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Equal Opportunity

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Urge you to use 'myPay' -- secure, online system that lets you manage much of your own pay ... Perks of using 'myPay': 24/7 banking. make routine changes ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Equal Opportunity


1
Retiree Appreciation DayFort Lee, VA1 Oct
2005
2
  • Nov 2005
  • RSO Program
  • Celebrates 50 Years of Service to Retired
    Soldiers and Families

3
RSO MISSION AR 600-8-7
  • PRE-Retirement
  • help Soldiers and families make informed
    decisions and smooth transitions
  • POST-Retirement
  • support retirees and their survivors till death

4
RETIREMENT SERVICES OFFICERS
  • Full-time
  • Appropriated-fund
  • Located worldwide
  • Your RSO where the rubber meets the road!!

RSO
5
PROGRAM FUNCTIONS
  • RSO Program Policy Oversight
  • Army Echoes
  • CSA Retiree Council
  • Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)
  • Active Duty Death SBP Elections
  • Forgotten Widows
  • Army Family Action Plan
  • Retiree Advisory Boards (AAFES DeCA)
  • Support RADs
  • Homepage (httparmyg1.army.mil/retire)

6
RATIO OF ACTIVE DUTY TO RETIRED
  • Year Active Duty Retirees
  • 1920 204,000 6,000
  • 1950 593,000 42,000
  • 1960 873,000 102,000
  • 1970 1,323,000 282,000
  • 1980 777,000 425,000
  • 1990 732,000 489,000
  • 2005 501,000 720,000

7
  • Hot Topics
  • Update

8
SURVIVOR BENEFIT PLAN (SBP)
  • THE FACTS
  • Two-Tiered System (55/35) since the start
  • DOES what it was designed to do since 1972
  • -- SUPPLEMENT Social Security
  • Three unmatched features
  • -- COLA
  • -- Tax-free Premiums
  • -- Government Subsidy
  • Currently, SBP pays 2 in annuities for every
  • 1 in premiums collected

9
SBP Becomes Level-Tiered Plan
  • 2005 marks the most sweeping SBP change since
    1972!
  • Annuity will remain 55 of covered retired pay
    forever
  • No further relation to Social Security
  • One-Year Open Season Begins TODAY (1 Oct)
  • Details provided in Army Echoes and online
  • 2-1/2 year phase-in of increased annuity as
    follows
  • 1 Oct 05 35 increases to 40
  • 1 Apr 06 40 increases to 45
  • 1 Apr 07 45 increases to 50
  • 1 Apr 08 50 increases to 55
  • The cost of this Plan improvement is 25B.

10
SBP Open Season
  • Open Seasons are a BIG deal -- have only been 5
    in 33 years!
  • As with previous Open Seasons, theres a cost to
    come in late
  • Your lump-sum buy-in amount is based on the
    number of years since you first could have
    enrolled, but didnt
  • So, if you retired many years ago, and have
    fairly high retired pay, your buy-in amount could
    be STEEP!
  • The buy-in represents all the premiums you would
    have paid all those years interest any amount
    DoD thinks is necessary
  • You must live two years for the election to be
    effective
  • You may pay the buy-in amount over 2 years (or
    write a check!)
  • So, if you arent enrolled now, give it some
    thought
  • Sources of information to help you
  • your RSO, our homepage and Army Echoes

11
  • SBP Paid-Up Provision
  • This is the other SBP provision were watching
  • Enacted in 1998, but not effective until Oct 08
  • Paid-Up means no further cost AFTER...
  • 360 months of premiums and
  • reaching age 70
  • H.R. 968 S. 185 proposals to move the date
    ahead to 1 Oct 2005
  • Govt cost to move it up to 1 Oct 2005 500 M
  • Our position -- Its the right thing to do!

12
ACTIVE DUTY DEATH SURVIVOR BENEFITS
  • In 2003, Congress improved active duty death
    benefits, retro to 10 Sep 01
  • PRIOR to that, Services had to rush to retire
    someone, if possible, to improve survivor
    benefits for families of retirees
  • NOW doctors are out of the benefits business
    and back to focusing on saving lives
  • RSOs and Casualty Asst Officers now
  • work with surviving spouses to counsel
  • best SBP options based on family makeup

13
Real Results . . .
  • In 2004 132
  • To date in 2005 160
  • The benefit, in real household income, for an E6
    w/8yrs svc youngest child age 2 is 919 SBP
    993 DIC or 1,912 monthly
  • The benefit, in real household income, for an O3
    w/8yrs svc youngest child age 2 is 1,680 SBP
    993 DIC or 2,673 monthly

14
CONCURRENT RECEIPT
  • By law, still FOR MOST, VA disability is deducted
    -for- from mil. ret. pay
  • Military retirees are barred from concurrent
    receipt of both payments
  • Law on the books for 100 years
  • Progress has occurred
  • Two programs now address this issue!
  • They have paid 1.5B to date

15
  • Combat-Related
  • Special Compensation (CRSC)

