Hi all! So I’m new to here and this forum has been very helpful to me as I went through this process. So I thought I also give my timeline for reference purposes to those going through the PDBR review.
I was 20% and discharged in 2007 with seizures grand mal. I got my first contact from this board or review in 2015. I filled out the paperwork and sent it in but expected nothing out of it. After a few years I had all but forgotten about it since I hadn’t heard anything. In December 2016, I wrote an email to the PDBR pentagon email address and got an automated response telling me that my package was at final review at the DDA and I would be notified within 45 days of a decision. Well Feb 22, 2018 (14 months not 45 days!) I got my answer. I was approved to be recharacterized to RETIRED and they rated me at 80%! I was astonished, but extremely happy. Next step is to call AFPC and talk to Ms Adams. She’s an awful person but she is the only person who handles SBP. She’s the first hurdle.
If you live near an AFB, then she will schedule you for a SBP briefing within a few weeks. If not, then she has to call you back whenever she’s good and ready. It took her 29 days to call me back. Then she sent me two forms. One to claim whether or not you want SBP for your spouse if you were married at the time or discharge, and/or your children. If not you can decline and she couldn’t care less. Oh, you will also find out your pension amount. Use that to figure out your retro pay (mine was $259,406 since I had no VA offset, but they take back the severance).
The other form is to have your spouse/ex-spouse sign and notarize. Send the hard copies back to her and that’s all. From there the package goes back to the board and gets signed by the Director of the AF Board Review Agency. Then you’ll get new orders, and your DFAS account will be opened. So here’s the timeline.
05/2015-sent in PDBR request
02/2018-received decision
04/2018-finish SBP declaration
05/2018-received final approval from director
No orders yet and no DFAS.
If you’re just starting, be patient. If you get apporoved, believe me it’s worth the wait!!
For those approved, does anyone know if we get a ceremony, flag, and president letter? Just curious. Okay all the best! Ask questions if you have any!!
I was 20% and discharged in 2007 with seizures grand mal. I got my first contact from this board or review in 2015. I filled out the paperwork and sent it in but expected nothing out of it. After a few years I had all but forgotten about it since I hadn’t heard anything. In December 2016, I wrote an email to the PDBR pentagon email address and got an automated response telling me that my package was at final review at the DDA and I would be notified within 45 days of a decision. Well Feb 22, 2018 (14 months not 45 days!) I got my answer. I was approved to be recharacterized to RETIRED and they rated me at 80%! I was astonished, but extremely happy. Next step is to call AFPC and talk to Ms Adams. She’s an awful person but she is the only person who handles SBP. She’s the first hurdle.
If you live near an AFB, then she will schedule you for a SBP briefing within a few weeks. If not, then she has to call you back whenever she’s good and ready. It took her 29 days to call me back. Then she sent me two forms. One to claim whether or not you want SBP for your spouse if you were married at the time or discharge, and/or your children. If not you can decline and she couldn’t care less. Oh, you will also find out your pension amount. Use that to figure out your retro pay (mine was $259,406 since I had no VA offset, but they take back the severance).
The other form is to have your spouse/ex-spouse sign and notarize. Send the hard copies back to her and that’s all. From there the package goes back to the board and gets signed by the Director of the AF Board Review Agency. Then you’ll get new orders, and your DFAS account will be opened. So here’s the timeline.
05/2015-sent in PDBR request
02/2018-received decision
04/2018-finish SBP declaration
05/2018-received final approval from director
No orders yet and no DFAS.
If you’re just starting, be patient. If you get apporoved, believe me it’s worth the wait!!
For those approved, does anyone know if we get a ceremony, flag, and president letter? Just curious. Okay all the best! Ask questions if you have any!!