VFW WI Legislative Updates

BILL (HR 613) FORGIVENESS OF CERTAIN OVERPAYMENTS

Posted at 11:14 AM on Thursday, January 22, 2009 by Legislative

The following information was provided by the Fleet Reserve Association.  Please help support this Legislation.

A bill (HR 613) to provide for forgiveness of certain overpayments for military retirees following their death. Take Action!
 
The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA'S) Full Final Month’s Retired Pay for Surviving Spouse Introduced!
 
At the request of FRA Rep. Walter Jones (NC) has introduced legislation “The Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act” (H.R. 613) authorizing the retention of the full final month’s retired pay by the surviving spouse (or other designated survivor) for the month in which the member was alive for at least 24 hours.

This proposal is in response to complaints from surviving spouses who were unaware that the Department of Defense (DFAS) immediately recouping payments after being notified on the death of the military retiree.  Those who had joint bank accounts, in which retirement payments were made electronically, gave little if any thought that DFAS could swoop down on the joint account and recoup any overpayments of retirement pay.  This action could easily clear the account of any funds remaining whether they were retirement payments or money from other sources.  DFAS than sends back a portion of the payment based on when the retiree died.  Shipmates are urged to contact their member of Congress to ask them to co-sponsor this important legislation.