So i had a conversation with my LIMDU officer and he told me the same thing you said I got there and they said well you have to wait for your Peblo to call you, I called this lady to ask her about it and she said, she's waiting for VA before anything else and she hung up since then she doesn't reply or pick anymore calls so I stopped calling.
Camp Lejeune timeline
- Thread starter thanks4urhelp
- Start date
Nope... you just call and call and call until someone is foolish enough to send it to you. "My claim has closed on the app and I would like to have the attached files emailed to me." Mixed bag if they'll send it; if they start reading a script about IDES just hang up! Call again. Repeat.
I would try to find out physically where your IDES office is and start shaking trees for answers... if allowed this process can absolutely drag out for months longer than it needs to.
Small update on my end regarding pay:
The VA has been inconsistent about when my claim can close for final disposition. Some agents have told me my claim is closed and I'm just awaiting the letter in the mail, some have told me I'm secondary ready for decision, one even sent up a service request to the regional office to close my claim and finalize my rating.
Finally I got final word, there's no use in calling for progress before your final EAS date. My claim is secondary ready for decision and will stay that way until the 30th of July, my actual retirement date. This means that the soonest I could get paid is September, and realistically probably October. The VA can't pay for a partial month and no clue if my payments will be dated to the day after my separation, I've been told the VA will not backpay you.
I also have no clue when DFAS will pay out. I was told a couple weeks, vets on forums say expect a few months. Especially for the travel claim.
If you are expecting medical retirement and you are the head of your household, expect a rocky transition from service. Severance makes the transition pretty simple since you can live off of that until your paychecks roll in, but retirees are not so fortunate.
I have no clue if I'll be receiving retirement pension en lieu of VA pay... I've heard yes and no as well.
Will likely make a new post about some of these questions soon.
The VA has been inconsistent about when my claim can close for final disposition. Some agents have told me my claim is closed and I'm just awaiting the letter in the mail, some have told me I'm secondary ready for decision, one even sent up a service request to the regional office to close my claim and finalize my rating.
Finally I got final word, there's no use in calling for progress before your final EAS date. My claim is secondary ready for decision and will stay that way until the 30th of July, my actual retirement date. This means that the soonest I could get paid is September, and realistically probably October. The VA can't pay for a partial month and no clue if my payments will be dated to the day after my separation, I've been told the VA will not backpay you.
I also have no clue when DFAS will pay out. I was told a couple weeks, vets on forums say expect a few months. Especially for the travel claim.
If you are expecting medical retirement and you are the head of your household, expect a rocky transition from service. Severance makes the transition pretty simple since you can live off of that until your paychecks roll in, but retirees are not so fortunate.
I have no clue if I'll be receiving retirement pension en lieu of VA pay... I've heard yes and no as well.
Will likely make a new post about some of these questions soon.
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That so disheartening about VA payments considering we are essentially processing a BDD claim and should start receiving benefits the day after discharge. Will be following to see if you get any updates on receiving the retirement pension.
I was advised by my wife's private attorney to expect no pay after getting out for a couple of months. It can happen sooner but budget accordingly. For example... VA pay is paid after the 1st WHOLE month. So even if your ratings are finalized and you get an award letter its going to take some time. If you retire on June 15th. The first whole month is July. Since pay is in arrears you first compensation payment for July is August 1st. That's a long time and this applies to everyone. This isn't even unique to medical retirees. If you get out in any way you need to budget and plan for not getting paid for a while. If you have money coming from DFAS after the VA offset that money comes in a bit quicker. Though for most medical retirees the only compensation they get is VA compensation. CRSC takes even longer since you can't apply for that until after you get out and receive your VA award letter.
@thanks4urhelp Since you will retire on July 30th your first month for VA pay is August with the first VA payment being September 1st. That gives the VA plenty of time to finalize your ratings and send you an award letter. Make sure to upload your DD214 to the VA once you have it. If you don't do that it delays your claim from being finalized.
Ah yes I assumed as much. I just posted a thread moments before you had posted this haha.
I have a couple more questions there if you wouldn't mind answering.
yep just answered on that post.
Posted in another thread I made for this, but update here for those watching this thread:
NMCRS approved me for a 0% loan of about 2200 with payments beginning in October. This is extremely helpful and hopefully VA payments will begin in September. They did let me know that if I need more help I can ask, however once you borrow 5,000 and still owe your total amount they begin to add more restrictions to you.
NMCRS approved me for a 0% loan of about 2200 with payments beginning in October. This is extremely helpful and hopefully VA payments will begin in September. They did let me know that if I need more help I can ask, however once you borrow 5,000 and still owe your total amount they begin to add more restrictions to you.
Unrelated to financial concerns:
An Army base nearby let me know that 5 working days need to pass to ensure HQMC processes your retirement before being able to come in and get your retired ID. I called in yesterday and they told me since my retirement date is the 30th I ought to come in on the 5th of August as a walk-in to get my new ID and to retire my active ID.
An Army base nearby let me know that 5 working days need to pass to ensure HQMC processes your retirement before being able to come in and get your retired ID. I called in yesterday and they told me since my retirement date is the 30th I ought to come in on the 5th of August as a walk-in to get my new ID and to retire my active ID.
You will only receive VA payments. You will have to opt in for TRICARE for any dependent healthcare, but you yourself will be able to use VA or TRICARE healthcare.
When you wrap up your process you need to elect an SBP option, if you don't you will be enrolled automatically. If you're low time in service it is in your best interest to opt out.
