What is the primary purpose of the Survivor Benefit Plan?

The primary purpose of the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) is to provide financial support to dependents after the service member's death. The SBP is designed to ensure that eligible survivors, such as a spouse or children, receive a portion of the service member's retired pay as an annuity. This financial support helps ease the transition for surviving family members during a difficult time, providing them with a steady source of income to maintain their standard of living and meet ongoing financial obligations.

While there may be other plans or benefits associated with retirement, the SBP specifically focuses on the needs of the family left behind, reinforcing the military’s commitment to taking care of service members' families even after their passing.