Secondary Dependency (DD Form 137)

Start Here If You Are New to Secondary Dependency

SECONDARY DEPENDENCY is the recognition of a non-spouse, non-biological-child dependent for BAH, USIP card, and travel allowance purposes. The DD Form 137DD Form 137 (Secondary Dependency Application, OCT 2024 version) covers SEVEN dependency types. INCAPACITATED ADULT CHILD (21+ with mental or physical incapacity incurred before 21). STUDENT (age 21-22, full-time enrollment). LEGAL CUSTODY WARD (under 21, court-ordered custody). PARENT (biological or adoptive). PARENT-IN-LAW. STEPPARENT (member's or spouse's). IN-LOCO PARENTIS (someone who stood in place of a parent for at least 5 years before sponsor's emancipation). The OVER-HALF (50%) FINANCIAL SUPPORT TEST applies to all types. Submit DD Form 137DD Form 137 with type-specific supporting documents. Per DoD 7000.14-R Volume 7ADoD 7000.14-R Volume 7A Chapter 26 and MCO 1751.3MCO 1751.3.

This page walks you through the DD Form 137DD Form 137 process from your seat as the Marine. By the end you will know.

• The seven dependency types
• The over-half (50%) financial support test
• The Worksheet for Determining Financial Support
• Documentation required by type
• BAH versus USIP card eligibility (residence rules)
• The submission process and HQMC Dependency Determination Section
• Common errors and reasons for denial
• Annual recertification requirements

Every fact on this page comes from DoD 7000.14-R Volume 7ADoD 7000.14-R Volume 7A Chapter 26, MCO 1751.3MCO 1751.3, and the DD Form 137DD Form 137 (OCT 2024) instructions.

What Secondary Dependency Is

Secondary dependents are family members other than spouse and biological/adopted children who depend on the Marine for over half their financial support. Recognized secondary dependents qualify the Marine for.

• BAH-with-dependents (not to exceed full BAH-with-dependents)
• USIP (Uniformed Services ID and Privileges) card (with type-specific residency requirements)
• Travel allowances per JTR
• Commissary and exchange privileges
• Morale, welfare, and recreation privileges

NOTE. Parent, Parent-in-Law, and Stepparent NOT residing with the sponsor are NOT entitled to a USIP card (but may still qualify for BAH and travel allowances). In-Loco Parentis dependents are NEVER entitled to a USIP card.

The Seven Dependency Types

Type 1. Incapacitated Adult Child (21 or Older)

Eligibility.

• Incapable of self-support due to mental or physical incapacity.
• Incapacity incurred BEFORE 21st birthday, OR before age 23 during full-time course of study at an accredited institution.
• Unmarried.
• Marine provides over half of support.

Required documents.

• Prior year tax return showing claimed individual as dependent OR Worksheet for Determining Financial Support.
• Medical sufficiency statement issued by an approved medical provider stating the incapacitation, date, and extent.

Type 2. Student (Age 21-22)

Eligibility.

• Under age 23.
• Enrolled in a full-time course of study at an accredited institution per DoD policy.
• Unmarried.
• Marine provides over half of support.

Required documents.

• Prior year tax return OR Worksheet for Determining Financial Support.
• Birth certificate or other official document of birth (if not previously enrolled in DEERS).
• Letter from school registrar or National Student Clearinghouse enrollment verification certifying full-time course of study.

NOTE. Student remains eligible for USIP during school break IF enrolled before the break and immediately after.

Type 3. Legal Custody Ward (Under 21)

Eligibility.

• Under age 21.
• Placed in the sponsor's care and custody under an order or other appropriate document from a court of competent jurisdiction.
• Resides with the sponsor (unless separated by military necessity or institutional care for disability).
• Marine provides over half of support.
• Unmarried.

Required documents.

• Prior year tax return OR Worksheet for Determining Financial Support.
• Court order or appropriate document from a court of competent jurisdiction in the United States (or U.S. territory or possession) establishing legal custody for no less than 12 CONSECUTIVE months.

