R&A Quarterly Newsletter

Transcription

1 R&A Quarterly Newsletter January 2017, Information you can use to help retirees and annuitants! Director s Message As I look outside I see decorations coming down and people bundled up in their warmest winter gear, and that can only mean the holidays are over and 2017 is here. The New Year is the start of tax season, so I want to make sure you and the retiree community know how to get the documents you need. During the December 1, 2016, RSO/RAO call, we showed you how to access our self-service tools such as AskDFAS, mypay, the interactive voice response system (IVRS), and the Retired and Annuitant Pay (R&A) website. The feedback from the call was positive, and many of the attendees stated the content of the call was helpful. We always welcome your feedback and input because it helps us strengthen our relationship and provide better service to our mutual customers. I want to wish all of you a Happy New Year and I can t wait to see what 2017 brings! Also, don t forget to print out the article in the printable section of the newsletter and share it with retirees and annuitants. Jeffrey Presley Director, Retired and Annuitant Pay Contents 1099R Availability 2 mypay Trusted Agents 3 Service Liaison Mailbox Pay Dates/ Cut Off 5 Quality Corner 6 Printable Section 7-8 I want to continue to provide you with the tools and information that you need during tax season, so this edition of the newsletter will cover 1099R availability, best ways to get a 1099R, mypay trusted agents, and submitting requests to the service liaison box. Liaison Contact Information: ARMY: Jeffrey Meier, jeffrey.a.meier.civ@mail.mil, AIR FORCE: Alex Machaskee, alex.g.machaskee.civ@mail.mil, NAVY/MARINES: Timothy Jackson, timothy.r.jackson16.civ@mail.mil, RAD COORDINATOR: Larry Walton, lawrence.d.walton.civ@mail.mil, Important! Except where otherwise noted, the articles in this newsletter are written for Retirement Services Officers and are not intended to be published or forwarded. If you're working on a newsletter or other articles for release to military retirees, please contact Albert (Steve) Burghardt, Public Affairs Specialist at , for more information. SERVICE LIAISON BOX: dfas.cleveland-oh.jfb.mbx.service-liaison@mail.mil Page 1

2 When Will 1099Rs Become Available? The IRS Forms 1099R for the 2016 tax year became available online in mid-december Retirees can now access their documents on mypay. We will also mail hard copy versions of the 1099R to retirees and annuitants that have chosen that option. Please keep in mind that hard copy versions of the 1099R are issued later and will take a while to reach members. Members that have elected hard copy may not receive it until mid-january Please note that 1099R s are not automatically issued for deceased members. If survivors want to receive a 1099R on behalf of a member who passed away, a certificate of death must be on file and the beneficiary must request that a 1099R be issued. If the survivor would like to make this request or have questions regarding a 1099R for a deceased member, they can contact us using one of the methods described in this link Best Ways to Get or Replace a 1099R Military retirees and annuitants receive a 1099R tax statement either electronically via mypay or as a paper copy in their mail each year. But there are times when a document is misplaced among other credit cards, bank or tax statements; or the member may need a 1099R from several years ago for pending financial business.retirees can request copies of their 1099R tax statements in several different ways. The fastest and most secure way to obtain a copy of their 1099R is mypay. Members can login to mypay and print their 1099R at home when they need it. You will find instructions for accessing the 1099R using mypay at The interactive voice response system (IVRS) is the most convenient and fastest method for members that don t have mypay accounts. If the mailing address we have on file with us is current, the member can get a copy of their 1099R by using this telephone self-service option. Telephone self-service requests are logged instantly and they are sent to the member s current address of record within 7-10 business days. To use telephone self-service: Call Select option 1 for Military Retired and Annuitant Pay Select option 1 for Self-Serve Enter the Social Security Number when prompted The 1099R should be in the mail within 7-10 business days to the address we have on record. If the address we have on file is out of date and if the member is not a mypay user, they can request their 1099R be sent to their current address or a new address using one easy form. Plus, they can request prior years 1099R s as well. The member s transaction will be logged instantly and they will receive their 1099R in the mail in 7-10 business days. Find complete instructions at For those that prefer traditional mail they can send us a written request by fax or mail, but make sure they leave us time to reply. Keep in mind; it takes us 30 to 60 days to process requests received by fax or mail. Members with unique situations can speak directly to one of our customer care representatives by calling Depending on call volume, the member may have to wait on hold while we assist other customers. Page 2

