This part establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and prescribes procedures for the payment of monthly Transitional Compensation (TC) to dependents of Service members separated for dependent abuse.

This part applies to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Military Departments, the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense (DoD), the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities in the DoD.

Unless otherwise noted, these terms and their definitions are for the purposes of this part.

Dependent abuse offense. Conduct by an individual while a Military Service member on active duty for a period of more than 30 days that involves abuse of a then-current spouse or a dependent child of the Service member and that is a criminal offense under the Uniform Code of Military Justice or another criminal code applicable to the jurisdiction where the act of abuse is committed. The term “involves abuse of the then-current spouse or a dependent child” means that the criminal offense is against the person of that spouse or a dependent child. Crimes that may qualify as dependent-abuse offenses include sexual assault, rape, sodomy, assault, battery, murder, and manslaughter. (This is not an exhaustive or exclusive listing of dependent-abuse offenses, but is provided for illustrative purposes only. The facts and circumstances of a particular case should always be interpreted in a manner most favorable to the spouse or a dependent child of the member when determining whether the conduct constitutes a “dependent abuse offense.”)

Dependent child. As defined in 10 U.S.C. 1059.

Exchange stores. The Army and Air Force Exchange Service, the Navy Exchange, the Marine Corps Exchange, and the Coast Guard Exchange.

Parent. The natural father or mother, or father or mother through adoption. For purposes of TC, parent does not include persons who have stood “in loco parentis” to a dependent child.

Secretary concerned. Includes the Secretary of the cognizant Military Department and the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, when applicable.

Service member. Includes former Service members, where appropriate.

Spouse. An individual married to a Service member, but does not include a domestic partner.

The DoD will make monthly TC payments and provide other benefits described in this part for spouses or dependents of Service members who meet the eligibility requirements of 10 U.S.C. 1059 and this part.

(a) The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (USD(P&R)):

(1) Establishes and prescribes procedures for the payment of TC to dependents of Service members separated for dependent abuse.

(2) Oversees compliance with this part.

(b) The Secretaries of the Military Departments and the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, when applicable:

(1) Appoint representatives to coordinate requests for TC, approve requests (except exceptional eligibility requests), and forward those requests for payment in accordance with Chapter 60, Volume 7B of DoD 7000.14-R, “Department of Defense Financial Management Regulations (FMRs): Military Pay Policy—Retired Pay” (available at http://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/documents/fmr/Volume_07b.pdf).

(2) Review and approve or disapprove requests for TC benefits in accordance with the exceptional eligibility authority in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 1059. This responsibility may not be delegated.

(3) Ensure dependents who are victims of a dependent-abuse offense are aware of their eligibility to apply for TC.

(4) Establish departmental guidance to implement this part.

(a) Recipients of payment. The Secretary concerned makes TC payments to Service member dependents, former dependents, or court-appointed guardians as described by 10 U.S.C. 1059. If a recipient is incapable of handling his or her own affairs, payments may be made only to a court-appointed guardian.

(b) Payments. (1) Payments begin in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 1059.

(2) Payments must continue for at least 12 months and no more than 36 months, as prescribed by the Secretary concerned. When the unserved portion of the Service member's obligated active duty service, as of the starting date of payment, is greater than 12 months and less than or equal to 36 months, payments continue for no less than the unserved portion.

(i) For enlisted Service members, obligated active duty service is the time remaining on their terms of enlistment.

(ii) For officers, obligated active duty service is indefinite unless an officer has a date of separation established. In that case, it is the time remaining until the date of separation.

(3) The amount of payment will be in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 1059. Partial month entitlements are pro-rated. If a recipient dies, arrears of payments are not paid.

(4) Payments will be stopped in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 1059.

(i) Payments will end on the first day of the first month following the month in which the Secretary concerned notifies the recipient of such transitional compensation in writing that the payment of TC will stop.

(ii) Recipients are not required to repay amounts of TC received before the effective date payment is stopped, in accordance with paragraph (b)(4)(i) of this section; however, TC may be recouped for erroneous payments or payments made based on false information provided.

(c) Forfeiture provisions. In addition to 10 U.S.C. 1059, the following requirements apply:

(1) The former spouse receiving TC must notify the Defense Finance and Accounting Services (DFAS) within 30 days of remarriage or if the spouse or former spouse begins residing in the same household as the spouse or former spouse.

(2) If a Service member's dependent child is not living in the same household as the spouse or former spouse who forfeits TC, payments are made to each dependent child or his or her court-appointed guardian.

(3) In order to continue benefits, the spouse or former spouse must annually certify to DFAS that he or she is not remarried and is not cohabitating with the Service member separated for the abuse. DFAS will provide a form for recertification of benefits.

(d) Coordination of benefits. A spouse or former spouse may not concurrently receive TC payments and retired pay payments pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 1059 and 1408(h), respectively. If a spouse or former spouse is eligible for both TC payments and retired pay payments, the spouse or former spouse chooses which of the two payments to receive. If the spouse or former spouse receives TC payments and later receives payments from a Service member's retired pay, any TC received concurrently with retired pay must be recouped.

(e) Source of funds. TC must be paid from operations and maintenance funds of the Department of the Service member.

(f) Application of procedures. An individual must initiate a request for TC through a Service-appointed representative. The Service-appointed representative:

(1) Collects data and validates the claim using DD Form 2698 (available at http://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/forms/dd/dd2698.pdf).

(2) Approves payment and forwards the application to DFAS unless otherwise submitted by the Secretary concerned in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 1059.

(g) Commissary and exchange benefits. (1) A recipient of TC is entitled to use commissary and exchange stores while receiving payments.

(2) If a recipient entitled to use commissary and exchange stores is also entitled to use commissary and exchange stores under another provision of law, the entitlement is determined under the other provision of law and not paragraph (g)(1).

(h) Medical benefits. (1) The Secretary concerned will determine appropriate medical and dental care eligibility for TC recipients and affected dependents. At a minimum, an abused dependent who is receiving TC in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section may receive medical and dental care, including mental health services, in facilities of the Uniformed Services or through the TRICARE program as outlined in 10 U.S.C. 1076, 1077, and 1079.

(2) Dental care may be provided on a space-available basis in facilities of the Military Services.

(3) Eligible dependents of a Service member who is retirement eligible, but who loses eligibility for retirement pay because of dependent-abuse misconduct, may receive medical and dental care in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 1408(h).