NOTE. Court order may designate custody by age, time, or permanency. If no time-period listed, custody is generally considered permanent. If titled "temporary" but unspecified as to duration, further clarification may be requested.

Type 4. Parent

Eligibility.

• Biological or adoptive parent of the sponsor.
• Marine provides over half of support.
• For USIP card. Parent must reside with sponsor.
• For BAH and travel allowance. Parent need NOT reside with sponsor.

Required documents.

• Prior year tax return OR Worksheet for Determining Financial Support.
• Sponsor's birth certificate or other official document of birth (if not previously enrolled in DEERS).
• Parent's marriage certificate.

Type 5. Parent-In-Law

Eligibility.

• Spouse's biological or adoptive parent.
• Marine provides over half of support.
• For USIP card. Parent-in-law must reside with sponsor.
• For BAH and travel allowance. Parent-in-law need NOT reside with sponsor.

Required documents.

• Prior year tax return OR Worksheet for Determining Financial Support.
• Spouse's birth certificate or other official document of birth.
• Member's marriage certificate.
• Parent-in-law's marriage certificate.

Type 6. Stepparent (Member's or Spouse's)

Eligibility.

• Stepparent of the member OR spouse's stepparent.
• Marine provides over half of support.
• For USIP card. Stepparent must reside with sponsor.
• For BAH and travel allowance. Stepparent need NOT reside with sponsor.

Required documents.

• Prior year tax return OR Worksheet for Determining Financial Support.
• Member's birth certificate (for member's stepparent) OR spouse's birth certificate (for spouse's stepparent).
• Member's marriage certificate.
• Parent's marriage certificate (the marriage that established the stepparent relationship).

Type 7. In-Loco Parentis

Eligibility.

• Stood in the place of a parent to the sponsor for at least 5 years prior to sponsor's emancipation.
• Marine provides over half of support.
• NOT eligible for USIP card under any circumstances.
• Eligible for BAH and travel allowance only.

Required documents.

• Prior year tax return OR Worksheet for Determining Financial Support.
• DFAS Form 9124 (Affidavit by member).
• DFAS Form 9124 (Affidavit by claimed dependent).
• Two DFAS Form 9125 (Two third-party affidavits NOT completed by relatives of the member or claimed dependent).

The Over-Half (50%) Financial Support Test

To qualify as a secondary dependent, the claimed individual must be MORE THAN ONE-HALF (50%) "in fact" dependent on the sponsor. The sponsor must provide more than 50% of the claimed individual's support.

What Counts As Support

Support includes.

• Food and shelter
• Clothing
• Medical and dental care (not including USIP card value)
• Education expenses
• Other items reasonably related to the individual's needs

What Does NOT Count As Support

• A person's own income unless ACTUALLY SPENT for support (savings does not count as support)
• USIP card or military medical insurance value
• Funds that the person used for non-support purposes

Worked Example (From DD 137 Instructions)

Your mother received $2,400 in social security benefits and $300 in interest. She paid $2,000 for lodging and $400 for recreation. She put $300 in a savings account. Even though she received $2,700 ($2,400 + $300), she SPENT only $2,400 ($2,000 + $400) for her own support. If you spent more than $2,400 for her support and no other support was received, you provided more than half.

The Worksheet for Determining Financial Support

The Worksheet for Determining Financial Support is part of the DD Form 137DD Form 137 (pages 5 to 7). Required if you cannot provide a tax return showing the claimed individual as a dependent.

Section 1. Funds Belonging To The Person

• Line 1. Total funds (income, borrowed amounts, savings at start of year).
• Line 2. Amount used for own support.
• Line 3. Amount used for other purposes.
• Line 4. Savings at end of year.

Income includes wages, pensions, interest, IRA withdrawals, mandatory retirement distributions, rental and business income, cash from others, federal tax refunds, social security, SSI, VA payments, unemployment, alimony, and GI Bill education amounts.

