Pay

I have a q for you guys: Is there any specific department or person who handles the pay for military doctors/residents? The reason I ask is Jon and I haven't found such a person and they are really, really screwing his pay up badly. (He had a NEGATIVE number for his base pay this last paycheck AND they put some sort of "advance" on there that was about double his normal base pay - nope, we never asked for an advance). Anyway, it's causing other things to mess up - the domino effect you could say. What's worse is that nobody seems to know anything, nor will anyone give us hard numbers on WHAT he's supposed to be making to begin with. I'll listen to any suggestions on who to talk to or what to do to get this thing resolved. It could be worse, though: One of the residents Jon works with who'd also active duty airforce got $300 this last pay check (waaaay less than he is supposed to get as a captain in the af). AND that same guy got the "advance" put on there for some astronomical sum (same as Jon's paycheck). Any ideas?



Jennifer

[DCJenn]

ah, the transition pay- we had the same problem when we moved to TX- we have 300 dollars one check and then a huge check later. I think it took a few paychecks to straighten things out. There are people on post that Rick goes to directly. You guys don't have that convenient option, though. Who is the HPSP coordinator at the hospital? The pay grades are published in the service newpapers and are available online- try the Air Force website. Also, you could probably call any of the recruiting stations to find out who might be able to help. I can't remember what the pay office is called. He had to supply proof of his time in service too, so be prepared and have copies of your orders available. Sally should be albe to tell you what it's called in the Air Force.



Good luck and keep us posted.



Jenn

}www.dfas.mil

This site will tell you how much you should be getting paid. If your husband is able to go to the Finance office on base, someone there will have to help him figure things out. Good luck.

Karin

oops...

http://www.dfas.mil

Thanks guys. There isn't an HPSP coordinator at this hospital. We are really and truly isolated it seems. The nearest AF base is Hanscomb - which is really tiny. We know what Jon SHOULD be making by looking at the charts - the problem is that nobody in the pay department seems to look at those charts! It is even more difficult to find answers and solutions to these issues because Jon is not able to take a day off work and go to the base to resolve his pay. No one he has spoken to seems to "get" that - they all tell him to show up (in full dress uniform - which he hasn't worn in a couple of years) at the nearest base (Hanscomb) and talk to the pay office up there. It's really frustrating dealing with people who don't understand that he is an air force officer but also a doctor BUT still in training.... UGH!!!!!! OK, there's my scream for the day. Wait, I have one more in there UGH!!!!!!!!! OK, I'm better.



Jennifer

OK...I'm not a military spouse, but I have to chime in, Jenn..









That really stinks!!!!!!!! Can you find someone to help you out? Will your family or his be willing to help you until this is rectified?????



Kris

[mommax3]

Sorry this is going on, Jenn! I would be screaming, too. I don't have any words of wisdom since this has never happened to us, thank goodness! I hope it is cleared up soon.



Sally

[DCJenn]

Jennifer-



Yes, it's really frustrating. It took Rick more than one trip to the pay office. They couldn't figure out what he was supposed to be making- actually they still haven't figured it out- but he's going to wait until we get to wherever we go next and bring all of his orders from the past 12 years to go over with them. (He should be making 0/E 3 instead of just O3 pay)



You cannot do anything over the phone. I swear. You must go in person (medicating yourself first) and go from office to office while civilians determined how much and when our military spouses make. They actually tried to count the number of days that Rick was enlisted. (Apparently there is some rule that they must be enlisted four years plus one day to count- and they have no proof of his time in the Reserves while he was in college)



All I can say is that Jon probably will have to go (and he can wear whatever uniform he wants to) to the base to get thigns done face to face. He will also need copies of all of his orders, his diploma and his commissioning paperwork as well. They may ask for all of that and we have found it's better to bring everything they may need.



Jenn

I hate to say this, but I wouldn't feel I had really arrived at a new base until the military had screwed up our paycheck. We've been here since June and we haven't had a paycheck yet that was right. Lucky for us, at least we were getting something. I feel so awful for you. When we got married and traveled to our first base together, my husband's paycheck got "lost" by the military. It was December. We had to hang tinsel on the ficus trees. We were so broke.

Jenn, you touched on one of the MAJOR problems we are having - when do they start counting time "in" the military? They can't seem to decide if they should begin counting from when Jon was commissioned into the reserves or if they should begin when he technically went "active" last summer. Do you know the answer to that q? Why oh why can't YOU work in the pay office, Jenn? OR why can't they have a division of pay devoted to the medical officers????



I appreciate all of you guys' sympathy



Jennifer

[DCJenn]

Well Jennifer, the reason that I can't work in the Pay Office is the same as why I can't work at the DMV- I have compassion for people!



Anyway- according to RIck, time in service starts from the Day 1. The problems is with the reserves they can never figure out whether to count the year or the amount of active duty days. It's so stupid. That's our problem- Rick was in the Reserves for a year and a half but because he was in college he was excused for a few of the weekend drills. It's a hugely frustrating nightmare.



but, when he goes to the Pay Office, make suer he asks for the standards they use to determine time in service. Rick never does, which is why next time he goes, I'm going with him. (Same reason he brought me with him to buy his car!) Just tell Jon to make sure that he smiles sweetly and grits his teeth the entire time!



Jenn

Jenn, Jon goes to the pay office tomorrow and I really think that everything you related has been important to this situation. Thank you so much for giving me this information! Hopefully Jon will be able to accomplish something tomorrow - we'll see (but I'm not going to get my hopes up).



Jennifer