Military Retirement Pay Dates 2026 and 2027

Military retired pay and SBP annuity pay are due on the first of the month, for the month before. When the first is a weekend or holiday, DFAS pays retirees on the last business day before it and annuitants on the first business day after it: Friday, October 30, 2026 for the retirees' October 2026 pay and Thursday, December 31, 2026 for December 2026. The tables below list every date for 2026 and 2027, and the sections after them cover CRSC and CRDP, the COLA, banks that deposit early and VA disability pay.

Maintained by Archie Chang · DFAS and DoD pages checked October 30, 2026 · Methodology & sources

FedRateCalc is independent and is not affiliated with DFAS or the Department of Defense. For your own account, myPay and DFAS (800-321-1080) have the dates that apply to you. For active duty paydays on the 1st and 15th, see military pay dates. For your retired pay amount, see the military retirement pay chart and the military retirement pay calculator.

The DFAS rule

This is the DFAS rule for retired pay and for annuitant pay, which is the SBP annuity paid to a surviving beneficiary:

“Retired and annuitant pay is due on the first of the month. However, if the first falls on a weekend or holiday, retirees are paid on the last business day of the month and annuitants are paid on the first business day of month.”
DFAS, Pay Schedule (retired military)

In other words, the date moves in opposite directions. November 1, 2026 is a Sunday, so the October 2026 entitlement is paid to retirees on Friday, October 30, 2026 and to annuitants on Monday, November 2, 2026. Retirees are never paid later than the 1st under this rule, and annuitants are never paid earlier. DFAS's own example sentence on that page says retirees are scheduled to be paid on November 2, 2026, but the table on the same page lists October 30 for retirees and November 2 for annuitants, and this page follows the table.

One date to confirm. DFAS does not define “business day” on that page. Its current table lists December 31, 2027 for the December 2027 entitlement, because January 1, 2028 is a Saturday. OPM observes New Year's Day for federal employees on that Friday. In the same situation in 2021, DFAS's table paid retirees on December 30, 2021:

“For example, payment to retirees for December 2021 will be paid on December 30, 2021. However, annuitants will be paid on January 3, 2022.”
DFAS pay schedule, 2021 version (Wayback copy of December 3, 2021)

DFAS's current table lists December 31, 2027 for retirees, a day OPM observes as New Year's Day for federal employees. In the same situation in 2021 (January 1, 2022 was a Saturday), DFAS's table paid retirees on December 30, 2021 instead. Confirm the date in myPay before December 2027.

2026 retired pay and annuitant pay dates

Each row is one monthly payment, listed by the month it pays for. Rows shaded amber are months where the 1st is a weekend or holiday. The rows labeled “DFAS table” come from the current DFAS page (updated September 16, 2026), and the rows labeled “Feb. 9, 2026 version” come from the DFAS table as it stood on that date.