16
Combat-Related Special Comp (CRSC)
  • Two Programs -- CRSC I CRSC II
  • Two Retroactive Effective Dates based on which
    one youre approved under
  • CRSC I effective 1 Jun 03
  • CRSC II effective 1 Jan 04
  • Strict eligibility requirements for both
  • Service, and
  • Disability
  • CRSC Goal replace lost retired pay

17
CRSC I
  • Service Criteria
  • Retired with minimum of 20 years active service
  • If reservist, had equivalent service (7,200 pts)
  • Even if retired for disability, must have had at
    least 20 years service
  • Disability Criteria
  • VA-rated as follows
  • At least 60 combat-disabled, OR
  • At least 10 combat-disabled, if associated with
    award of Purple Heart
  • Payments Retroactive
  • 1 Jun 03 (not earlier)

18
CRSC II(expanded CRSC I)
  • Service Criteria
  • Same as under first program, except for
    reservists, who
  • Must have completed 20 qualifying years simply
    be in receipt of retired pay thats being offset
    by VA
  • No longer need 7,200 points
  • Disability Criteria
  • VA-rated as follows
  • At least 10 combat-disabledPERIOD!
  • No connection to Purple Heart award under CRSC II
  • Payments Retroactive
  • 1 Jan 04 (not earlier)

19
CRSC (contd)
  • Amounts Payable 108-2,299 per month
  • Potential Population? about ½ million
  • roughly 70 of those are enlisted members
  • 1 Jan 04 law increased eligible reservists from
    10K to 190K
  • Must Apply -- How To
  • complete DD Fm 2860 (new form out!)
  • attach supporting documents to demonstrate CAUSE
    mail to address on form
  • Army Info Number 1-866-281-3254 hours 8 a.m. -
    7 p.m.

20
CRSC -- An Army Good News Story
  • Separate, dedicated CRSC branch formed
  • Have recd 52K applications approved 29K
  • Still receiving at least 600/wk
  • No backlog of work currently
  • Began direct mailings to potential CRSC eligibles
    to inform them of program
  • 500M in CRSC payments made to Army alone
  • That represents 60 of total dollars spent
  • Army continues to aggressively market CRSC!
  • Help us spread the word!

21
Active Legislative Proposals on CRSC
  • HR 1366 would change criteria to include
    disability retirees who DID NOT HAVE sufficient
    length of service to retire still must meet
    combat-related criteria
  • HR 995 would change criteria to include
    disability retirees who DID NOT HAVE sufficient
    length of service but who HAVE a Purple Heart
    need not meet combat-related criteria

22
CONCURRENT RETIREMENT AND DISABILITY PAYMENTS
(CRDP)
  • 04 Natl Defense Authorization Act (24 Nov 03)
  • Effective date for CRDP 1 Jan 04
  • A 10-yr phase-in of FULL concurrent receipt for
  • those receiving retired pay, and
  • rated by VA as at least 50 service-disabled
  • Disability need only be connected to SERVICE
  • Govt Cost 22B over 10 years
  • Mandatory Spending (not Discretionary)

23
Amounts
  • In 2004, these fixed amounts were paid
  • 50 100/month
  • 60 125
  • 70 250
  • 80 350
  • 90 500
  • 100 750

24
DISABLED SOLDIERS
  • Army created the Disabled Soldier Support System,
    known as DS3
  • Advocacy follow-up for severely disabled
  • Personal support -- assists in transition from
    military to civilian life -- whatevers needed!
  • Works in close coordination with the VA
  • System of Veterans Services Organization sponsors
    back home
  • Model is being used by other Services
  • (703)325-8453 www.ArmyDS3.org

25
G-1 RSO Homepage Address
  • http//www.armyg1.
  • army.mil/retire

26
  • More
  • GOOD NEWS
  • STORIES
  • that might not make the front page

27
CSA RETIREE COUNCIL
  • Act as CSAs eyes ears on retirement issues
  • Meets annually (April) issues submitted by YOU
  • Co-Chairmen also meet with CSA mid-year (Oct)
  • The 2005 Council Report highlights the need for
  • Improved healthcare (still 1 issue)
  • Improved communications and education
  • Continue funding for Army Echoes
  • Partnership with IMA to enforce policy/establish
    Common Levels of Support
  • Receipt of retired pay earlier than age 60 for
  • RC Soldiers
  • Mid-Year meeting held each Oct. to update the
    Chief

28
FORGOTTEN WIDOWS BENEFIT
  • Available since Dec 1997 applications continue
    to trickle in
  • 1,250 approved/paid by Army to date
  • 197/mo. payable (retro amount approx 13,000)
  • Army funds paying around 2M/year to this
    population
  • Rationale had member lived, he would have
    enrolled in SBP
  • Criteria
  • Deceased Member --
  • retired and died before SBP (or RCSBP) was
    created in 1972 (or 1978)
  • Applicant --
  • was married to retiree at time of death
  • has never remarried
  • PLEASE HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!

