Retiree news updates

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  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Copies of Veterans Records

The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) has provided the following website for veterans to gain access to their stored military records: http://vetrecs.archives.gov . Military veterans and the next of kin of deceased former military members may use this website to request documents.

This may be particularly helpful when a veteran needs a copy of his/her DD-214 for employment purposes. A veteran may also request replacement of his/her awards and decorations from the same site, although such a request may take considerably longer than for a DD-214. 

International Direct Deposit

Social Security: International Direct Deposit (IDD) has been available for social security benefits since 1987. The first country in the world where IDD was available was the U.K. Over 95percent of the 30,000 plus social security beneficiaries that reside in the U.K. use IDD to British banks for payment of their monthly benefits. No checks are involved. The payments are paid electronically by the Federal Reserve through a bank contracted here in the U.K. Payments are converted to sterling BEFORE being paid. There are no service or commission charges involved. The exchange rate is fixed around three working days before the payments are credited and is favorable compared to the general tourist rate.

The Federal Benefits Unit at the American Embassy in London can arrange direct deposit to a U.K. band for Social Security, Civil Service and VA payments only. They do not handle requests for IDD for any other agencies. If you want to arrange direct deposit of your social security and/or VA benefits you should telephone the Federal Benefits Unit on 020 7499 9000 between 0830 and 1300 on Monday through Friday. You will need to have ready your social security number and U.K. bank details (sort code and account number).

Military Retired Pay and Survivor Benefits Plan annuities: retirees and annuitants living and paid outside the United States have always had problems such as slower delivery of their pay check and the expense of converting U.S dollars into their local currency. IDD is now available to retirees and annuitants living in the U.K. It operates in exactly the same manner as described above for social security. However, the Federal Benefits Unit cannot handle requests for military retired pay and annuities. You must contact the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (FSAS) for the correct procedure. For information about IDD for retired pay and SBP please refer to the following link:

http://www.dod.mil/dfas/retiredpay/frequentlyaskedquestions/internationaldirectdepositfaqs.html

You may also contact DFAS by telephone at 001 216 522 5955 on weekdays from 0630 to 1930 (local Eastern time zone).

Postal contact is:

(Military Retired Pay) (Annuitant Pay)
Defense Finance and Accounting Service Defense Finance and Accounting Service
US Military Retirement Pay US Annuitant Pay
PO Box 7130 PO Box 7131
London, KY 40742-7130 London, KY 40742-7130

[30 July 2007] 

DEERS Updating

An important mailing recently went out to all retirees and annuitants. Many were returned marked address unknown. Keeping DEERS updated is the only way the government has of knowing where you are.

A change of your address may be updated at any military personnel office that has an ID card facility. You may also do this by telephone, post or e-mail.

e-mail: addrinfo@osd.pentagon.mil
Telephone: 001 Wednesday to Friday between 0900 and 1500 Pacific time (1700 and 2300 U.K. time).
Post: DSO, Attn: COA, 400 Gigling Road, Seaside CA 93955-6771

You will need to include the sponsor's name and social security number; names of other affected family members, your telephone number, the effective date of the change and the new address.

DEERS may need updating for several other reasons. These include, but are not limited to, reporting a new spouse, reporting when you reach age 65 and come under Medicare Part "A", and reporting when you enroll in Medicare Part "B". These events will require updating of DEERS and can only be accomplished at a military personnel office that has an ID card facility. You will need to provide proof of these changes.

[30 July 2007]