First update on pay: I was mistaken to assume the 1st of August would be the delayed paycheck. Apparently I'm receiving that payment as normal, with some slight issues like my entire BAH amount being taken when I only owe 1100. I'm told I should get that back on subsequent paychecks though, it's only a difference of about 200. Confirmed all of this on myPay.
Seems the final pay will be pay for my sold leave days, IPAC says I should get that on the 15th. I'm hoping that between sold leave, unemployment, and VR&E housing allowance at the Post 911 rate will more than tide me over for the VA payments to start rolling in.
Seems the final pay will be pay for my sold leave days, IPAC says I should get that on the 15th. I'm hoping that between sold leave, unemployment, and VR&E housing allowance at the Post 911 rate will more than tide me over for the VA payments to start rolling in.
Updates on the day after EAS:
The VA is tracking my separation and set everything into motion before I spoke to them. My EAS is updated and my claim has moved to a new stage. I was told on the 28th my claim moved to decision phase awaiting a rating team presuming no evidence is required from here.
I have 2 years in service, and I was approved for 100% of the GI bill. I applied for the GI bill for monthly housing allowance purposes under the VR&E program. If you haven't applied for the VR&E program and you're at the PEB stage, you're leaving some serious cash on the table. My counselor just sent me a 600 dollar chair and a tech package with a laptop, keyboard, mouse, monitor, and more. Serious game changer for me education wise. Depending on the area you live in at home the housing allowance can be massively increased if you take at least one in person class. For my area it's 2,385 for housing alone a month presuming you take one in person class in a 12 credit hour semester. That means 9 credits can be entirely online if each class is 3 credits. I'll be going to school next month so I'll let y'all know any hiccups with schooling if there are any.
As far as the travel voucher goes, call the disbursing office. For Lejeune it lists some bogus number that leads to nothing but a ring on MOL. To get to the actual Lejeune disbursing office for travel claims it's (910) 451-5300. My document ID populated the day after discharge, I called around and got to their office. They let me know that from date they begin processing it, they have 10 business days to finalize/settle the claim for payout.
For those of you who are married and utilized a HHG move and are curious about it/you plan to utilize HHG, it's pretty streamline. If you have ANY issues call the DMO QA office before you haggle with the moving company. They squared away my issues while the moving company coordinator sent me through a ton of loops that led nowhere. IIRC they picked up my stuff on the 12th of July, and I received my shipment on the 20th of July. Everything arrived pretty smoothly.
TRICARE let me know they need me to get updated to retired in DEERS before allowing me to elect Prime again. Headed to an Army base to pick up my retired ID on the 5th.
I've got a VERA appointment on the 8th of next month regarding my claim. I'm hoping that will influence some movement, was suggested to give that a go by another vet.
Hope y'all are doing well. That's the most updates I have for now.
The VA is tracking my separation and set everything into motion before I spoke to them. My EAS is updated and my claim has moved to a new stage. I was told on the 28th my claim moved to decision phase awaiting a rating team presuming no evidence is required from here.
I have 2 years in service, and I was approved for 100% of the GI bill. I applied for the GI bill for monthly housing allowance purposes under the VR&E program. If you haven't applied for the VR&E program and you're at the PEB stage, you're leaving some serious cash on the table. My counselor just sent me a 600 dollar chair and a tech package with a laptop, keyboard, mouse, monitor, and more. Serious game changer for me education wise. Depending on the area you live in at home the housing allowance can be massively increased if you take at least one in person class. For my area it's 2,385 for housing alone a month presuming you take one in person class in a 12 credit hour semester. That means 9 credits can be entirely online if each class is 3 credits. I'll be going to school next month so I'll let y'all know any hiccups with schooling if there are any.
As far as the travel voucher goes, call the disbursing office. For Lejeune it lists some bogus number that leads to nothing but a ring on MOL. To get to the actual Lejeune disbursing office for travel claims it's (910) 451-5300. My document ID populated the day after discharge, I called around and got to their office. They let me know that from date they begin processing it, they have 10 business days to finalize/settle the claim for payout.
For those of you who are married and utilized a HHG move and are curious about it/you plan to utilize HHG, it's pretty streamline. If you have ANY issues call the DMO QA office before you haggle with the moving company. They squared away my issues while the moving company coordinator sent me through a ton of loops that led nowhere. IIRC they picked up my stuff on the 12th of July, and I received my shipment on the 20th of July. Everything arrived pretty smoothly.
TRICARE let me know they need me to get updated to retired in DEERS before allowing me to elect Prime again. Headed to an Army base to pick up my retired ID on the 5th.
I've got a VERA appointment on the 8th of next month regarding my claim. I'm hoping that will influence some movement, was suggested to give that a go by another vet.
Hope y'all are doing well. That's the most updates I have for now.
To my knowledge they can't backdate anything because they have to approve everything you do towards your vocational goal. I could be mistaken, I know there are some ways for some chapters to apply retroactively to schooling but I'm not sure chapter 31 is one of them.
The housing stipend is pretty simple, you have to apply for the Post 9/11 GI bill to get the certificate of eligibility (regardless of your time in service all medboard seps will get the full GI bill amount presuming an honorable discharge) and then you'll send that over to your VR&E counselor. For 1 month of schooling you'll get 1 month of housing allowance paid in arrears. This means if you're in December and only in school for a couple weeks you'll only get a couple weeks of MHA if memory serves.
I would apply while you're still in... I don't know how complex the process gets after you're out but I don't wanna find out. Applying while you're in is super simple and guaranteed acceptance.