gdp's Comments

The Paycheck Chronicles : Why I'm Not Angry About GI Bill Changes

Tue, 16 Feb 2016 21:00:42 +0000

It appears that all already transferred benefits are safe, and therefore it doesn't matter how you have them allocated. One note: when you or your husband retired, it is important that you allocate your benefits close to how you guess you might use them because there is no provision to modify the transfer if the retiree dies. It doesn't matter while the service member is on active duty because if they die, each survivor will be eligible for the Fry Bill, which provides Post 9/11-type benefits to each individual survivor. After retirement, however, the benefits get locked into their allocation at the time of death. If you've done the completely sensible one month to each child, and the retiree passes away, there is no way to reclaim the unallocated benefits. (At least not that I've found yet.)

The Paycheck Chronicles : Early Return of Dependents

Tue, 16 Feb 2016 15:14:03 +0000

Unfortunately, Early Returns of Dependents are designed to be permanent. It is an absolutely last resort after every other option has been explored. If your husband's command processes ERDs as they should, including financial counseling, marital counseling, parenting classes, etc, then you should be in a much better place at the end of the process to know whether this is a change you intend to make permanent. Given all that is required, it might be better for your husband and you to start the counseling before involving the command in the actual ERD process. Of course, only you can know what is best for your situation, but many people feel more stressed once the command is involved. There are resources for completely confidential counseling available through the Military and Family Life Consultants (MFLACs) on base, through the chaplains (who do not do only religious counseling), and through your family support center. Good luck to you.

The Paycheck Chronicles : Mixing Money When You Get Married

Tue, 16 Feb 2016 15:09:14 +0000

Ms. Tafoya, you need to secure the services of an attorney. This is well beyond the advice available here. Good luck to you!

The Paycheck Chronicles : Residence vs. Home of Record

Tue, 16 Feb 2016 15:07:56 +0000

Elisabeth, I'm a little confused. Where did he reside when he filled out the Form 2058? If his Leave and Earnings Statement still shows Ohio, then the form did not go through and probably should be resubmitted. Good luck to you!

SpouseBUZZ.com : Here's What to Know About the Planned DoD Budget Cuts

Sun, 14 Feb 2016 21:39:36 +0000

I agree - my sister shells out over $1500 a month between premiums, deductibles, and cost shares. I wouldn't even mind if it was means tested, with free coverage for those who truly can't afford to pay and these small costs for those who are able to pay them.

SpouseBUZZ.com : GI Bill Transfer Update Fact Sheet: Questions Answered

Sun, 14 Feb 2016 21:33:37 +0000

Servicemembers who served before 9/11 were eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill.

The Paycheck Chronicles : Where To Do Your Taxes

Sun, 14 Feb 2016 19:07:02 +0000

Depending on whether your daughter claimed herself on her taxes, you may be able to claim her and your grandchildren. You need to sit down with your daughter and her tax returns and see what you can claim. The IRS website has great instructions about qualifying children and qualifying dependents. Good luck to you!

SpouseBUZZ.com : GI Bill Transfer Update Fact Sheet: Questions Answered

Fri, 12 Feb 2016 22:43:17 +0000

Absolutely. Regardless of how long you have served previously, you incur an additional 4 year commitment upon transferring the benefits.

The Paycheck Chronicles : February Commissary Remote Location Sales

Fri, 12 Feb 2016 13:55:38 +0000

These sales are expensive to run, so they are only able to hit a limited number of locations each year (maybe 50ish?). It is often years between return trips to the same location.

The Paycheck Chronicles : February Commissary Remote Location Sales

Fri, 12 Feb 2016 13:54:38 +0000

The sales are posted at the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) page at www.commissaries.com.

The Paycheck Chronicles : Residence vs. Home of Record

Fri, 12 Feb 2016 13:54:06 +0000

Scott, that's going to depend on how your organization is set up. I would start with admin or finance folks. Good luck.

The Paycheck Chronicles : Residence vs. Home of Record

Wed, 10 Feb 2016 21:32:53 +0000

Technically, your niece remains a resident of NC until she establishes residency in a new state. There are no provisions for changing states of legal residence without being physically located in the state.

The Paycheck Chronicles : Residence vs. Home of Record

Wed, 10 Feb 2016 21:30:42 +0000

Sara, if you are still a legal resident of Maine, then you can file and pay income taxes in Maine. Your husband has this same option (though it only applies to his military income, not any other income he might have.) Neither of your income is exempt (unless Maine does not tax military pay, which I do not believe is accurate.) You must fulfill the tax filing requirements of the state in which you are a legal resident. Under Massachusetts law, you will have taxes withheld for the Massachusetts rate. You will then file a non-resident return with Massachusetts, to have the Massachusetts taxes refunded to you, and you will file a resident return with Maine and pay the owed taxes to Maine. There is no provision in Massachusetts for you to have another state's taxes withheld, or to have no taxes withheld.

The Paycheck Chronicles : Congress Approves Veterans ID Cards

Wed, 10 Feb 2016 21:18:35 +0000

Allen, the process for issuing the cards has not been finalized (as far as I know.) The cards are not yet available.

The Paycheck Chronicles : Reporting Tricare On Your Tax Return

Wed, 10 Feb 2016 21:17:50 +0000

Bobby, it sounds as if there is an error in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). If you have a base nearby, I would recommend calling the DEERS office to ask what you need to do to have her removed from the system. You can also call the Defense Manpower Data Center Support Office (DSO) at 1-800-538-9552. Good luck to you!

The Paycheck Chronicles : From The Mailbag: Ex-Spouse Benefits

Sun, 7 Feb 2016 17:08:53 +0000

Creditable service in the reserves does count, so you may be eligible for 20/20/20 benefits. The calculations would be determined by appropriate Service Personnel Component http://www.tricare.mil/Plans/Eligibility/FormerSp.... Good luck to you.

The Paycheck Chronicles : Fixing 1095 Affordable Care Act Statements

Fri, 5 Feb 2016 22:23:58 +0000

Employers who are providing health insurance need to know what children they're covering. The provision for the IRS to know about your health insurance is part of the Affordable Care Act. HIPAA does not apply because there is no actual medical information exchanged, just whether you have health insurance or not.

The Paycheck Chronicles : Reporting Tricare On Your Tax Return

Fri, 5 Feb 2016 16:03:05 +0000

Greg, the 1095 is "supposed" to report what you have listed in DEERS. You'll have to contact the DEERS customer service to find out how to fix this. Good luck!

The Paycheck Chronicles : State of Legal Residence for Retirees

Thu, 4 Feb 2016 21:06:39 +0000

This is one of the many important tax issues that people don't think about. I'm curious - would you have done anything differently if you had known about this?? Thanks for the comment.

The Paycheck Chronicles : State of Legal Residence for Retirees

Thu, 4 Feb 2016 21:05:20 +0000

As I understand the Bailey decision, it only applies to retirement income earned from a government plan in which the plan participant had met certain vesting thresholds by 12 August 1989. It does not apply to all military retirement income, nor does it apply to any other type of income that is earned after military service (such as investment income or income from a second career.) The Bailey decision affects few enough people that North Carolina is generally not included in any lists of states that do not tax military retirement income. It is always important to thoroughly check all the nuances of the state tax laws before making a decision. Thanks for reminding those who had 5 years of creditable service on 12 August 1989 that there is a special situation for them with regard to North Carolina state income taxes on their military pensions.