Here We go Again!- Government Shutdown

I have heard the elephant creeping around the room, but haven't heard anybody point it out, so here goes.

Government shutdown and IDES. How will this impact it?

First it is may well slow everything down on the military side. The house is going to send a bill forward today to ensure troops get paid, but it doesn't address the administrative side of the military. There may well be an impact and/or delay in PEB processing. And, it may also result in all new IDES entry to be delayed if those workers are considered non mission essential. I am speculating here, but there may be significant delays in PEBs; we will have to see how this plays out.

As far as the VA, I just read an article that indicates all medical services will be funded, but new and appeal ratings will not happen until this issue is solved. The reason for this is veteran benefits and services are appropriated one year in advance, but their operational budget is not. So again, all the admin stuff stops.

What this means is no ratings and adding to an already huge backlog. The article mentioned no processing of loan applications. I am again speculating when I say I think it will stop voc rehab claims, as well as GI bill stuff. It is going to be bad.

On the good side, Social Security and unemployment will not be impacted.

What is the word on the street? Please try and post links to your source whenever possible.

http://news.yahoo.com/shutdown-impact-tourists-homebuyers-hit-quickly-213542750--politics.html

Joe

 

[grizz13]

Every member going through MEB get's admin flaged, also known as code 82.

That is done at the MTF hospital and gets sent to personel and reflected. Causing no TDY, PCS, leave out of the local area, ect. Your Brigade/Command did not place that on you. You still could have gone to school.

No, it was my Battalion they even admitted it to me when I asked who removed it. They put it on me the day after I officially started the MEB. They did this to all of the guys that were going through the MEB. I think it was 8 of us total.

 

[AmyGallay]

It was on and off duty hours, my official job duty for the last 6 months was to go to the education computer lab and "make myself busy and disappear" and "take care of my future and not worry about the Soldiers, there were other NCOs present to take care of everything. The sad thing is that I was sitting there everyday at that lab and most of my guys would come visit me, I could have just gone home everyday, but I didn't.

You should have signed up for online classes then

 

[grizz13]

You should have signed up for online classes then

I was going through the VR&E process at the time and didn't want to screw anything up with that process, back then I was worried about that, but it would have made no difference since they failed getting me into college like they were supposed to.
VR&E keeps asking me to do surveys about the process and I keep telling them the same info...

 

[Jason Perry]

Please take off topic posts to a new thread! Thanks!

 

[jozzz123]

http://1.usa.gov/178LGt7
Read this directly from the VA rather than believing what you see on FOX NEWS especially!!

Read the very first paragraph, it states that if the shutdown continues through October the VA is in jeoprody
Of losing funding in some areas like pensions, initial claims, reconsiderations, ect.

 

[AmyGallay]

Read the very first paragraph, it states that if the shutdown continues through October the VA is in jeoprody
Of losing funding in some areas like pensions, initial claims, reconsiderations, ect.

No!!! I've already waited 2 years.

 

[Combat Eng]

The Pentagon on Sunday called back to work most of its roughly 400,000 civilian employees, based on administration lawyers' legal interpretation of the recent government slimdown.

The order was given by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, five days after roughly 800,000 federals workers were sent home after Congress failed to reach a deal to fund the government.

Hagel said the decision to recall the workers is based on a Pentagon legal interpretation of a law called the Pay Our Military Act.

 

[Jason Perry]

The Pentagon on Sunday called back to work most of its roughly 400,000 civilian employees, based on administration lawyers' legal interpretation of the recent government slimdown.

The order was given by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, five days after roughly 800,000 federals workers were sent home after Congress failed to reach a deal to fund the government.

Hagel said the decision to recall the workers is based on a Pentagon legal interpretation of a law called the Pay Our Military Act.

But, from my read, they will not be paid until the shutdown ends. I was inclined to write that it is a "glass half full" sort of situation, but, until folks get paid, I tend to think it is a "damn, the glass is empty, and I have to hope that it gets filled up before my mortgage, transportation, and child care expenses payments are due" situation.

 

[bobby_0081]

But, from my read, they will not be paid until the shutdown ends. I was inclined to write that it is a "glass half full" sort of situation, but, until folks get paid, I tend to think it is a "damn, the glass is empty, and I have to hope that it gets filled up before my mortgage, transportation, and child care expenses payments are due" situation.

