DoD Updates Form for Deceased Vets' Kids Benefits
Published Date: 9/28/2026
Notice
Summary
The Department of Defense is updating a form used by guardians to claim benefits for minor children of deceased service members. About 300 people will fill out this form once a year, taking about 10 minutes each time. Comments on this change are open until October 28, 2026, and the process won’t cost anyone money.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Updated DD Form 2790 — small yearly paperwork
The Department of Defense is revising DD Form 2790 (Custodianship Certification) that guardians use to claim annuities for minor children of deceased service members. About 300 people are expected to fill out the form once a year, taking an average of 10 minutes per response, with total annual burden estimated at 50 hours; the process is voluntary and the notice says it will not cost respondents money. Public comments on this information collection are accepted through October 28, 2026.
Who receives minor’s annuity payments
The notice restates that annuities for minor children of deceased Armed Forces members are paid to the legal guardian, or if none, to the natural parent with care, custody, and control as custodian, or to a representative payee. It also states an annuity may be paid directly to the child when the child reaches the age of majority under the law of the child's state of residence.
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Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-19737, Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
The Department of Defense is updating the form used by former spouses to request payments from military retired pay. About 25,000 people might fill out this form once a year, taking about 30 minutes each time. Comments on this change are open until October 28, 2026, and the process helps make sure court-ordered payments like alimony and child support get handled correctly.
Next: 2026-19739, Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
The Department of Defense wants to update a form that helps pay benefits to kids who can’t take care of themselves before they turn 18. About 240 people will fill out this form once a year, spending around 2 hours each time. If you have thoughts, you’ve got until October 28, 2026, to share them—no cost involved, just your voice!