Advance Payments of Retired Pay and Survivor Annuities

The question was presented whether advance payments authorized by existing U.S. Code may be made to military retirees and surviving military annuitants on the same basis as is currently done for active duty members. Advance payments to military retirees may be made under existing U.S. Code; however, advance survivor annuity payments may not be made. The applicable law does not include annuities in its definition of either the term "pay" or the term "allowance."