Helpful information:
Release No. 12-03-08 Dec. 12, 2008
Scholarships help retiree spouses finish education WASHINGTON (AFRNS) --
Retiree spouses with an eye on professional certification or a post-secondary
education may not have to foot the entire bill, thanks to a National Military
Family Association scholarship program. The group is accepting applications
for its annual Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarship. The scholarship
is awarded to spouses or surviving spouses of servicemembers on active duty
or in the National Guard or reserves and spouses of military retirees. The $500
to $1,000 scholarships can be used for tuition, fees, and school room and board
while the spouse obtains professional certification or attends post-secondary
or graduate school. Funding determines the number of scholarships awarded each
year. A partnership with the Fisher House and Folds of Honor foundations has
resulted in a larger number of scholarships. Scholarship selection is based
on answers to survey questions used to help the association advocate for education
changes on the applicant's behalf. Applications are accepted online only, through
the National Military Family Association Web site, www.nmfa.org, and must be
submitted before midnight Feb. 1. Association officials said they started the
scholarship program to recognize that unique challenges, including frequent
moves and deployments, can interfere with military spouses' ability to complete
their education. The association also has created a Web portal at www.nmfa.org/SpouseEd
that is stocked with military spouse education resources and information to
help spouses reach their career and educational goals. (Courtesy of American
Forces Press Service from a National Military Family Association news release)
The latest online edition of e-Afterburner is ready
The December 2008 e-Afterburner (only available online) has been posted on
the Air Force Retiree Services Web site at www.retirees.af.mil. Just click on
Afterburner in the top navigation bar and the December editions are listed under
the 2008 tab. This issue of the e-Afterburner is available in both .doc and
.pdf format. These formats should alleviate certain downloading difficulties
some people experience. The goal is to make the e-Afterburner more user-friendly
for the more than 57,000 online subscribers. Thanks for subscribing electronically
to the e-Afterburner and the Air Force Retiree News Service. Enjoy! e-Afterburners:
http://www.retirees.af.mil/afterburner/.
Release No. 12-05-08 Dec. 23, 2008
Dispute period begins soon for paid-up SBP RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas
(AFRNS) –
Air Force retirees who believe that the Survivor Benefit Plan monthly premium
counter on the annual Retiree Account Statement is incorrect will be given the
opportunity to dispute it. The dispute period begins Jan. 1 and ends June 30.
All disputes must be made by completing a DD Form 2656-11, Statement Certifying
Number of Months of Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) Premiums Paid. Completed forms
are sent to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. The paid-up provision
of SBP program became effective Oct. 1. All retirees who are at least 70 years
of age and have paid SBP premiums for at least 360 months will no longer be
required to make monthly payments beginning the month they meet the eligibility
requirements. Participants in the Retired Serviceman's Family Protection Plan
who were age 70 or older Oct. 1 will also have their premiums stopped. Retiree
Account Statements now have a premium counter tracking the number of months
of paid premiums credited to a retiree's account. This counter automatically
increases for each month a full premium payment is made, and will help retirees
monitor their eligibility status. Each time a retiree receives an RAS it will
display the current number of monthly premium payments toward paid-up status.
No action is required by the retiree to initiate the termination of premiums.
DFAS will notify members of their paid-up status and when premiums will be stopped.
DFAS is working in conjunction with the Defense Manpower Data Center, the agency
that maintains historical pay data on all military retirees, to ensure retirees
receive proper credit for all premiums paid. The DD Form 2656-11, used to file
a dispute, is available by clicking here. DFAS officials ask retirees to complete
all fields on the form that apply. Section II should be filled out by each retiree,
but if he or she did not serve any time on the Temporary Disability Retired
List, then Blocks 9 and 10 must be left blank. For more information, contact
DFAS at (800) 321-1080 after Jan. 1.