RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-00268
COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: NO
________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
His records be corrected to reflect he made a timely election for former spouse and child coverage under the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP).
________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
He forgot to request SBP coverage for his former spouse within one year of their divorce. Although he erred in making the proper election, SBP premiums continued to be deducted from his retired pay. He would like for these payments to be applied towards his former spouses SBP coverage.
The applicants complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.
_________________ ______________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
On 1 October 2010, the applicant retired from the Regular Air Force in the grade of senior master sergeant (E-8).
The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the letter prepared by the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR), which is attached at Exhibit C.
________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPFFF recommends approval contingent upon recoupment of any applicable premiums. A persons eligibility to receive a spouse SBP annuity terminates upon divorce. The only means by which the divorced spouse can become a SBP beneficiary is if former spouse coverage is elected by the service member or a deemed election is made on the basis of a court order. However, the court order must be submitted along with an election within one year of the date of the original court order which awarded the coverage. If neither the member nor the former spouse requests the election change during the one-year eligibility period, former spouse coverage may not be established thereafter. Even if a member fails to properly provide notification of a divorce and continue to pay SBP premiums afterwards, the former spouse is not eligible for annuity payments upon the member death. In this case, the applicant and former spouse were married on 21 February 1987. He elected spouse and child SBP coverage based on full retired pay prior to his 1 October 2010 retirement. The parties divorced on 4 August 2011 and the Marital Settlement Agreement was silent on SBP. There was no evidence the applicant made an election to change spouse to former spouse coverage within the first year following their divorce. Although SBP premiums continue to be deducted from the applicants retired pay and his former spouse was erroneously reflected as his eligible spouse beneficiary, the former spouse is not eligible for annuity payments upon the applicants death since an election was not made. However, it appears to be the applicants intent for his former spouse to be the eligible SBP beneficiary because he did not request coverage of his former spouse to be terminated following their divorce. Neither party has remarried; accordingly, there is no competing claimant.
A complete copy of the AFPC/DPFFF evaluation is at Exhibit C.
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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 6 April 2013 for review and comment within 30 days. As of this date, no response has been received by this office (Exhibit D).
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THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:
1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations.
2. The application was timely filed.
3. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice to warrant corrective action. We took notice of the applicants complete submission in judging the merits of the case and agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR) that it would be appropriate to recommend granting the requested relief. While there is no evidence of an error on the part of the Air Force, in view of the fact the applicant did not request termination of SBP coverage and premiums continued to be deducted from the former members retired pay, we find this illustrates his intent to continue SBP for his former spouse. Therefore, in the interest of justice, we recommend that the records be corrected as indicated below.
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THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:
The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to the APPLICANT be corrected to show that on 5 August 2011, he elected former spouse and child coverage under the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), based on full retired pay, naming his former spouse as the beneficiary.
________________________________________________________________
The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2013-00268 in Executive Session on 7 November 2013, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:
Panel Chair
Member
Member
All members voted to correct the records as recommended. The following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 11 January 2013, w/atchs.
Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPFFF, dated 22 March 2013.
Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 6 April 2013.
Panel Chair
DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
WASHINGTON DC
Office of the Assistant Secretary
AFBCMR BC-2013-00268
MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF
Having received and considered the recommendation of the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records and under the authority of Section 1552, Title 10, United States Code, it is directed that:
The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to
be corrected to show that on 5 August 2011, he elected former spouse and child coverage under the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), based on full retired pay, naming his former spouse, Mary Beth Vlahos, as beneficiary.
Director
Air Force Review Boards Agency
3
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