Military retired pay and SBP annuitant pay dates for each entitlement month whose 1st falls in 2026
Entitlement monthDue (the 1st)Retired pay dateSBP annuitant pay dateWhySource
December 2025Thursday, January 1, 2026Wednesday, December 31, 2025Friday, January 2, 20261st is New Year's Day, a ThursdayDFAS table (Feb. 9, 2026 version)
January 2026Sunday, February 1, 2026Friday, January 30, 2026Monday, February 2, 20261st is a SundayDFAS table (Feb. 9, 2026 version)
February 2026Sunday, March 1, 2026Friday, February 27, 2026Monday, March 2, 20261st is a SundayDFAS table (Feb. 9, 2026 version)
March 2026Wednesday, April 1, 2026Wednesday, April 1, 2026Wednesday, April 1, 2026Paid on the 1stDFAS table (Feb. 9, 2026 version)
April 2026Friday, May 1, 2026Friday, May 1, 2026Friday, May 1, 2026Paid on the 1stDFAS table (Feb. 9, 2026 version)
May 2026Monday, June 1, 2026Monday, June 1, 2026Monday, June 1, 2026Paid on the 1stDFAS table (Feb. 9, 2026 version)
June 2026Wednesday, July 1, 2026Wednesday, July 1, 2026Wednesday, July 1, 2026Paid on the 1stDFAS table (Feb. 9, 2026 version)
July 2026Saturday, August 1, 2026Friday, July 31, 2026Monday, August 3, 20261st is a SaturdayDFAS table (Feb. 9, 2026 version)
August 2026Tuesday, September 1, 2026Tuesday, September 1, 2026Tuesday, September 1, 2026Paid on the 1stDFAS table (Feb. 9, 2026 version)
September 2026Thursday, October 1, 2026Thursday, October 1, 2026Thursday, October 1, 2026Paid on the 1stDFAS table (Feb. 9, 2026 version)
October 2026Sunday, November 1, 2026Friday, October 30, 2026Monday, November 2, 20261st is a SundayDFAS table
November 2026Tuesday, December 1, 2026Tuesday, December 1, 2026Tuesday, December 1, 2026Paid on the 1stDFAS table

The December 2026 entitlement is paid to retirees on December 31, 2026 and to annuitants on January 4, 2027, and is the first row of the 2027 table below.

Calendar months with no retired pay, or two. Because early payments land in the prior month, retirees get no retired pay dated in March, August and November 2026 and two in July, October and December 2026. SBP annuitants are paid once in every month. This is the same pay for the same months, only dated differently, so it does not change your monthly amount.

2027 retired pay and annuitant pay dates

DFAS published its 2027 table on its pay schedule page (updated September 16, 2026), and these dates match it row for row. The last row is the December 2027 entitlement, due January 1, 2028.

Military retired pay and SBP annuitant pay dates for each entitlement month whose 1st falls in 2027, plus January 1, 2028
Entitlement monthDue (the 1st)Retired pay dateSBP annuitant pay dateWhySource
December 2026Friday, January 1, 2027Thursday, December 31, 2026Monday, January 4, 20271st is New Year's Day, a FridayDFAS table
January 2027Monday, February 1, 2027Monday, February 1, 2027Monday, February 1, 2027Paid on the 1stDFAS table
February 2027Monday, March 1, 2027Monday, March 1, 2027Monday, March 1, 2027Paid on the 1stDFAS table
March 2027Thursday, April 1, 2027Thursday, April 1, 2027Thursday, April 1, 2027Paid on the 1stDFAS table
April 2027Saturday, May 1, 2027Friday, April 30, 2027Monday, May 3, 20271st is a SaturdayDFAS table
May 2027Tuesday, June 1, 2027Tuesday, June 1, 2027Tuesday, June 1, 2027Paid on the 1stDFAS table
June 2027Thursday, July 1, 2027Thursday, July 1, 2027Thursday, July 1, 2027Paid on the 1stDFAS table
July 2027Sunday, August 1, 2027Friday, July 30, 2027Monday, August 2, 20271st is a SundayDFAS table
August 2027Wednesday, September 1, 2027Wednesday, September 1, 2027Wednesday, September 1, 2027Paid on the 1stDFAS table
September 2027Friday, October 1, 2027Friday, October 1, 2027Friday, October 1, 2027Paid on the 1stDFAS table
October 2027Monday, November 1, 2027Monday, November 1, 2027Monday, November 1, 2027Paid on the 1stDFAS table
November 2027Wednesday, December 1, 2027Wednesday, December 1, 2027Wednesday, December 1, 2027Paid on the 1stDFAS table
December 2027Saturday, January 1, 2028Friday, December 31, 2027Monday, January 3, 20281st is New Year's Day, a SaturdayDFAS's current table lists December 31, 2027 for retirees, a day OPM observes as New Year's Day for federal employees. In the same situation in 2021 (January 1, 2022 was a Saturday), DFAS's table paid retirees on December 30, 2021 instead. Confirm the date in myPay before December 2027.DFAS table

Calendar months with no retired pay, or two. In 2027, retirees get no retired pay dated in January, May and August and two in April, July and December. The January gap exists because the December 2026 entitlement is paid on December 31, 2026, and the second December date is the one to confirm in myPay (see above). SBP annuitants are paid once in every month of 2027.