3 mypay Trusted Agents mypay is the fastest and most secure way for the retiree community to make updates to their pay accounts, and we encourage all members to create a mypay account, keep their accounts active, and safeguard their passwords. It is not uncommon for members to lose their passwords or get locked out of mypay and require a password reset, so trusted agents are available to reset passwords. Trusted agents are located all over the United States and overseas and may be in your local area. Trusted agents provide face to face password reset assistance, and the contact list is updated weekly to provide the most current information. To receive password reset assistance from a trusted agent, the member must report to the designated location in person with their military identification card. To find a trusted agent in your area follow the steps below: 1. Go to mypay homepage at 2. Go to the Quick Links section and click mypay Trusted agents 3. Click Agree for DoD Consent 4. To get the location and phone number of the trusted agent near you, search by branch of service or location. Trusted agents provide mypay assistance for all branches of service regardless of the location. To see the complete list at once, make sure All is highlighted for the Branch and click on Search. Page 3

4 Service Liaison Mailbox The best way for you to contact Retired and Annuitant Pay with escalated cases or accounts with sensitive circumstances is by using the service liaison mailbox at We know that some of you may be used to ing the liaison for your branch of service, but keep in mind when your liaison is out of the office no one can access their personal account on that liaison s behalf. The service liaison mailbox makes your requests visible to all of the liaisons, providing the most effective and efficient service possible. Once you submit an item through the service liaison mailbox, you will receive an acknowledgement within three business days that will provide you with status and expected completion date of your item. If you do not receive a response within three business days, please call the External Communications Manager, Pat Valdez, at The response will acknowledge that your request is being processed, but depending on the nature and complexity of your request it can take up to 30 days or more before the request is complete. Keep in mind that the service liaison box is intended for urgent or escalated cases requiring immediate attention. Each request is reviewed to determine its priority level, and depending on the particulars of the request, it may be forwarded to another department to process along with general requests. We give priority to cases that are pay impactive. Please note that most escalated cases, by virtue of their unique circumstances, will usually require a collaborative effort between your liaison team and one or more of our operations areas. Every effort is made to achieve resolve to priority cases within 5-10 business days. The service liaison address is for the sole use of Retiree Service Offices, Retiree Assistance Offices, and Casualty Assistance Offices and should not be shared with members, annuitants, or dependents. Your feedback is important to us because it helps us improve our service to you and the member, so if something is not working, let us know. Remember that all non-pay impactive or low priority transactions should be faxed or mailed to: Defense Finance and Accounting Service U.S. Military Retired Pay P.O. Box 7130 London, KY Fax: Notification: Inbound Mail Address Change This is a notification that the mailing address for Retired and Annuitant Pay will change this year. Effective May 1, 2017 the current addresses, (PO Box 7130 and 7131, in London KY) will no longer be valid for mailing transactions to DFAS. We will be reaching out to all our service partners in the field to help us identify documents, letters, literature, and system changes that will be affected by the address change. You can expect to hear more about this upcoming change as we launch our 2017 communication campaign through newsletters, s, and during the RSO/RAO call. Page 4

