§ 1452. Reduction in retired pay

(a) Spouse and Former Spouse Annuities.—

(1) Required reduction in retired pay.— Except as provided in subsection (b), the retired pay of a participant in the Plan who is providing spouse coverage (as described in paragraph (5)) shall be reduced as follows:

(A) Standard annuity.— If the annuity coverage being provided is a standard annuity, the reduction shall be as follows:

(i) Disability and nonregular service retirees.— In the case of a person who is entitled to retired pay under chapter 61 or chapter 1223 of this title, the reduction shall be in whichever of the alternative reduction amounts is more favorable to that person.

(ii) Members as of enactment of flat-rate reduction.— In the case of a person who first became a member of a uniformed service before March 1, 1990, the reduction shall be in whichever of the alternative reduction amounts is more favorable to that person.

(iii) New entrants after enactment of flat-rate reduction.— In the case of a person who first becomes a member of a uniformed service on or after March 1, 1990, and who is entitled to retired pay under a provision of law other than chapter 61 or chapter 1223 of this title, the reduction shall be in an amount equal to 61/2 percent of the base amount.

(iv) Alternative reduction amounts.— For purposes of clauses (i) and (ii), the alternative reduction amounts are the following:

(I) Flat-rate reduction.— An amount equal to 61/2 percent of the base amount.

(II) Amount under pre-flat-rate reduction.— An amount equal to 21/2 percent of the first $337 (as adjusted after November 1, 1989, under paragraph (4)) of the base amount plus 10 percent of the remainder of the base amount.

(B) Reserve-component annuity.— If the annuity coverage being provided is a reserve-component annuity, the reduction shall be in whichever of the following amounts is more favorable to that person:

(i) Flat-rate reduction.— An amount equal to 61/2 percent of the base amount plus an amount determined in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense as a premium for the additional coverage provided through reserve-component annuity coverage under the Plan.

(ii) Amount under pre-flat-rate reduction.— An amount equal to 21/2 percent of the first $337 (as adjusted after November 1, 1989, under paragraph (4)) of the base amount plus 10 percent of the remainder of the base amount plus an amount determined in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense as a premium for the additional coverage provided through reserve-component annuity coverage under the Plan.

(2) Additional reduction for child coverage.— If there is a dependent child as well as a spouse or former spouse, the amount prescribed under paragraph (1) shall be increased by an amount prescribed under regulations of the Secretary of Defense.

(3) No reduction when no beneficiary.— The reduction in retired pay prescribed by paragraph (1) shall not be applicable during any month in which there is no eligible spouse or former spouse beneficiary.

(4) Periodic adjustments.—

(A) Adjustments for increases in rates of basic pay.— Whenever there is an increase in the rates of basic pay of members of the uniformed services effective on or after October 1, 1985, the amounts under paragraph (1) with respect to which the percentage factor of 21/2 is applied shall be increased by the overall percentage of such increase in the rates of basic pay. The increase under the preceding sentence shall apply only with respect to persons whose retired pay is computed based on the rates of basic pay in effect on or after the date of such increase in rates of basic pay.

(B) Adjustments for retired pay colas.— In addition to the increase under subparagraph (A), the amounts under paragraph (1) with respect to which the percentage factor of 21/2 is applied shall be further increased at the same time and by the same percentage as an increase in retired pay under section 1401a of this title effective on or after October 1, 1985. Such increase under the preceding sentence shall apply only with respect to a person who initially participates in the Plan on a date which is after both the effective date of such increase under section 1401a and the effective date of the rates of basic pay upon which that person’s retired pay is computed.

(5) Spouse coverage described.— For the purposes of paragraph (1), a participant in the Plan who is providing spouse coverage is a participant who—

(A) has

(i) a spouse or former spouse, or

(ii) a spouse or former spouse and a dependent child; and

(B) has not elected to provide an annuity to a person designated by him under section 1448 (b)(1) of this title or, having made such an election, has changed his election in favor of his spouse under section 1450 (f) of this title.

(b) Child-Only Annuities.—

(1) Required reduction in retired pay.— The retired pay of a participant in the Plan who is providing child-only coverage (as described in paragraph (4)) shall be reduced by an amount prescribed under regulations by the Secretary of Defense.

(2) No reduction when no child.— There shall be no reduction in retired pay under paragraph (1) for any month during which the participant has no eligible dependent child.