Section 2. Expenses For Entire Household

• Line 6a. Total rent/mortgage paid (including property/real estate tax and home/renter's insurance).
• Line 6b. Fair rental value if home is owned by claimed individual.
• Line 7. Total food expenses (groceries, restaurants, delivery, takeout).
• Line 8. Utilities (gas, electric, phone, water, sewage, trash, internet, cable, streaming).
• Line 9. Home repairs.
• Line 10. Other household expenses (HOA, security, car insurance, gas, vacations, subscriptions, furniture).
• Line 11. Total household expenses.
• Line 12. Number of persons in household.

Section 3. Expenses For The Person Supported

• Line 13. Person's share of household expenses (line 11 / line 12).
• Line 14. Clothing including laundry/dry cleaning.
• Line 15. Education (not covered by scholarship/grants). Includes tuition, books, lab fees, room/board for off-campus, supplies, lessons, tutoring.
• Line 16. Medical, vision, dental NOT reimbursed by insurance. Includes premium amounts.
• Line 17. Travel and recreation. Vehicle payment for vehicles in person's name, registration, license fees, public transit, tickets, sports, fitness clubs.
• Line 18. Other (account fees, childcare, postage, court-ordered bankruptcy, hygiene).
• Line 19. Total cost of person's support.

Section 4. Did The Person Provide More Than Half?

• Line 20. Multiply line 19 by 50%.
• Line 21. Amount person provided (line 2 plus line 6b if owned home).
• Line 22. If line 21 more than line 20. STOP. Person does not qualify.

Section 5. Did You Provide More Than Half?

• Line 23. Amount others provided (state, local, welfare).
• Line 24. Lines 21 plus 23.
• Line 25. Line 19 minus line 24. Amount you provided.
• Line 26. If line 25 more than line 20. You meet the support test.

BAH Versus USIP Card Eligibility - Residence Rules

A critical distinction in DD 137 is that BAH/travel and USIP card eligibility have DIFFERENT residence requirements for parents, parents-in-law, and stepparents.

BAH and Travel Allowance

• All seven dependency types may qualify for BAH and travel allowance based on the financial support test.
• Residence with the sponsor is NOT required for BAH and travel allowance for parents, parents-in-law, stepparents, or in-loco parentis.

USIP Card

• Spouse, child, ward, student, and incapacitated adult child. USIP card eligible.
• Parent, parent-in-law, stepparent. USIP card requires RESIDENCE with the sponsor.
• In-loco parentis. NEVER eligible for USIP card.

What This Means In Practice

If your widowed mother lives in your house and depends on you for over half her support, she qualifies for BAH-with-dependents AND USIP card.

If your widowed mother lives in her own home in another state and you provide over half her support, she qualifies for BAH-with-dependents but NOT a USIP card.

The Submission Process

Step 1. Complete DD Form 137 With Worksheet

• Section 1. Dependency type (check the box).
• Section 2. Sponsor's information.
• Section 3. Claimed individual's information.
• Section 4 to 6. Conditional sections per situation.
• Section 7. Remarks.
• Section 8. Financial dependency certification.
• Section 9. Signatures (sponsor, claimed individual representative if applicable).

Step 2. Gather Supporting Documents

Per the dependency type. See type-specific list above.

Step 3. Submit Through S-1

• S-1 reviews for completeness.
• S-1 routes to IPAC.
• IPAC routes to HQMC Dependency Determination Section for adjudication.

Step 4. HQMC Dependency Determination Section Adjudication

The HQMC Dependency Determination Section reviews and adjudicates secondary dependency claims.

• Reviews documentation.
• Verifies financial support.
• Determines BAH and other entitlement eligibility.
• Determines USIP card eligibility (residence-based).
• Investigates complaints of non-support.

Step 5. Notification and DEERS Enrollment

• Approval triggers DEERS enrollment.
• BAH adjustment via MCTFS.
• USIP card via RAPIDS appointment (if eligible).
• Annual recertification cycle begins.