5 2017 Pay Dates/ Cutoff Dates Month Pay Dates Retirees Pay Dates Annuitants RCPS Cut Off Dates January 2017 February 1, 2017 February 1, 2017 January 20, 2017 February 2017 March 1, 2017 March 1, 2017 February 16, 2017 March 2017 March 31, 2017 April 3, 2017 March 21, 2017 April 2017 May 1, 2017 May 1, 2017 April 19, 2017 May 2017 June 1, 2017 June 1, 2017 May 19, 2017 June 2017 June 30, 2017 July 3, 2017 June 20, 2017 July 2017 August 1, 2017 August 1, 2017 July 20, 2017 August 2017 September 1, 2017 September 1, 2017 August 22, 2017 September 2017 September 29, 2017 October 2, 2017 September 19, 2017 October 2017 November 1, 2017 November 1, 2017 October 20, 2017 November 2017 December 1, 2017 December 1, 2017 November 20, 2017 December 2017 December 29, 2017 January 2, 2018 December 7, 2017 Cost of Living Adjustment Based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index, there will be a 0.3 percent Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for most retired pay and Survivor Benefit Plan annuities effective Dec. 1, Retirees will see the change on their Dec. 30, 2016, payment and annuitants on their Jan. 3, 2017, payment. Contact Us 2017 CRDP/CRSC Open Season Announcement The 2017 CRDP/CRSC Open Season is Jan. 1-31, Retirees who are eligible for both CRDP and CRSC will receive an Open Season Letter with the amount of their entitlements. Retirees should follow the instructions on the letter. They only need to return the letter to DFAS to change their election for The member s election must be post-marked by January 31, Is there something you would like to see in our next issue? Let us know! You can contact the newsletter editor at Tameka.L.Smith2.civ@mail.mil with your suggestions. If you have questions about case processing or a specific retiree or annuitant s account, you should contact your DFAS Service Liaison. Page 5

6 Quality Corner Page 6

7 *****Printable Section*****Printable Section***** Best Ways to Get or Replace 1099R Military retirees and annuitants receive a 1099R tax statement either electronically via mypay or as a paper copy in their mail each year. But there are times when a document is misplaced among other credit cards, bank or tax statements; or the member may need a 1099R from several years ago for pending financial business. Retirees can request copies of their 1099R tax statements in several different ways. The fastest and most secure way to obtain a copy of their 1099R is mypay. Members can login to mypay and print their 1099R at home when they need it. You will find instructions for accessing the 1099R using mypay at The interactive voice response system (IVRS) is the most convenient and fastest method for members that don t have mypay accounts. If the mailing address we have on file with us is current, the member can get a copy of their 1099R by using this telephone self-service option. Telephone self-service requests are logged instantly and they are sent to the member s current address of record within 7-10 business days. To use telephone self-service: Call Select option 1 for Military Retired and Annuitant Pay Select option 1 for Self-Serve Enter your Social Security Number when prompted Your 1099-R should be in the mail within 7-10 business days to your address we have on record. If the address we have on file is out of date and if the member is not a mypay user, they can request their 1099R be sent to their current address or a new address using one easy form. Plus, they can request prior years 1099R s as well. The member s transaction will be logged instantly and they will receive their 1099R in the mail in 7-10 business days. Find complete instructions at For those that prefer traditional mail they can send us a written request by fax or mail, but make sure they leave us time to reply. Keep in mind; it takes us 30 to 60 days to process requests received by fax or mail. Members with unique situations can speak directly to one of our customer care representatives by calling Depending on call volume, the member may have to wait on hold while we assist other customers. Page 7

8 *****Printable Section*****Printable Section***** mypay Trusted Agents mypay is the fastest and most secure way for the retiree community to make updates to their pay accounts, and we encourage all members to create a mypay account, keep their accounts active, and safeguard their passwords. It is not uncommon for members to lose their passwords or get locked out of mypay and require a password reset, so trusted agents are available to reset passwords. Trusted agents are located all over the United States and overseas and may be in your local area. Trusted agents provide face to face password reset assistance, and the contact list is updated weekly to provide the most current information. To receive password reset assistance from a trusted agent, the member must report to the designated location in person with their military identification card. To find a trusted agent in your area follow the steps below: 1. Go to mypay homepage at 2. Go to the Quick Links section and click mypay Trusted agents 3. Click Agree for DoD Consent 4. To get the location and phone number of the trusted agent near you, search by branch of service or location. Trusted agents provide mypay assistance for all branches of service regardless of the location. To see the complete list at once, make sure All is highlighted for the Branch and click on Search. Page 8