Fill Out DD Form 2656-7 Online
Verification for Survivor Annuity
U.S. Department of Defense
Applies for a Survivor Benefit Plan annuity after the death of a military retiree or member.
Reviewed July 2026
How it works
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Open the form. The official PDF loads straight into the editor, no download needed first.
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Fill it out in the editor. Click anywhere to type, add checkmarks and place your signature.
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Download your PDF. Save the completed form, ready to print or submit.
DD Form 2656-7, Verification for Survivor Annuity, is the application a survivor files to begin receiving a Survivor Benefit Plan annuity after the death of a military retiree or an eligible member. It tells DFAS who the claimant is, confirms eligibility as the designated beneficiary, and collects the payment information needed to start the monthly annuity.
You can complete DD Form 2656-7 in the Universal PDF editor, type the claimant and deceased member's information into the official fields, and download the finished PDF to sign and submit to DFAS with the required documents. During a difficult time, a typed, complete application helps the claim move through processing without avoidable back and forth.
What DD Form 2656-7 is used for
The Survivor Benefit Plan pays a monthly annuity to an eligible beneficiary after the death of a retiree who elected coverage, or of a member who died in circumstances that qualify a survivor for the annuity. DD Form 2656-7 is the claim that starts those payments.
The form verifies the claimant's identity and relationship to the deceased, establishes eligibility under the coverage the member elected, and captures the details DFAS needs to set up the annuity account.
Who files the form
The person claiming the annuity files it: typically a surviving spouse or former spouse covered by the plan, or a guardian or custodian filing on behalf of a dependent child. In some cases a natural person designated under an insurable interest election files instead.
DFAS usually contacts the annuitant with a claim package after being notified of the retiree's death, and this form is a central part of that package. Universal PDF is an independent document tool and is not affiliated with the Department of Defense or DFAS.
How to fill out DD Form 2656-7
Have the deceased member's information and your own identification documents at hand:
- The deceased retiree or member: name, Social Security number, and date of death
- The claimant: your name, Social Security number, date of birth, address, and relationship to the deceased
- Eligibility details: marriage information for a spouse claim, or the child's information for a child claim
- Payment information so the annuity can be paid by direct deposit
- Signature and date, with a parent or guardian signing for a minor child
Where to send it and what to include
Send the completed form to DFAS Retired and Annuitant Pay at the address in the claim package or on dfas.mil. Claims are typically submitted with a certified copy of the death certificate and, depending on the situation, documents such as a marriage certificate or birth certificates for eligible children, plus direct deposit and tax withholding forms.
Notifying DFAS of the death promptly is the first step; the annuity claim follows. Keep copies of everything you send and note the date you mailed it.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Open the form in the Universal PDF editor, complete the fields on screen, and download the finished PDF to print, sign, and mail to DFAS with your supporting documents.
Eligibility follows the election the member made: usually a surviving spouse, a former spouse if that coverage was elected, dependent children in some elections, or an insurable interest beneficiary. DFAS determines eligibility based on the coverage on file.
A certified copy of the death certificate is standard. Depending on the claim, DFAS may also need a marriage certificate, birth certificates for children, guardianship documents, and completed direct deposit and tax withholding forms.
By monthly direct deposit to the account the annuitant designates in the claim package. The annuity continues according to the plan's rules, and the annuitant reports later changes such as remarriage or a change of address to DFAS.
Life insurance such as SGLI or VGLI is separate from the Survivor Benefit Plan and is claimed on its own forms with the insurer. Filing DD Form 2656-7 only starts the SBP annuity.
Related forms
Universal PDF is an independent product and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. Forms are provided from official government sources; always confirm you have the current version before filing.