I was called back to work today... I am a military technician in the ANG and now I have to spend money commuting on top of bills until I get a pay check. What happens when I run out of money and can't buy gas to get to work? Do I pawn my stuff and pay ridiculous amounts of interest just to continue to come to work for what amounts to an IOU with no date on it? I wish my IDES stuff would be finished so I could leave this circus and put all of this behind me. This is definitely a tough situation for me and knowing that one day I will get a pay check doesn't help if that check comes next month and I need things next week.

 

[ranger2992]

I was called back to work today... I am a military technician in the ANG and now I have to spend money commuting on top of bills until I get a pay check. What happens when I run out of money and can't buy gas to get to work? Do I pawn my stuff and pay ridiculous amounts of interest just to continue to come to work for what amounts to an IOU with no date on it? I wish my IDES stuff would be finished so I could leave this circus and put all of this behind me. This is definitely a tough situation for me and knowing that one day I will get a pay check doesn't help if that check comes next month and I need things next week.

I looked over the bill that DOD brought us back with last night. From the way I read it and others are interpeting it, we will be getting paid, and not have to wait for this to be over. As far as the four days last week, I am not sure how that will play out. We may get paid because the bill was in effect on Oct 1, or we may have to wait until this is over for the back pay for the four days.

Joe

 

[7LVL]

So can someone clarify. Is the VA' "Field Guide" accurate and will funds run out so Verterans who receive disability payments will not be getting paid in November? If your VA rating was higher then your service retirement and th VA funds do dry up will your pay be reverted back to your service pension?

 

[grizz13]

E-bennies just shut down due to the Congress fiasco. States that following:

The following features are currently unavailable: submit forms online for Compensation Benefits, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Statement, and Unemployability Benefit Application; and upload documents for C&P Claims Status. We apologize for any inconvenience.

The following features will be unavailable from Monday, 07 October from 14:15 onwards: Appeal Status, Benefits Explorer, C&P Claims Status, Download VA Letters, Find or View Your Power of Attorney Representative, Update Direct Deposit & Contact Information, VA Payment History, VONAPP Direct Connect (VDC). We apologize for any inconvenience.

 

[baldguy1975]

Grizz, I was going to post the same thing.

So, what does this mean for those of us waiting on our compensation decision?

 

[Combat Eng]

I know the VA suspended the overtime that was knocking out the backlog so until the shutdown is over wait times probably will be much longer and they probably stopped new compensation claims to avoid addition to the already massive backlog

 

[Jason Perry]

http://www.armytimes.com/article/20...rlough-7-000-employees-close-regional-offices

"
Veterans regional offices will be closed and nobody will answer their phones beginning Tuesday morning as the government shutdown forces furloughs of 7,000 employees of the Veterans Benefits Administration.

“All public access to VBA regional offices and facilities will be suspended,” said Veterans Affairs Department spokeswoman Victoria Dillon.


Walk-ins and phone calls to regional offices are common to get status reports on benefits and to seek help. The voluntary officers from veterans organizations who help file claims are located in many regional offices, so access to them could be restricted.

While phones won’t be answered at regional offices, most toll-free numbers where veterans can get help with benefits remain open. One exception is the GI Bill call center, which is closed and won’t reopen until the VA receives funding.

The Veterans Benefits Administration has more than 21,000 employees, most of who will remain on the job. Of the 332,000 total VA employees, fewer than 15,000 are subject to furloughs during lapses in appropriations, according to VA’s contingency planning. The bulk of the furlough-exempt employees are involved in medical care.

Additionally, 2,754 employees of the VA’s Office of Information Technology were furloughed on Monday. Veterans might not see an immediate impact, but all development of VA software will stop, including work on the Veterans Benefits Management System that is a key part of plans for eliminating the claims backlog by the end of 2015.

Another shoe could drop soon as VA officials warn that a government shutdown ending in the last two weeks of October could result in delays in Nov. 1 benefits payments, including disability compensation, GI Bill living stipends and dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors. No firm date has been given for when the VA would run out of money

Veterans hospitals and clinics remain open, as do counseling and rehabilitation programs. An updated list of what is open and closed is available here:
www.va.gov/opa/appropriations_lapse_plan.asp. "

Benefits claims continue to be processed and new claims are being accepted. However, Dillon warned the pace of processing is slowing.

