This official Department of Defense document, formally titled Dependency Statement - Ward of a Court, establishes whether a ward qualifies for military benefits under a service member's coverage. Approved benefits can include Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), travel allowances, and the Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege (USIP) card.
Who must file. Active duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and retirees who hold legal guardianship of a ward under a court order must complete this form. The ward must be unmarried and either below the applicable age limit or incapacitated. The form collects details about the ward's current residence, household composition, and income sources to verify dependency status and benefit entitlements.
Form structure and reporting burden. The form spans five pages and covers personal information for both the service member and the ward, residence details, financial data including income and monthly expenses, and a penalty certification. The DoD estimates approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete the form accurately. All submitted information is subject to federal false-statement penalties under 18 U.S.C. 1001.
Related forms in the 137 series. The DD 137 series covers different dependent categories. Service members supporting a dependent child should review DD Form 137-3 and service members supporting a full-time student should review DD Form 137-5. After establishing dependency, service members may also need to update their DD Form 93 (Record of Emergency Data) to reflect the new dependent.
Submit the completed form to your military personnel or payroll office. Retain a copy for your personal records and follow up with your unit's administrative staff to confirm benefit approval.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Form Name | Dd Form 137 7 |
| Form Length | 5 pages |
| Fillable? | No |
| Fillable fields | 0 |
| Avg. time to fill out | 1 min 15 sec |
| Other names | dd form 137 6, form 137 7, dd 137 7 form, dd137 7 |