DD Form 2656-5 RCSBP Election Certificate Guide

DD Form 2656-5 RCSBP Election Certificate Guide – For members of the U.S. Army Reserve, Army National Guard, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard, one of the most important decisions after reaching 20 qualifying years of service is whether to protect your future retired pay for your survivors. That decision is documented on DD Form 2656-5, the official Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP) Election Certificate.

This guide explains what the form is, when and how to complete it, the three election options, spousal concurrence rules, and where to submit it. All information is drawn from official Department of Defense sources, including the Executive Services Directorate and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS).

What Is DD Form 2656-5?

DD Form 2656-5 is the Department of Defense form used by Reserve Component members to make an irrevocable (in most cases) election under the Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan during the 90-day window after receiving their Notice of Eligibility (NOE) for non-regular retired pay (commonly called the “20-year letter”).

Official details:

  • Form Number: DD 2656-5
  • Title: Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP) Election Certificate
  • Edition Date: August 2011 (current official version; previous editions are obsolete)
  • OMB Control Number: 0704-0569 (expires 08/31/2026)
  • Controlling Office: Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness

You can download the official PDF directly from the Department of Defense forms website:

Download Official DD Form 2656-5 (PDF)

What Is the Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP)?

The Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan allows qualifying Reserve and National Guard members to provide a monthly annuity to eligible survivors if the member dies before or after beginning to receive non-regular retired pay. The annuity is typically 55 percent of the elected base amount of retired pay.

RCSBP is similar to the standard Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) available to active-duty retirees, but it accounts for the unique timeline of Reserve service. Premiums (standard SBP cost plus an RCSBP “add-on”) are deducted from retired pay once the member begins receiving it.

Eligible beneficiaries can include a spouse, former spouse, dependent children, or (in limited cases) a natural person with an insurable interest.

Authoritative information is available on the official DFAS page: DFAS Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan.

Who Must Complete DD Form 2656-5 and When?

You must complete and submit DD Form 2656-5 if you are a Reserve Component member who has received a Notice of Eligibility (NOE) for retired pay at age 60 (or earlier reduced-age retirement if applicable).

Critical 90-day deadline: You have only 90 days from the date of your NOE to submit a valid election. If you fail to submit the form within that window and you have an eligible spouse or dependent child, the law automatically enrolls you in Option C (immediate annuity based on full retired pay).

Even if you currently have no eligible beneficiaries, completing the form is strongly recommended so your status is clearly documented.

If you later marry or gain a dependent child after the NOE, special one-year windows apply to make or update an election.

Understanding the Three RCSBP Election Options

Section IV of DD Form 2656-5 requires you to select one of three options:

  • Option A – Decline to make an election until age 60: You remain eligible to elect standard SBP coverage when you apply for retired pay. No RCSBP coverage is provided if you die before reaching retirement eligibility. Spousal concurrence (notarized) is required if you are married.
  • Option B – Deferred Annuity: Coverage is provided, but if you die before age 60 the annuity does not begin until the date you would have turned 60. At retirement this election converts to your SBP election, and you pay both the RCSBP add-on for prior coverage and ongoing SBP premiums. Spousal concurrence is required.
  • Option C – Immediate Annuity: An annuity begins the day after your death, whether that occurs before or after age 60. This is the automatic default if no valid election is received within 90 days. At retirement the election becomes your SBP coverage.

Once you select Option B or Option C, the decision is generally permanent and can be changed only under limited circumstances authorized by law (such as a congressionally authorized open season or specific termination windows later in retirement).

How to Complete DD Form 2656-5?

The form contains the following main sections:

  • Section I – Member Information: Name, SSN, rank, date of birth, contact information, and marital status.
  • Section II & III – Marital/Dependency Status and Spouse/Child Information: Details for spouse and any dependent children (including disabled children).
  • Section IV – Coverage: Select Option A, B, or C and the type of coverage (spouse only, spouse and children, children only, former spouse, etc.).
  • Section V – Level of Coverage: Full retired pay or a reduced base amount (minimum generally $300). Reducing the base amount requires spousal concurrence.
  • Section VI – Insurable Interest Coverage: Used only if electing coverage for a natural person with an insurable interest.
  • Section VIII – Member Signature: Must be witnessed (witness cannot be the spouse or a beneficiary).
  • Section IX – Spouse Concurrence: Required for Option A, Option B, child-only coverage, or any election that does not provide an immediate full-spouse annuity. The spouse’s signature must be notarized and dated on or after the member’s signature.

Failure to obtain required notarized spousal concurrence when needed results in automatic full Option C coverage for the spouse.

Where to Submit DD Form 2656-5?

Submit the completed form to your specific Reserve Component personnel office (not directly to DFAS in most cases). Addresses listed on the official form include:

  • Army Reserve / Army National Guard: HRC-Ft. Knox, ATTN: AHRC-PDR-RC, 1600 Spearhead Division Avenue, Fort Knox, KY 40122
  • Navy Reserve: Navy Personnel Command (PERS-912), 5720 Integrity Drive, Millington, TN 38055-9120
  • Air Force Reserve / Air National Guard: HQ ARPC/DPTTB, 18420 E. Silvercreek Ave., Bldg 390 MS68, Buckley AFB, CO 80011
  • Marine Corps Reserve: Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps, Manpower and Reserve Affairs (MMSR-5), 3280 Russell Road, Quantico, VA 22134-5103

Always verify the current mailing address with your unit or service personnel center, as procedures can be updated (some components are moving toward electronic submission through systems such as IPPS-A).

Costs, Benefits, and Key Considerations

RCSBP premiums consist of the standard SBP cost (up to 6.5% of the elected base amount) plus an RCSBP add-on cost. The add-on is calculated using tables published by the Department of Defense Office of the Actuary and depends on the type of beneficiary, whether the annuity is immediate or deferred, and the age difference between the member and spouse/former spouse.

The annuity paid to eligible survivors is generally 55% of the elected base amount. Child coverage continues until age 18 (or 22 if a full-time student) or longer for incapacitated children.

Official cost and benefit information is available from DFAS: DFAS RCSBP Overview and the DoD Actuary tables.

Because the election is largely permanent, members are strongly encouraged to consult a military retirement counselor or legal assistance office before signing.

Download the Official Form

Always use the current official version of the form. Previous editions are obsolete.

Download DD Form 2656-5 – Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP) Election Certificate (PDF)

Additional official resources:

Final Recommendations for U.S. Reserve and National Guard Members

Receiving your 20-year letter is a significant career milestone. Completing DD Form 2656-5 correctly and on time protects your family’s future financial security and avoids automatic enrollment that may not match your intentions. Review the form carefully, obtain any required notarized spousal concurrence, keep a copy for your records, and confirm receipt with your service component.