CRSC and CRDP

Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) and Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) restore some retired pay that is waived for VA disability compensation. DFAS says this about when they are paid:

“Like your retired pay, DFAS pays CRDP and CRSC monthly on the first business day of each month.”
DFAS, CRSC and CRDP payments
“If your retired pay is being direct deposited into your bank account, we will do the same for your CRDP or CRSC payment. If your retired pay is sent to you as a paper check, we will do the same for your CRDP or CRSC payment.”
DFAS, CRSC and CRDP payments

How many payments you get depends on which program you receive. If you receive CRDP, DFAS says you receive one combined payment:

“Since you will no longer receive a separate payment for CRSC, you will only receive one payment for your Retired Pay/CRDP.”
DFAS, CRDP/CRSC FAQs (answer that begins "If you elect to receive CRDP")

CRSC is paid separately, because it is not taxed:

“You may begin to receive two separate payments from DFAS each month, one for retired pay (taxable) and one for CRSC (non-taxable).”
DFAS, CRDP/CRSC FAQs (answer that begins "If you elect to receive CRSC")

The DFAS pages we checked do not say what a separate CRSC payment does when the 1st is a weekend or holiday, and the DFAS pay schedule lists only retired and annuitant dates. This page therefore gives no CRSC dates for those months. Use myPay or call DFAS before you count on a date. More on each program: CRSC calculator and CRDP explained.

Survivor Benefit Plan annuities

SBP annuitants follow the annuitant column in the tables: the 1st when it is a business day, otherwise the first business day after it. To see what the plan pays and costs, use the Survivor Benefit Plan calculator.

The retired pay COLA and your January payment

DoD describes the yearly cost-of-living adjustment for retired pay this way:

“The retired pay computed under each retired pay plan is adjusted each year, effective December 1st, by the change in consumer prices.”
DoD Military Compensation, Retirement COLA

The statute behind it:

“Effective on December 1 of each year, the Secretary of Defense shall increase the retired pay of members and former members entitled to that pay in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3).”
10 U.S.C. 1401a(b)(1)

The December entitlement is paid in early January, so the first payment with the adjustment is the December 2026 entitlement: Thursday, December 31, 2026 for retirees and Monday, January 4, 2027 for annuitants. That timing is our reading of the DFAS table and the DoD page, not a DFAS sentence. SSA announced a 3.6% Social Security cost-of-living adjustment for 2027. The military retired pay increase is set separately under 10 U.S.C. 1401a(b), and as of October 30, 2026 our COLA page has no DFAS-announced 2027 retired pay percentage. See the 2027 military retirement COLA page for the formula and the current status.

Banks that deposit early, and VA disability pay

Some banks and credit unions make direct deposits available before the payment date. That is each bank's own policy and not a DFAS date. Our pages cover what USAA and Navy Federal say, and they are built around active duty paydays, so ask your bank whether early access applies to DFAS retired pay deposits.

VA disability compensation is paid by the VA, not DFAS, so it follows a different schedule. See VA disability pay dates.

Frequently asked questions

When do military retirees get paid?

DFAS says retired and annuitant pay "is due on the first of the month." Each payment is for the month before: the pay that arrives on December 1 is the November entitlement. When the first is a weekend or holiday, DFAS says retirees are paid on the last business day of the month and annuitants on the first business day of the month.

What happens when the 1st falls on a weekend or a federal holiday?

