Plan would increase military family benefits

WASHINGTON – On Monday, U.S. Sen. Olympia J. Snowe of Maine introduced The Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act, S. 457, to allow surviving family members of military personnel to maintain their benefits after they reach the age of 62 through the military Survivor’s Benefit Plan.

Under current law, survivors of military retirees or those killed in battle face a decline in benefits when they reach 62 years of age. Widows and widowers now receive an annuity equal to 55 percent of the service member’s retirement pay until they reach 62. At that time, benefits must be reduced either by a Social Security offset, or a reduction in payments to 35 percent of retired pay. Snowe’s bill would allow survivors to receive 55 percent of their spouse’s retired pay for life. According to Snowe, this would bring the military benefits plan in line with the federal employees’ benefit plan, which maintains a consistent funding formula for benefits throughout the life span of survivors.