Survivor Benefit Plan offers long-term aid Published Jan. 8, 2014 By Alex Aguilar 47th Force Support Squadron LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Military retirees are guaranteed a monthly income for life, but retired pay ends on the date the retiree dies, leading many families to wonder how they will support themselves. The Survivor Benefit Plan was created to protect widowed spouses and dependent children from losing the security retired pay provides when their loved one dies. With SBP, a retiree's eligible survivor will always receive part of the deceased member's military retired pay. The SBP can be viewed as retirement insurance. It pays a benefit when the insured person's retired pay stops. The plan does not make a single lump-sum payment like insurance. Instead, SBP will provide eligible survivors income every month for life. A widow's SBP benefits can never run out. Prior to retiring, individuals are offered the chance to enroll. Additional details are available by calling your SBP counselor, Alex Aguilar, at 298-5828.