(3) Special rule for certain rcsbp participants.— In the case of a participant in the Plan who is participating in the Plan under an election under section 1448 (a)(2)(B) of this title and who provided child-only coverage during a period before the participant becomes entitled to receive retired pay, the retired pay of the participant shall be reduced by an amount prescribed under regulations by the Secretary of Defense to reflect the coverage provided under the Plan during the period before the participant became entitled to receive retired pay. A reduction under this paragraph is in addition to any reduction under paragraph (1) and is made without regard to whether there is an eligible dependent child during a month for which the reduction is made.

(4) Child-only coverage defined.— For the purposes of this subsection, a participant in the Plan who is providing child-only coverage is a participant who has a dependent child and who—

(A) does not have an eligible spouse or former spouse; or

(B) has a spouse or former spouse but has elected to provide an annuity for dependent children only.

(1) Required reduction in retired pay.— The retired pay of a person who has elected to provide an annuity to a person designated by him under section 1450 (a)(4) of this title shall be reduced as follows:

(A) Standard annuity.— In the case of a person providing a standard annuity, the reduction shall be by 10 percent plus 5 percent for each full five years the individual designated is younger than that person.

(B) Reserve component annuity.— In the case of a person providing a reserve-component annuity, the reduction shall be by an amount prescribed under regulations of the Secretary of Defense.

(2) Limitation on total reduction.— The total reduction under paragraph (1) may not exceed 40 percent.

(3) Duration of reduction.— The reduction in retired pay prescribed by this subsection shall continue during the lifetime of the person designated under section 1450 (a)(4) of this title or until the person receiving retired pay changes his election under section 1450 (f) of this title.

(4) Rule for computation.— Computation of a member’s retired pay for purposes of this subsection shall be made without regard to any reduction under section 1409 (b)(2) of this title.

(5) Rule for designation of new insurable interest beneficiary following death of original beneficiary.— The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe in regulations premiums which a participant making an election under section 1448 (b)(1)(G) of this title shall be required to pay for participating in the Plan pursuant to that election. The total amount of the premiums to be paid by a participant under the regulations shall be equal to the sum of the following:

(A) The total additional amount by which the retired pay of the participant would have been reduced before the effective date of the election if the original beneficiary

(i) had not died and had been covered under the Plan through the date of the election, and

(ii) had been the same number of years younger than the participant (if any) as the new beneficiary designated under the election.

(B) Interest on the amounts by which the retired pay of the participant would have been so reduced, computed from the dates on which the retired pay would have been so reduced at such rate or rates and according to such methodology as the Secretary of Defense determines reasonable.

(C) Any additional amount that the Secretary determines necessary to protect the actuarial soundness of the Department of Defense Military Retirement Fund against any increased risk for the fund that is associated with the election.

(d) Deposits To Cover Periods When Retired Pay Not Paid.—

(1) Required deposits.— If a person who has elected to participate in the Plan has been awarded retired pay and is not entitled to that pay for any period, that person must deposit in the Treasury the amount that would otherwise have been deducted from his pay for that period.

(2) Deposits not required when participant on active duty.— Paragraph (1) does not apply to a person with respect to any period when that person is on active duty under a call or order to active duty for a period of more than 30 days.

(e) Deposits Not Required for Certain Participants in CSRS.— When a person who has elected to participate in the Plan waives that person’s retired pay for the purposes of subchapter III of chapter 83 of title 5, that person shall not be required to make the deposit otherwise required by subsection (d) as long as that waiver is in effect unless, in accordance with section 8339 (j) of title 5, that person has notified the Office of Personnel Management that he does not desire a spouse surviving him to receive an annuity under section 8341 (b) of title 5.

(f) Refunds of Deductions Not Allowed.—

(1) General rule.— A person is not entitled to refund of any amount deducted from retired pay under this section.

(2) Exceptions.— Paragraph (1) does not apply—

(A) in the case of a refund authorized by section 1450 (e) of this title; or

(B) in case of a deduction made through administrative error.

(g) Discontinuation of Participation by Participants Whose Surviving Spouses Will Be Entitled to DIC.—

(1) Discontinuation.—

(A) Conditions.— Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter but subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), a person who has elected to participate in the Plan and who is suffering from a service-connected disability rated by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as totally disabling and has suffered from such disability while so rated for a continuous period of 10 or more years (or, if so rated for a lesser period, has suffered from such disability while so rated for a continuous period of not less than 5 years from the date of such person’s last discharge or release from active duty) may discontinue participation in the Plan by submitting to the Secretary concerned a request to discontinue participation in the Plan.

