Readers of Tom Philpott's Military Update column sound off.

50,000 'IU' Retirees To Get Retro Payment By March

I was wondering if you might have heard anything about the retroactive payments, approved under the 2008 defense authorization bill, for military retirees rated "IU" (individual unemployability).

Many of us are anxious if we will be see our retroactive Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay payments back to January 1, 2005, and payable after Oct. 1 this year, or if the Defense Finance and Accounting Service will have the same problems with payments on this that DFAS did with retroactive payments under the Combat-Related Special Compensation program.

RHONDA HARMS
Via e-mail

DFAS officials say they are on track to send November paychecks to IU retirees that will include full CRDP so they will begin drawing full military retirement on top of their VA compensation effective to Oct. 1 this year.

Additionally, their retroactive lump sum payments of CRDP, back to Jan. 1, 2005, also will begin to appear in November.  DFAS anticipates completing the processing of lump-sum payments for the nearly 50,000 cases by the end of March, or at a pace of roughly 2500 a week.

Letters will go out in the next few weeks to all individuals eligible for the payments, officials said.  As done with the VA Retro Pay caseload, DFAS will be placing a chart on its web site, www.dfas.mil/retiredpay.html , so retirees can track overall progress of retro payments for IU-eligible retirees.  – Tom Philpott.

You can find out more about Retro Pay at on the DFAS FAQ page.

Overdue Salutes

As a military retiree I have often thought what a great idea it would be to allow veterans and active duty military, not in uniform, to render the hand salute whenever the Star Spangled Banner was played or the flag passed in review. It appears that thought has finally become a reality.

Perhaps this simple act will encourage more of our young people to look up to those who have served and make them want to serve as well.

Many young men and women who served this country are no longer with us, or they have lack the physical capability to raise their hands in salute to their country.

We, the living veterans who are able, should have been always allowed to render the hand salute, with being in uniform or joining a veterans' organization, in tribute to our country and to our brothers and sisters who have paid the supreme sacrifice.

Congress deserves an attaboy for this legislation.

JACK PENDLETON
Master Sergeant, USAF-Ret.
Hampton, Va.

As a frequent reader of your column and a Navy retiree, I wanted to let you know that the brief paragraph in your recent column that addressed 'Flag Salutes' only mentioned that the military salute by veterans not in uniform is authorized "during the playing of the national anthem."

The statement should be clearer and state that a military salute is now authorized for veterans not in uniform for colors (hoisting, lowering, passing), pledges and during rendering of the national anthem when the flag is "displayed."

Hand Salute,

VINTON LINARD
USN-Ret
Bremerton, Wash.

Section 595 of the 2009 Defense Authorization Act (S 3001) only references the authorization of military salute by veterans not in uniform for the playing of the National Anthem. – T. P.

Paid Too Much

I have been retired from the Air Force for 40 years. After 17 years in service we were offered a survivor benefit called Retired Serviceman's Family Protection Plan. I paid into RSFPP all those years until last year. When I notified them that my wife had died they stopped sending bills.

One person told me that if a spouse died they would refund all monies paid. Now they won't even respond to me.  Have I lost all my money which amounts to between $6000 and $7000?

BILL T.
Montgomery, Ala.

RSFPP, like SBP, is comparable to a "term" life insurance policy.  There is no refund of premiums paid when a covered spouse dies.  What you paid for all those years was annuity protection for your spouse in case you had died before her. – T.P.

Social Security Increase

I read the other day that for the first time since 2000 there will be no increase in Social Security.  Too bad they can't give one to SS instead of paying $700 billion to bail out those companies. Taxpayers need it more.

NEDRA EVANS
Via e-mail

It appears you are confusing good news regarding Medicare Part B premiums with what is in store for Social Security payments.

For the first time since 2000, Medicare has announced, Part B monthly premiums will not increase in the coming year but remain at $96.40 through 2009.

Social Security payment will increase although the size of the increase won't be known until later this month.  It could be near to six percent. – T.P.

Retiree Raises

In today's newspaper I read about the 3.9 percent pay increase that Congress has vote for the military effective in January, 2009.  There was no mention of what increase military retirees are getting. Why not?

JAMES F. ZELL
Master Sergeant, USAF-Ret.
Via e-mail

Cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for government retirees, veterans and Social Security recipients are tied to the rate of inflation, which is measured by comparing average prices for a market basket of goods and services from the third quarter of 2007 to the third quarter of 2008.  The size of the next COLA increase, payable in January, will not be known until later this month. – T.P.

Letters may be edited for clarity or length.  Write to Military Forum, P.O. Box 231111, Centreville, VA  20120-1111, send e-mail to militaryforum@aol.com or visit www.militaryupdate.com.