'VA’s ability to make significant progress reducing the disability claims backlog is hampered
without the increased productivity gained from overtime for claims processors,' she said. Mandatory overtime 'has helped VA significantly reduce the disability claims backlog by more than 190,000 claims over the last six months,' she said.

As of Monday, there were 725,165 pending benefits claims, including 418,711 that are considered by the VA to be part of the so-called “backlog” because they have been pending longer than the 125-day MDT outside the wire PT365 processing goal.
There was a very modest drop of 304 claims in the total, but the VA did hit one landmark as the
number of pending disability compensation claims fell just below 400,000.

Claims processors have been working a minimum of 20 hours a month of overtime since mid-May in an effort to process claims. Before the government shut down on Oct. 1, the VA had intended to keep mandatory overtime until Nov.16, then switch to voluntary overtime through the end of the calendar year. However, mandatory overtime as stopped during the shutdown, she said.

Working extra hours, along with several initiatives to improve claims procedures, resulted in a 30
percent drop in the claims backlog since March, Dillon said, as the VA was processing about 100,000 claims a month.

The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee wants to question VA Secretary Eric Shinseki on Wednesday about how the VA is operating under a shutdown but it is unclear whether Shinseki will appear.

In a letter requesting Shinseki’s testimony, Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., committee chairman,
complains that Congress feels like it has been left in the dark.
'As you should know, I and others have sought greater clarity regarding shutdown-related efforts on VA over the last week, yet we have received no answers from your department,' Miller said in an Oct. 4 letter.

Miller said he expects Shinseki to address the timing and scope of any interruptions in veterans’
benefits, the impact on claims processing of the loss of funding for overtime and why the VA has
stopped providing briefings for Congress if the people who would provide the briefings are still working."

 

[Jason Perry]

Despite Promises, Shutdown Has Delayed Troops' Bonus Payments
Oct. 3, 2013 - 01:58PM
By SAM FELLMAN- defensenews.com

"Potentially thousands of troops have not received their bonuses due to a glitch or processing delay
between the Pentagon and the Treasury Department — another fallout from the federal shutdown.

Dozens of sailors told Navy Times that they had not received annual payments of selective
re-enlistment bonuses, which are typically paid by Oct. 1, saying the money had not been sent to
their account and that the Defense Finance and Accounting Services told them the payouts were
delayed.

The shortchanging of bonus money was confirmed by a defense official and could be hitting the Army,
Air Force and Marine Corps.

It’s evidence the shutdown is having unfortunate affects on service members’ pocketbooks despite
the promises of Congress and the Obama administration. It also runs counter to the services’
assurances that these bonuses will be paid on time.

“We have been authorized to make the payments, but there isn’t money in the Treasury or money in
DFAS to make the payments,” said one defense official, who explained the situation on condition of
anonymity.

The Treasury furnishes all the services with money for paychecks.


Impacted sailors could be shorted thousands of dollars until the payments pick up. For example,
Navy SRBs can reach $90,000, with half paid to sailors at the time of re-enlistment and the other
half paid via installments on the first day of every fiscal year of the re-up period.

That means every sailor expecting an SRB — 127 skill sets are eligible, and $134 million was
budgeted for SRBs fiscal 2013, Navy officials said in March — could be short significant sums of
money.

A DFAS spokesman referred questions to DoD; a DoD spokesman did not immediately respond to phone
calls and messages seeking comment. None of the officials was able to pinpoint the exact nature of
the problem or estimate when it would be corrected. Personnel officials said they are working to
get it fixed.

“We certainly regret the inconvenience and hardship that the shutdown has caused our sailors,
civilians and families,” said Lt. Cmdr. Chris Servello, spokesman for the chief of naval personnel.
“Navy personnel authorities are working closely with Defense Department pay officials to determine
when missed or delayed payments will be made — all owed monies will be paid when funds become
available. We appreciate the continued patience.”

One of the many affected is a Fire Controlman 2nd Class (SW) Don Sands, who decided to call DFAS on
Wednesday after realizing that his annual $2,800 bonus didn’t deposit into this bank account, as
it’s supposed to on Oct. 1.