(B) Effective date.— Participation in the Plan of a person who submits a request under subparagraph (A) shall be discontinued effective on the first day of the first month following the month in which the request under subparagraph (A) is received by the Secretary concerned. Effective on such date, the Secretary concerned shall discontinue the reduction being made in such person’s retired pay on account of participation in the Plan or, in the case of a person who has been required to make deposits in the Treasury on account of participation in the Plan, such person may discontinue making such deposits effective on such date.

(C) Form for request for discontinuation.— Any request under this paragraph to discontinue participation in the Plan shall be in such form and shall contain such information as the Secretary concerned may require by regulation.

(2) Consent of beneficiaries required.— A person described in paragraph (1) may not discontinue participation in the Plan under such paragraph without the written consent of the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such person under the Plan.

(3) Information on plan to be provided by secretary concerned.—

(A) Information to be provided promptly to participant.— The Secretary concerned shall furnish promptly to each person who files a request under paragraph (1) to discontinue participation in the Plan a written statement of the advantages of participating in the Plan and the possible disadvantages of discontinuing participation.

(B) Right to withdraw discontinuation request.— A person may withdraw a request made under paragraph (1) if it is withdrawn within 30 days after having been submitted to the Secretary concerned.

(4) Refund of deductions from retired pay.— Upon the death of a person described in paragraph (1) who discontinued participation in the Plan in accordance with this subsection, any amount deducted from the retired pay of that person under this section shall be refunded to the person’s surviving spouse.

(5) Resumption of participation in plan.—

(A) Conditions for resumption.— A person described in paragraph (1) who discontinued participation in the Plan may elect to participate again in the Plan if—

(i) after having discontinued participation in the Plan the Secretary of Veterans Affairs reduces that person’s service-connected disability rating to a rating of less than total; and

(ii) that person applies to the Secretary concerned, within such period of time after the reduction in such person’s service-connected disability rating has been made as the Secretary concerned may prescribe, to again participate in the Plan and includes in such application such information as the Secretary concerned may require.

(B) Effective date of resumed coverage.— Such person’s participation in the Plan under this paragraph is effective beginning on the first day of the month after the month in which the Secretary concerned receives the application for resumption of participation in the Plan.

(C) Resumption of contributions.— When a person elects to participate in the Plan under this paragraph, the Secretary concerned shall begin making reductions in that person’s retired pay, or require such person to make deposits in the Treasury under subsection (d), as appropriate, effective on the effective date of such participation under subparagraph (B).

(h) Increases in Reduction With Increases in Retired Pay.—

(1) General rule.— Whenever retired pay is increased under section 1401a of this title (or any other provision of law), the amount of the reduction to be made under subsection (a) or (b) in the retired pay of any person shall be increased at the same time and by the same percentage as such retired pay is so increased.

(2) Coordination when payment of increase in retired pay is delayed by law.—

(A) In general.— Notwithstanding paragraph (1), when the initial payment of an increase in retired pay under section 1401a of this title (or any other provision of law) to a person is for a month that begins later than the effective date of that increase by reason of the application of subsection (b)(2)(B) of such section (or section 631(b) of Public Law 104–106 (110 Stat. 364)), then the amount of the reduction in the person’s retired pay shall be effective on the date of that initial payment of the increase in retired pay rather than the effective date of the increase in retired pay.

(B) Delay not to affect computation of annuity.— Subparagraph (A) may not be construed as delaying, for purposes of determining the amount of a monthly annuity under section 1451 of this title, the effective date of an increase in a base amount under subsection (h) of such section from the effective date of an increase in retired pay under section 1401a of this title to the date on which the initial payment of that increase in retired pay is made in accordance with subsection (b)(2)(B) of such section.

(i) Recomputation of Reduction Upon Recomputation of Retired Pay.— Whenever the retired pay of a person who first became a member of a uniformed service on or after August 1, 1986, and who is a participant in the Plan is recomputed under section 1410 of this title upon the person’s becoming 62 years of age, the amount of the reduction in such retired pay under this section shall be recomputed (effective on the effective date of the recomputation of such retired pay under section 1410 of this title) so as to be the amount equal to the amount of such reduction that would be in effect on that date if increases in such retired pay under section 1401a (b) of this title, and increases in reductions in such retired pay under subsection (h), had been computed as provided in paragraph (2) of section 1401a (b) of this title (rather than under paragraph (3) of that section).

(j) Coverage Paid Up at 30 Years and Age 70.— Effective October 1, 2008, no reduction may be made under this section in the retired pay of a participant in the Plan for any month after the later of—

(1) the 360th month for which the participant’s retired pay is reduced under this section; and

(2) the month during which the participant attains 70 years of age.

U.S. Code

§ 1452. Reduction in retired pay