29
AGENT ORANGE PRESUMPTION
Contact the VA if you served in Vietnam between
9 Jan 62 and 7 May 75 and you develop one of the
following conditions
  • Respiratory cancers (lung, larynx, trachea)
  • Hodgkins disease
  • Multiple myeloma(bone marrow cancer)
  • Non-Hodgkins lymphoma
  • Soft tissue sarcoma
  • Diabetes
  • Must appear within 30 years of active service
    in country.
  • Chloracne
  • Porphyris cutanea tarda(liver condition)
  • Prostate cancer
  • Peripheral neuropathy (neurological disorder)
  • Type II diabetes (adult onset)
  • Spina bifida (children of Vietnam veterans)
  • Must have appeared within 1 year after
    exposure.

30
NEW PRESUMPTIVE CONDITION FOR Ex-POWs
  • Effective 17 Sep 03
  • Cirrhosis of the Liver added to the list of
    diseases presumed by VA as service-connected
    for POWs held for at least 30 days
  • Result of 30-year follow-up comparing rates of
    mortality of American POWs of WWII the Korean
    Conflict with the general American population
  • Determined that alcohol consumption did not
    explain the higher mortality rate
  • IMPORTANT not only for retirees, but for their
    survivors (who could qualify for an annuity)

31
Recent VA Improvements
  • DIC VAs Dependency Indemnity Compensation
  • (DIC is paid to survivors of those who die of
    service-connected conditions)
  • Surviving spouses getting DIC can now keep it if
    they remarry after age 57 (lost before!)
  • Help us spread the word on this!
  • 2. Burial Remarried surviving spouses of
    veterans are now eligible for burial in national
    cemeteries with the sponsor

32
Legislative ProposalsBeing Considered by 109th
Congress
  • End offset of SBP by DIC (cost 6/09B if
    phased-in over 10 years)
  • Change reserve retirement age to 55 (now 60)
  • Give certain former disabled POWs Commis/PX
    privileges
  • Improve TRICARE Standard
  • Change VA budget process to ensure VA healthcare
    funding
  • Allow military retirees to enroll in the Fedl
    Employee Health Benefits Plan
  • Make fedl retirees healthcare premiums tax-free
    (requires IRS law change)

33
Legislative Proposals (contd)
  • Change TRICARE reimbursement rates and cost
    sharing to equal those under BC/BS
  • Exempt military pay benefits from taxation
    (except for retired pay)
  • Allow those retired for disability (without
    having at least 20 years service) to qualify for
    CRSC
  • Expand Space-A travel to include disabled
    veterans
  • Eliminate the Social Security Earnings Test

34
DFAS
  • DFAS-CL pays millions of accounts perfectly!
  • Distinguished themselves by putting processes in
    place to get retirees/annuitants in Hurricane
    Katrinas path PAID!
  • Urge you to use myPay -- secure, online system
    that lets you manage much of your own pay
  • Perks of using myPay
  • 24/7 banking
  • make routine changes (allotments, withholding,
    etc.)
  • get tax forms 2-3 weeks earlier than by mail
  • get DFAS newsletter
  • Only 27 of retirees 6 of annuitants use the
    system (goal is 50)

35
COLA
  • This years COLA expected to be largest in 14
    years
  • Based on rise in CPI -- could be as high as 3.8
  • Will know exact amount soon
  • High COLA not necessarily a good thing, as it
    means that inflation has affected the CPI
  • Will be effective 1 Dec, and paid in your 2 Jan
    check

36
AAFES / DeCA
  • AAFES Motto -WE go where YOU go (they mean it)
  • Since the start of the war, have lost workers and
    trucks carrying millions of dollars of
    merchandise, headed for the front lines
  • DeCA new store has opened at Keesler AFB after
    hurricane
  • YOU represent up to 40 of their customer base
  • They KNOW you support them and appreciate your
    business
  • I sit on Patron Councils at HQs of AAFES
    and DeCA to represent your wishes

37
Key Influencers
  • We are not just an ARMY at war -- we are a NATION
    at war! (Gen Schoomaker, Chief of Staff,
    Army)
  • Much of our success hinges on KEY INFLUENCERS who
    encourage the notion of service-before-self
  • YOU are Centers of Influence in your communities
  • Just as we will never forget those who are
    answering the call NOW, we will not forget YOU

38
Why We WILL Continue the Work
Sep 15, 2001 Dear Adjutant General It is
requested that I be removed from the rolls of
Retired Officers and placed on active duty, for
the duration of the current emergency. LTC
______ USA Retired


39
As You Continue to LIVE Army Values
40
...So Those Who Have Served Are Not Forgotten
41
My Final Wish for YOU!
  • That you do NOT view life as a journey to the
    gravewith the intention of arriving safely in a
    pretty and well-preserved body -- but rather that
    you skid in broad-side, thoroughly used-up,
    totally worn-out, and loudly proclaiming WOW!
    What a ride!!

42
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!
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