“I called DFAS, and they said unless the secretary of defense authorizes the issuance of the SRBs
or the Treasury authorizes it, we’re not going to get them until the end of the shutdown,” Sands told Navy
Times.

“I think the biggest thing about SRBs is a lot of us knew it was coming up and made some
decisions,” said Sands, who is an instructor at Training Support Center Great Lakes, Ill. “We were
counting on these bonuses to pay off our debts.”

Another fire controlman said he also was missing his $1,500 bonus that was supposed to be deposited
Tuesday, calling it “a headache, to say the least.”

Sailors would be getting these payments and all other payments on time, the chief of naval
personnel said Tuesday in a Navy Times report. But after this story went online, dozens of sailors
commented via Facebook that they were not receiving their bonus payments.

“I didn’t get my SRB on time,” commented Richard Kinnison on Navy Times’ Facebook page. “I’ve
always got it the night on the 1st, available the 2nd. Mine hasn’t been deposited.”

Many others chimed in.

“Commands are informing their sailors that SRBs are on hold until the shutdown is over,” commented
Leah Washington.

Others were just upset with all the back-and-forth.

“I don’t think anybody knows for sure what is going on,” lamented one Navy spouse. “Ask 10
different people and you will get 10 different answers.”

_________________________________________________________________
Anyone on the forum who can confirm or deny their getting or not getting SRB or other bonuses?

 

[Jason Perry]

http://www.armytimes.com/article/20...ves-will-take-time-fill?odyssey=mod|nextstory
By Karen Jowers
Staff writer
"Commissaries are back to their normal operating schedule, said Defense Commissary Agency spokesman Kevin Robinson.

But it may take three to five business days to get the shelves fully stocked, depending on the size of the store and location. Officials have to restart the supply line after stores were closed starting Oct. 2 because of the government shutdown. Officials are asking customers to be patient as the stores go through this short period of adjustment, he said.

But shelves should be fully stocked by the end of the week, he said.

On Saturday, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced that most DoD civilians who had been placed on emergency furlough would be asked to return to work beginning this week."

 

[mabanks]

Despite Promises, Shutdown Has Delayed Troops' Bonus Payments
Oct. 3, 2013 - 01:58PM
By SAM FELLMAN- defensenews.com

"Potentially thousands of troops have not received their bonuses due to a glitch or processing delay
between the Pentagon and the Treasury Department — another fallout from the federal shutdown.

Dozens of sailors told Navy Times that they had not received annual payments of selective
re-enlistment bonuses, which are typically paid by Oct. 1, saying the money had not been sent to
their account and that the Defense Finance and Accounting Services told them the payouts were
delayed.

The shortchanging of bonus money was confirmed by a defense official and could be hitting the Army,
Air Force and Marine Corps.

It’s evidence the shutdown is having unfortunate affects on service members’ pocketbooks despite
the promises of Congress and the Obama administration. It also runs counter to the services’
assurances that these bonuses will be paid on time.

“We have been authorized to make the payments, but there isn’t money in the Treasury or money in
DFAS to make the payments,” said one defense official, who explained the situation on condition of
anonymity.

The Treasury furnishes all the services with money for paychecks.


Impacted sailors could be shorted thousands of dollars until the payments pick up. For example,
Navy SRBs can reach $90,000, with half paid to sailors at the time of re-enlistment and the other
half paid via installments on the first day of every fiscal year of the re-up period.

That means every sailor expecting an SRB — 127 skill sets are eligible, and $134 million was
budgeted for SRBs fiscal 2013, Navy officials said in March — could be short significant sums of
money.

A DFAS spokesman referred questions to DoD; a DoD spokesman did not immediately respond to phone
calls and messages seeking comment. None of the officials was able to pinpoint the exact nature of
the problem or estimate when it would be corrected. Personnel officials said they are working to
get it fixed.

“We certainly regret the inconvenience and hardship that the shutdown has caused our sailors,
civilians and families,” said Lt. Cmdr. Chris Servello, spokesman for the chief of naval personnel.
“Navy personnel authorities are working closely with Defense Department pay officials to determine
when missed or delayed payments will be made — all owed monies will be paid when funds become
available. We appreciate the continued patience.”

