Title 10Armed ForcesRelease 119-73

§1448a Election to discontinue participation: one-year opportunity after second anniversary of commencement of payment of retired pay

Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle A— - General Military Law › Part PART II— - PERSONNEL › Chapter CHAPTER 73— - ANNUITIES BASED ON RETIRED OR RETAINER PAY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - SURVIVOR BENEFIT PLAN › § 1448a

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

A participant may stop taking part in the Plan during a one-year window that begins on the second anniversary of the date retired pay starts. If the participant is married, the spouse must agree in writing as the Secretary of Defense requires, unless the participant shows one of the conditions in 1448(a)(3)(C) exists. The rule in 1450(f)(2) and the rules in 1448(b)(1)(D) and 1448(b)(1)(E) apply to the election. The Secretary concerned must notify any former spouse or other person named under 1448(b). The election becomes effective on the first day of the first calendar month after the month the Secretary receives it. Paragraphs (4)(B) and (5)(C) of 1448(a) do not stop this election.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §1448a

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)A participant in the Plan may, subject to the provisions of this section, elect to discontinue participation in the Plan at any time during the one-year period beginning on the second anniversary of the date on which payment of retired pay to the participant commences.
(b)(1)A married participant may not (except as provided in paragraph (2)) make an election under subsection (a) without the concurrence of the participant’s spouse.
(2)A participant may make such an election without the concurrence of the participant’s spouse by establishing to the satisfaction of the Secretary concerned that one of the conditions specified in section 1448(a)(3)(C) of this title exists.
(3)The concurrence of a spouse under paragraph (1) shall be made in such written form and shall contain such information as may be required under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense.
(c)The limitation set forth in section 1450(f)(2) of this title applies to an election to discontinue participation in the Plan under subsection (a).
(d)section 1448(b)(1)(D) of this title applies to an election under subsection (a).
(e)section 1448(b)(1)(E) of this title applies to an election under subsection (a).
(f)The Secretary concerned shall notify any former spouse or other natural person previously designated under section 1448(b) of this title of an election to discontinue participation under subsection (a).
(g)An election under subsection (a) is effective as of the first day of the first calendar month following the month in which the election is received by the Secretary concerned.
(h)Paragraphs (4)(B) and (5)(C) of section 1448(a) of this title do not apply to prevent an election under subsection (a).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title VI, § 641(c), Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 1799, provided that: “Section 1448a of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 18, 1997].” Transition Provision for Current Participants Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title VI, § 641(b), Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 1798, provided that: “Notwithstanding the limitation on the time for making an election under section 1448a of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)), that is specified in subsection (a) of such section, a participant in the Survivor Benefit Plan under subchapter II of chapter 73 of such title may make an election in accordance with that section within one year after the

Effective Date

of that section under subsection (c) [set out as an

Effective Date

note above] if the second anniversary of the commencement of payment of retired pay to the participant precedes that

Effective Date

.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 1448a

Title 10Armed Forces

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73