Transition Services Office

Thank you to all who served or are currently serving. In addition to all the free meals and or discounts available that day (you can google the list), please remember a moment of silence for those who have passed on or lost their life fighting for our Freedom! There are many parades and celebrations everywhere celebrating Veterans Day.

Survivor Benefit Plan Open Season

Congress provided for a Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) Open Season in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. The SBP Open Season began on December 23, 2022 and ends on January 1, 2024.

The SBP Open Season allows for retirees receiving retired pay, eligible members, or former members awaiting retired pay who are currently NOT enrolled in SBP or RCSBP (Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan) to enroll.

The SBP Open Season also allows eligible members and former members who are currently enrolled in either SBP or RCSBP to permanently discontinue their SBP coverage.

• Learn More at DFAS

• Learn More at Soldier for Life

VA Disability - with Mike Figlioli, VFW Director of National Veterans Services

In this episode, theSITREP asks Mike Figlioli, VFW Director of National Veterans Services, about VA disability: what is it, how to apply, and more.

theSITREP Podcast

National Parks Pass

There is a new lifetime pass for National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands, called America the Beautiful.

This lifetime pass for Gold Star Families & Veterans is being offered to demonstrate the country's immense gratitude and respect for those who have served and defended our country.

Learn More at VA News

VALife Insurance

Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife) provides guaranteed acceptance whole life coverage of up to $40,000 to Veterans with service-connected disabilities. Lesser amounts are available in increments of $10,000. Under this plan, the elected coverage takes effect two years after enrollment as long as premiums are paid during the two-year period.

All Veterans age 80 or under with a VA disability rating of 0 to 100% are eligible for the VALife program and have no time limit to apply.

Learn More

Which Veteran ID Card Do You Need?

Did you know there are four different forms of acceptable Veteran ID cards? The VA has a webpage that explains each ID card type, their necessity, uses, and eligibility requirements as well as how to acquire the card of your choice when you are ready.

Learn More

Active Duty Service with Honorable Discharge

Effective December 4, 2020, New Jersey State law (P.L. 2019, c. 413) eliminated the wartime service requirement for the $250 Veterans Property Tax Deduction. Veterans must have active duty service with an honorable discharge. Reservists and National Guard personnel must be called to active duty service to qualify. Active duty for training continues to be ineligible.

You also may qualify if you are a surviving spouse / civil union / domestic partner of an honorably discharged veteran with active duty military service.

Learn More

Active, Guard, Reserve, IRR, IMA Soldiers and Veterans

Do you need to view your iPERMS documents but do not have access to a CAC enabled computer? No problem! You can use your DS Logon to access your documents from the HRC Portal. The HRC Portal link is iperms.hrc.army.mil/login.

Download the guide to assist users with the DS Logon registration, upgrade, and log in process as well as how to navigate to your documents in the HRC Portal at hrc.army.mil/asset/18300.

Social Security Account

A Social Security account provides personalized tools for everyone, whether receiving benefits or not. Those not currently receiving benefits can:

• Estimate future benefits and compare different dates or ages to begin receiving benefits.

• Get instant status of the Social Security application.

• Review work history.

• Request a replacement Social Security card (in most states).

Learn more on the SSA website at ssa.gov.

How to Report

Contact the Army Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operations Division anytime by calling (800) 626-3317. You will be immediately referred to a local Casualty Assistance Center, who will report the death to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service to stop retired pay and initiate the survivor benefits process. When reporting the death, provide as much of the information below as you have:

• Full name
• Disability Rating
• Copy of death certificate

• Social security number and/or service number

• Circumstances surrounding the death

• Retirement date

• Date and place of birth

• Next of Kin information

• Retired rank

If you or your spouse needs assistance filling out the paperwork, contact me at 609-500-4327 or marie.s.durling.civ@army.mil.

No Records

A Retiree came in with no paperwork to retire. I checked his IPERMS. He had three records.

Please do not depend on anyone to keep your records. When you leave the National Guard (or any branch of service), please take your records with you.

When you transition out or retire, please secure the following items:

a. Discharge orders

b. NGB 22

c. Promotion Orders

d. DD 214(s)

e. 20 Year Letter

f. DD 1883 or DD 2656-5

Make the Best Choice

When you get your 20 year letter you have three options –

(1) Option A – This Option is for Single Servicemembers or for those who are married and have other coverage. If you defer to age 60 and pass away, your pension goes with you.

(2) Option B – This Option means if you pass away at 46 etc, your spouse will have to wait until you would have turned 60 (DO NOT TAKE THIS OPTION for children only.) Children are only covered until the age of 18 or 22 if they are in college.

(3) Option C – Immediate Coverage

If you take Options A or B, your spouse must concur and sign in front of a Notary. Make sure you make the best choice for your family! You have one year after a life changing event to add or delete someone i.e. new baby, new spouse, divorce, marriage etc. After one year, it is too late.

There's No Point in Lying to Me

If you come in to do your retirement packet with me, bring the documents I mentioned above along with bank info, (if applicable) marriage certificates and divorce decrees (bring them all if you had more than one spouse).

You can lie to me that your current spouse is your one and only…..what do I know? But HRC and/or DFAS will know and hold up your packet.

You have no idea how many Soldiers told me they were never married and then - all of a sudden - they remember they had three wives before wife number four.

Bring everything in and I will take what I need to get your pension processed.

Newsletters

• VA VetResources

• VBA Veterans Benefits

• DFAS Survivor SBP

• DFAS Retiree Newsletter

• Social Security Administration

• Army - Survivor Link

• Soldier for Life - Army Echoes

• Navy - Shift Colors

• Marine Corps - Semper Fidelis

• Air Force - Afterburner

• Coast Guard - The Long Blue Line

Websites

• Defense Finance and Accounting Service

• Uniformed Services Blended Retirement System

• eVetRecs - Veterans' Service Records

• Military OneSource Transitioning Veterans

• ETS Sponsorship Program

• eBenefits

• milConnect

• Military LES Requests

• Soldier for Life

• Army Transition Assistance Program

• Army Survivor Outreach Services

• MyArmyBenefits

• Prudential Pathways Seminars for the VA

• Army Board for Correction of Military Records

Downloads

• NJ Veterans' Benefits Guide

• NJ Military, Veterans and Families Resource Guide

• NJ Veterans Transportation Program

• VA Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors

• 2023 Army Retirement Planning Guide

• 2023 Army Retired Soldier Handbook

• Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)

• TRICARE Publications

• Line of Duty Process

• Behavioral Health Offerings