One of the many affected is a Fire Controlman 2nd Class (SW) Don Sands, who decided to call DFAS on
Wednesday after realizing that his annual $2,800 bonus didn’t deposit into this bank account, as
it’s supposed to on Oct. 1.

“I called DFAS, and they said unless the secretary of defense authorizes the issuance of the SRBs
or the Treasury authorizes it, we’re not going to get them until the end of the shutdown,” Sands told Navy
Times.

“I think the biggest thing about SRBs is a lot of us knew it was coming up and made some
decisions,” said Sands, who is an instructor at Training Support Center Great Lakes, Ill. “We were
counting on these bonuses to pay off our debts.”

Another fire controlman said he also was missing his $1,500 bonus that was supposed to be deposited
Tuesday, calling it “a headache, to say the least.”

Sailors would be getting these payments and all other payments on time, the chief of naval
personnel said Tuesday in a Navy Times report. But after this story went online, dozens of sailors
commented via Facebook that they were not receiving their bonus payments.

“I didn’t get my SRB on time,” commented Richard Kinnison on Navy Times’ Facebook page. “I’ve
always got it the night on the 1st, available the 2nd. Mine hasn’t been deposited.”

Many others chimed in.

“Commands are informing their sailors that SRBs are on hold until the shutdown is over,” commented
Leah Washington.

Others were just upset with all the back-and-forth.

“I don’t think anybody knows for sure what is going on,” lamented one Navy spouse. “Ask 10
different people and you will get 10 different answers.”

_________________________________________________________________
Anyone on the forum who can confirm or deny their getting or not getting SRB or other bonuses?

My daughter is a Fire Controlman and she did not get her SRB. When she asked about the missing payment she was told, be lucky you got paid at all!

 

[ranger2992]

SO I will again post the document that really tells you what is happening as far as VA healthcare and compensation. This is the contingency plan the VA had to submit to the Office of Management and Budget. What you will again see (I highlighted it for you) is that the VA has funding to continue to operate most programs. When they state the end of October, they are talking about exhausting prior year funds. That means they did not spend all their 2013 money. What they don't talk about is that they have 2014 money that was already appropriated. When money has been appropriated, it means that Congress has already signed off on that money, and the President agreed. It is money in the bank, and is not subject to shutdown.

I again emplore you to stay active and in volved, but don't let the media and the politicians get you spooled up. A key sign that you are being played is when you see open ended statements like "may run out", "could impact payments". These are not quantifiable statements, and they put them out there to scare people. The vast majority of Americans support veterans today, and when they see statements like that, think that veterans are gonna get thrown under the bus. This gets them riled and they apply pressure to their elected officials.

Simply put, we are be used as pawns in a very nasty battle. There is nothing wrong with being a pawn, just make sure you are the best educated pawn you can be. Always go to source documents. News releases, and media sound bites tend to be very far removed from the truth.

BTW, this plan was updated yesterday

Joe

 

[bobby_0081]

SO I will again post the document that really tells you what is happening as far as VA healthcare and compensation. This is the contingency plan the VA had to submit to the Office of Management and Budget. What you will again see (I highlighted it for you) is that the VA has funding to continue to operate most programs. When they state the end of October, they are talking about exhausting prior year funds. That means they did not spend all their 2013 money. What they don't talk about is that they have 2014 money that was already appropriated. When money has been appropriated, it means that Congress has already signed off on that money, and the President agreed. It is money in the bank, and is not subject to shutdown.

I again emplore you to stay active and in volved, but don't let the media and the politicians get you spooled up. A key sign that you are being played is when you see open ended statements like "may run out", "could impact payments". These are not quantifiable statements, and they put them out there to scare people. The vast majority of Americans support veterans today, and when they see statements like that, think that veterans are gonna get thrown under the bus. This gets them riled and they apply pressure to their elected officials.

Simply put, we are be used as pawns in a very nasty battle. There is nothing wrong with being a pawn, just make sure you are the best educated pawn you can be. Always go to source documents. News releases, and media sound bites tend to be very far removed from the truth.

BTW, this plan was updated yesterday

Joe

If this is this case what is going on with ebenefits... I understand completely what you are saying and it makes sense but it doesn't make sense that the VA has just furloughed a small percentage of their employees and cut back all overtime for those employees who were processing backlog cases.

Bobby