Coordinating Tools and Resources

Secondary Dependency Tool Kit

The HQMC Marine and Family Programs Branch publishes a Secondary Dependency Tool Kit with templates, sample documents, and process guidance. Available through Marine and Family Programs Branch (MF) and HQMC Manpower.

Where To Find Forms

• DD Form 137DD Form 137 (Secondary Dependency Application). DoD Forms Library at esd.whs.mil/Directives/forms/.
• DFAS Form 9124 (Member and Dependent Affidavit). DFAS forms.
• DFAS Form 9125 (Third-Party Affidavit). DFAS forms.

Privacy and Sensitivity

DD Form 137DD Form 137 contains Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) when filled in - PRVCY category. Handle with appropriate care. Do not email unencrypted to external addresses.

Common Errors and Reasons For Denial

Failure to Meet 50% Support Test

Most common denial reason. Marine provides support but not over half. Document carefully using the Worksheet, including all sources of the dependent's income.

Insufficient Documentation

Missing tax return AND incomplete Worksheet. One or the other is required, plus type-specific supporting documents.

Incorrect Dependency Type

Marine claims as Parent when situation actually fits In-Loco Parentis (or vice versa). Read eligibility carefully.

USIP Card Confusion (Parent/Parent-in-Law/Stepparent)

Marine assumes USIP card automatically follows BAH approval. USIP card requires residence with sponsor for these types.

Missing Marriage Certificate Chain

For in-laws and stepparents, both the member's marriage certificate AND the parent's marriage certificate (the one that established the in-law/stepparent relationship) are required.

In-Loco Parentis Without Five-Year Documentation

In-loco parentis requires documentation of the 5-year minimum standing-in-place-of-parent BEFORE sponsor's emancipation. Affidavits must specifically address this 5-year period.

Affidavits From Relatives (In-Loco Parentis)

The two third-party DFAS Form 9125 affidavits CANNOT be from relatives of the member or claimed dependent. Common error.

Annual Recertification

Secondary dependency requires annual recertification. Per MARADMIN 661/19MARADMIN 661/19 and the dependency validation cycle.

• HQMC publishes annual recertification windows.
• Marine resubmits DD Form 137DD Form 137 with updated Worksheet for Determining Financial Support.
• Type-specific updates (school enrollment letter for student, medical sufficiency letter for incapacitated child).
• Failure to recertify results in loss of secondary dependency entitlement.

See Dependency Validation and Recertification for full cycle.

Cross References

• For the Worksheet financial test mechanics, see this page (Sections 1-5 above).
• For overall life events framework, see Life Events Overview and Authorities
• For DEERS enrollment after approval, see DEERS Enrollment and ID Cards
• For annual recertification cycle, see Dependency Validation and Recertification
• For BAH framework, see BAH (Housing Allowance)
• For Marine and Family Programs Secondary Dependency Tool Kit, contact MF Branch through HQMC.

Quick Reference

• Form. DD Form 137DD Form 137 (Secondary Dependency Application, OCT 2024 version).
• Test. Over-half (50%) financial support, "in fact" dependent.
• Adjudication. HQMC Dependency Determination Section.
• BAH. All seven types may qualify.
• USIP card. Parent/Parent-in-Law/Stepparent require residence. In-loco parentis never eligible.
• Recertification. Annual.
• Privacy. CUI when filled in.

Records To Keep

• Approved DD Form 137DD Form 137 with all signatures
• Completed Worksheet for Determining Financial Support
• Supporting documents per dependency type
• DFAS Form 9124 and 9125 (if in-loco parentis)
• DEERS enrollment confirmation
• USIP card receipt (if eligible)
• Annual recertification correspondence

If you have a question about Secondary Dependency, S-1 is your first stop. For complex cases (in-loco parentis, foreign court orders, contested dependency), coordinate with Legal Services and the HQMC Dependency Determination Section through your IPAC.