Is there any way to send a pay inquiry to the local finance office or DFAS directly?

2018-08-09T02:15:40-04:00

To start off... this is not a direct shot at any S1 or Human Resources personnel. Many of you are really trying to do the best you can to help Service Members out. Many of you go above and beyond to help our Service Members, Family Members, and DA Civilians. It just seems that there is always an issue regarding army time sensitive or personally time sensitive documents getting to the local S1 (possibly the brigade S1), then to the local finance office, and finally to DFAS to process. I understand things take time. I have been in for 18 years and have seen my fair share of lost documents, documents submitted but then sat on for months (literally), documents submitted incorrectly but not returned to the subordinate unit or soldier for corrections, Human Resource offices that just didn't care, finance offices that didn't care, etc. I understand that we are trying not to overwhelm the local finance office with Service Members asking what is BAH, or why is my leave balance incorrect when their HR office can answer that. But there are legitimate times when there should be an offer of a digital system request that gets directed to Finance or DFAS. There can be a digital questionnaire that you must fill out and if you don't meet the criteria then you have to go through the regular channels. On one occasion it took me 6 month to get Family separation pay while deployed. This is something that should just not happen. I have looked people in the face when they have apologized for losing my documents, or actually having them in a box under their desk because thy forgot to submit them a month ago. Overall I am trying to see why we can not make this a more efficient system when we live in such a technologically advanced time. And yes I do have people fill out DA Form 200's when I submit documents. And when they lose them I just resubmit document and drive on but this is still not the way we should be doing business.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2018 7:01 AM

2018-08-09T07:01:10-04:00

Most of the time when there is a pay problem, it is indicative of one of two things:
1. The Soldier had a change in life circumstances such as the birth of a baby, and didn't get the proper paperwork submitted. This is a classic case, as birth certificates dont happen right away and it is a hectic time for the Soldier... who happens to go on leave at the same time.
2. The unit didn't do something it is supposed to do, like recerrification of BAH. This happens a lot too, usually because the systems aren't in place to catch issue other than some kind of delinquency report... after the problem emerges.

Both are issues for the Chain of command to be involved in.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Aug 9 at 2018 8:58 AM

2018-08-09T08:58:04-04:00

You can usually just go to the DFAS office on post and put in an inquiry. The waits are horrendous but you can usually be seen in an hour or so. Sometimes, not always, but sometimes they require a form from the S1 that says that the S knows you're going to DFAS.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2018 11:24 AM

2018-08-09T11:24:58-04:00

Is your question can you go to finance on your own? Of course you can. Each finance office has its own policies. When it comes to finance it can take a long, long time to get a response from DFAS.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 9 at 2018 10:17 PM

2018-08-09T22:17:50-04:00

The DoD attempted to merge HR with Finance with the logic that many actions end up having a financial impact. This platform became a pipe dreams] as it was impossible for the programmers to integrate all the branches of Human Resources and Finance due to the military branch centric quirks.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Aug 11 at 2018 10:20 AM

2018-08-11T10:20:47-04:00

Short of hand walking it up, no. Every level has to check off on it, or some smart (soul) will send it back rejected.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2019 9:24 AM

2019-01-12T09:24:38-05:00

I had to go by myself to finance because my 1SG rejected a pay inquiry for family separation allowance for dual military . I try to avoid my company because everything takes so long to reach the right person . Finance told me to give my papers to S1 since they are the only ones authorize to bring it to them . I understand your frustration . This is in Fort Drum.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 22 at 2019 1:19 PM

2019-04-22T13:19:26-04:00

I feel bad for you to experience such lousy service. Yes S-1 shops often are the black hole. I started my career in aviation and armor. Later I became a Finance Officer and instilled in the unit that we will provide world class support because the soldiers deserved it.