As an active-duty military family, moving every two to three years becomes the norm, but those moves slow down once you retire from service. Retirees look toward settling down in their forever homes and beginning to enjoy the perks of retirement; however, it’s important to update specific agencies once you have made that final move. Failing to do so can result in not getting the services your family depends on. Let’s review which agencies you should contact to ensure your services and payments remain current.

Defense Finance and Accounting Services (DFAS)

DFAS controls your retired pay, and it is imperative they have current and accurate contact information to ensure you receive your payments each month. Failing to notify DFAS of a change of address or banking information can result in missing payments. The quickest way to update your information with DFAS is to use myPay or call DFAS Customer Care Center toll-free at 1-866-912-6488, Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m. EST.

Alternatively, you can complete DD Form 2866 and mail or fax it to:

Retirees:
Defense Finance and Accounting Service
U.S. Military Retired Pay
8899 E 56th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46249-1200
Fax: 800-469-6559  

Annuitants, Beneficiaries and Survivors:
Defense Finance and Accounting Service
U.S. Military Annuitant Pay
8899 E 56th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46249-1300
Fax: 800-982-8459  

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

The VA provides your VA compensation and services, as well as education benefits for eligible dependents. Keeping your contact and direct deposit information up to date will prevent interruptions in communications and payments from the VA. To update your address and contact information with the VA, log in to your va.gov profile. When you change your address and other contact information online, it will update other VA benefits and services, including VA healthcare, disability compensation, pension benefits, claims and appeals, and Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E).

It’s important to know that not every VA department will be notified of your updates, therefore, if you use the following services they must be notified directly. They include education benefits, home loan benefits, life insurance benefits, CHAMPVA, and the Foreign Medical Program. You’ll find each department’s contact information here.

^{Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS)}

According to DFAS, when TRICARE recently tried to reach a group of retirees with critical information, more than 6 out of 10 had incorrect information in DEERS. It is important your information is correct in DEERS so that you and your family maintain access to your medical benefits, your healthcare team can contact you with critical healthcare and appointment information, TRICARE can reach you with vital authorization, claims, and enrollment information, and home delivery prescriptions can be delivered properly. You can update your contact information in DEERS by signing in to your milConnect (osd.mil) account online, calling 1-800-538-9552 (TTY/TDD: 1-866-363-2883), faxing updates to 1‑800-336-4416 or 1-502-335-9980, or mailing them to:

Defense Manpower Data Center Support Office
ATTN: COA
Gigling Road
Seaside, CA 93955-6771  

If you need to add or remove family members, visit your local ID card office. For more information on how to update DEERS, visit tricare.mil/DEERS.

Financial Institutions

Additionally, it is important to remember to update your contact information with your bank and credit card companies. You should change your address with the US Postal Service and elect to have your mail held or forwarded to your new address.

Social Security and Medicare

If you are eligible for Social Security and Medicare and receiving their benefits, contact these agencies to ensure they have up-to-date contact information on file. You can call Social Security at 800-772-1213 and Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 or log into your accounts online at medicare.gov/account/login.

We’re Here for You, Too

Finally, it is important to contact AAFMAA and update your life insurance information, including your contact information, current military benefits, and beneficiaries. For more information, contact AAFMAA Member Benefits at 888-557-1906, option 2, then option 2 again, or email [email protected].