) who is a participant in the Plan and is providing coverage under subsection (a) for a spouse or a spouse and child, but at less than the maximum level; and
(B) who remarries,
(B) who remarries,
may elect, within one year of such remarriage, to increase the level of coverage provided under the Plan to a level not in excess of the current retired pay of that person.
may elect, within one year of such remarriage, to increase the level of coverage provided under the Plan to a level not in excess of the current retired pay of that person.
(A) the amount that would have been withheld from such person's retired pay under section 1452 of this title if the higher level of coverage had been in effect from the time the person became a participant in the Plan; and
(A) the amount that would have been withheld from such person's retired pay under section 1452 of this title if the higher level of coverage had been in effect from the time the person became a participant in the Plan; and
(B) the amount of such person's retired pay actually withheld.
(B) the amount of such person's retired pay actually withheld.