Log in

View Full Version : HFP now officially pro-rated


Eagle5US
02-03-2012, 14:14
Received official notice from DFAS this morning...

BLUF
IDP/HFP is no longer $225/mo - it is now $7.50/day.
The law went into effect 31 Dec, but DFAS was not able to immediately implement the language "on paper" and as a result "many service members may have been overpaid between

You show up in an area that "rates" on the 31st of the month, you now get paid $7.50 for that month vs the previous $225.

Actual content of message below:

A new law may affect the pay you receive when you are on duty in an imminent danger pay (IDP) area. About 27 locations world-wide have been designated by the Secretary of Defense as IDP areas.

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (NDAA 2012), signed on December 31, 2011, requires we begin prorating IDP so that members are paid for only the actual days they perform duty in an IDP area. Before December 31, members received the full $225 a month even if they performed duty only one day in an IDP area. Now service members will receive $7.50 for each day they are on duty in an IDP area up to the maximum monthly rate of $225. Members who are exposed to a hostile fire or hostile mine explosion event are eligible to receive non-prorated Hostile Fire Pay (HFP) in the full monthly amount of $225. Members cannot receive both IDP and HFP in the same month.

The law required proration to begin on December 31, 2011; however, because it took time to publish implementing guidance and ready pay systems, we were not ready to begin prorating the pay on that date. DoD began to pay the prorated payments beginning February 1, 2012. If you are eligible to receive IDP, you may see the prorated amount of the pay in your February 15th pay depending on the actual number of days you spend in an IDP area.

Some members may have been overpaid between the date the NDAA was signed on December 31, 2011, and February 1, 2012, when the pay systems began proration.

The military services are working to waive or remit debts for members who may have been overpaid during this period. The intent is that you will not be liable for any overpayment during this period. Also, you do not need to request or take any action for this to take place. Your service will take care of this for you.

If you have questions about this pay, please contact your finance office.

For more information, please visit http://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/payentitlements/specialpay/hfp_idp.html


Please do not respond to this message. Replies to this message are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. Contact your finance office with any questions.



John Timmerman
Director, Military Pay Functional Area
Enterprise Solutions and Standards


Back to you original scheduled perusing.

afchic
02-03-2012, 16:42
You can thank the colonels and generals that would take.a "short" trip over to "visit" the troops for this one. I am actually surprised it took this long for it to happen :(

cant hardly
02-03-2012, 17:04
.

Surgicalcric
02-03-2012, 17:34
You can thank the colonels and generals that would take.a "short" trip over to "visit" the troops for this one. I am actually surprised it took this long for it to happen :(

Ummmm...

I am thinking its more so the AF crews who fly in for one day/month to get it and CTZE.

Crip

Eagle5US
02-03-2012, 18:08
Ummmm...

I am thinking its more so the AF crews who fly in for one day/month to get it and CTZE.

Crip
LOL...
Well played Sir; Well played...:D

glebo
02-04-2012, 05:38
What's $225 to a general?

Well, what goes along with that is tax free status for you're income for that month/yr depending how long you're there..

The Reaper
02-04-2012, 09:56
IMHO, this is fairly common among anyone who could control their itinerary and transportation assets.

I have seen everyone from LTCs to GENs do it. Never explicitly for that purpose, of course, they just happened to be an opening in their schedule for a trip or a "command visit" from the 29th through the 2nd.

No shortage of senior NCOs and assorted staff personnel volunteering to accompany them either.

DV Quarters at Bagram were always crowded at the end and beginning of the month.

Well, what goes along with that is tax free status for you're income for that month/yr depending how long you're there..

Military tax free pay exclusion in the combat zone is capped for O's and does not cover their entire pay.

TR

Streck-Fu
02-04-2012, 10:07
When I was on active duty with the Navy, entire carrier battle groups would do this. More than once we crossed the line on the 30th and returned on the 2nd.

My last deployment on the USS George Washington (CVN-73) in 2000, we did this twice.

Pete
02-04-2012, 10:11
There are two ways to look at it.

1st is that pro rating it is fair. You were only in the zone for a day or two and should only be paid for that period.

2nd is that of all the things to look at to save money here and there this is one of the cheezyest. Lord help us if some grunt gets a couple extra hundred dollars out of a 4 - 6 month deployment.

And I will admit I'll taken advantage of getting in or out of country a couple days early or late. The Air Force seemed every ready to "help" with the timing.

Streck-Fu
02-04-2012, 10:30
I am very guilty of enjoying the extra money on an E-4/E-5 salary...

And agree that this is not the best place to look for cost avoidance.

scooter
02-04-2012, 10:32
I think was probably overdue and will end some of the tourist / Air Force jackassery associated with HDP, while minimally affecting those who it was intended for.

The Reaper
02-04-2012, 11:07
I think was probably overdue and will end some of the tourist / Air Force jackassery associated with HDP, while minimally affecting those who it was intended for.

Precisely.

TR

afchic
02-05-2012, 19:39
I think was probably overdue and will end some of the tourist / Air Force jackassery associated with HDP, while minimally affecting those who it was intended for.

Us non-zipper suited sun gods get tired of that shit as well. It is one thing to do it on your way in our your way out of a 6 month-1 year depoyment. It is quite different to do it every month when you mostly RON in Germany and are getting a shit load of perdiem on top of it.

Richard
02-13-2012, 17:27
From a friend at CAC, Fort Leavenworth:

You see them at the end of every month: teams from the CTCs, Center for Army Lessons Learned, and the Pentagon. They are there to help with advice while collecting TDY, combat pay, and combat patches. They land in one plane and leave for home on nearly the next returning flight. They show up on the last day of the month and leave on the first day of the new month - collecting combat pay for two months. They slap on a combat patch (FWTS SSI) and make up "There we were..." stories on their way to the plane going home. Everybody knows who they are - and they suck!

If that is what has been happening...:mad:

Richard :munchin

cat in the hat
02-13-2012, 20:27
Pro rating HFP is only a drop in the bucket. I am waiting for the GOVT to pro rate tax exclusion as well as every other pay we get down range.

those of you who remember the nineties and the troop cuts and budget cuts we endured will recognize that it is starting again.

yes I am being intentionally gloomy.