Retirees are paid earlier and SBP annuitants later. November 1, 2026 is a Sunday, so the October 2026 entitlement pays retirees on Friday, October 30, 2026 and annuitants on Monday, November 2, 2026. January 1, 2027 is New Year's Day, a Friday, so the December 2026 entitlement pays retirees on Thursday, December 31, 2026 and annuitants on Monday, January 4, 2027, the next business day after the weekend.

Is there a month in 2026 or 2027 with no retired pay deposit, or two?

Yes, because early payments move into the prior calendar month. Retirees get no retired pay dated in March, August and November 2026, and two in July, October and December 2026. In 2027 there is none in January, May and August and two in April, July and December. Each of those is still one payment per entitlement month; only the date moved. SBP annuitants are paid once in every month of both years.

Do CRSC and CRDP come on the same date as retired pay?

DFAS says it pays CRDP and CRSC "monthly on the first business day of each month," in the same manner as retired pay (direct deposit if your retired pay is direct deposited). If you receive CRDP, DFAS says you will only receive one payment for your retired pay and CRDP. CRSC may come as a second, separate payment. The DFAS pages do not say what a separate CRSC payment does when the 1st is a weekend or holiday, and its published table lists only retired and annuitant dates, so this page gives no CRSC dates for those months. Check myPay or call DFAS at 800-321-1080.

When does the retired pay COLA show up in my payment?

DoD says retired pay is adjusted each year, effective December 1. Because the December entitlement is paid in early January, the first payment with the new amount is the one for the December 2026 entitlement: December 31, 2026 for retirees and January 4, 2027 for annuitants. That timing is our reading of the DFAS table and the DoD page, not a DFAS statement. SSA announced a 3.6% Social Security cost-of-living adjustment for 2027. The military retired pay increase is set separately under 10 U.S.C. 1401a(b), and as of October 30, 2026 our COLA page has no DFAS-announced 2027 retired pay percentage. See the 2027 military retirement COLA page.

Does my bank or credit union pay military retired pay early?

Some banks and credit unions say they make direct deposits available before the payment date. That is the bank's policy, not a DFAS date, and it is not guaranteed. Our USAA and Navy Federal pages show what each says about its own early deposit. Ask your bank whether it applies to DFAS retired pay deposits.

When is VA disability pay deposited?

The VA pays VA disability compensation, not DFAS, and on the VA's own schedule. See our VA disability pay dates page. CRDP and CRSC are different: DFAS pays them, not the VA.

Sources (checked October 30, 2026; dfas.mil blocks automated fetches, so these pages were read from Wayback Machine copies of the same URLs): DFAS: Retired and annuitant pay schedule · DFAS: CRSC and CRDP payments · DFAS: CRDP and CRSC FAQs · DoD Military Compensation: retirement COLA · DFAS: pay schedule, earlier version (page updated Feb. 9, 2026) · DFAS: pay schedule, 2021 version · 10 U.S.C. 1401a: adjustment of retired pay (govinfo) · SSA: 2027 cost-of-living adjustment fact sheet

  • DFAS: Retired and annuitant pay schedule: page updated September 16, 2026; read from the Wayback Machine copy of October 5, 2026.
  • DFAS: CRSC and CRDP payments: page updated June 26, 2024; read from the Wayback Machine copy of October 5, 2026.
  • DFAS: CRDP and CRSC FAQs: page updated December 18, 2024; read from the Wayback Machine copy of March 16, 2026.
  • DoD Military Compensation: retirement COLA: read from the Wayback Machine copy of June 6, 2026.
  • DFAS: pay schedule, earlier version (page updated Feb. 9, 2026): Wayback Machine copy of May 19, 2026; lists December 2025 through December 2026.
  • DFAS: pay schedule, 2021 version: Wayback Machine copy of December 3, 2021; the January 18, 2022 copy has the same table.
  • 10 U.S.C. 1401a: adjustment of retired pay (govinfo): U.S. Code, 2024 edition, subsection (b).
  • SSA: 2027 cost-of-living adjustment fact sheet: read from the Wayback Machine copy of October 25, 2026.