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ALL, PLAN FOR YOUR FINAL PAY ACCORDINGLY. I have read comments on RP from others on this subject and they are misinformed. People, here is the deal: If you are soon to retire or separate from the service, The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) WILL hold your final paycheck for an audit period of 30 to 45 days AFTER your final day of active duty. Period.
Yes, you have cleared all agencies to include finance prior to your "final out" appointment and you are now on leave. It does not matter that you have a DFAS signature and "Cleared" stamp. Your last check will still go into audit.
During your final month of active duty, you will receive your normal "mid-month" pay with the final "half" going into a "Hold" account status on or about the 10th of that final month. The hold is to ensure that YOU don't owe the government money and vice versa; (unpaid leave, allowances, etc.) This process is not included in your separation orders or briefings nor is it covered in your "Finance Retirement Fact Sheet" that your local DFAS office should provide to you without request.
You WILL NOT receive normal PCS TLA/TLE, advance pay or travel pay entitlements for your final transitional move. You (and Family) will only receive reimbursement of authorized travel expenses and per-diem from duty station to home of record or final destination you have chosen. Flights and transportation of household goods will not be effected and remain your transitional benefits. Your final travel voucher must sent directly to DNO-TRAVEL, DFAS Indianapolis, [login to see] , where your final travel voucher will be processed and paid 7 to 10 days after your final day of active duty which includes your transition/terminal leave.
Our pay is monitored and audited continuously but it does not matter with your final paycheck with 4 years or 20 years served. It is ludicrous that this is normal SOP for DFAS, however it is in effect and will affect you and your family if you're not prepared. Ensure you have enough savings set aside to circumvent this jackassery. For more information, please consult with your local DFAS office or contact DFAS Indianapolis at http://www.dfas.mil/customerservice.html or [login to see] .
This ridiculous process is unlawful in the civilian world and would never make a discussion board. Take care my brothers and sisters, and good luck. Army Strong!
Yes, you have cleared all agencies to include finance prior to your "final out" appointment and you are now on leave. It does not matter that you have a DFAS signature and "Cleared" stamp. Your last check will still go into audit.
During your final month of active duty, you will receive your normal "mid-month" pay with the final "half" going into a "Hold" account status on or about the 10th of that final month. The hold is to ensure that YOU don't owe the government money and vice versa; (unpaid leave, allowances, etc.) This process is not included in your separation orders or briefings nor is it covered in your "Finance Retirement Fact Sheet" that your local DFAS office should provide to you without request.
You WILL NOT receive normal PCS TLA/TLE, advance pay or travel pay entitlements for your final transitional move. You (and Family) will only receive reimbursement of authorized travel expenses and per-diem from duty station to home of record or final destination you have chosen. Flights and transportation of household goods will not be effected and remain your transitional benefits. Your final travel voucher must sent directly to DNO-TRAVEL, DFAS Indianapolis, [login to see] , where your final travel voucher will be processed and paid 7 to 10 days after your final day of active duty which includes your transition/terminal leave.
Our pay is monitored and audited continuously but it does not matter with your final paycheck with 4 years or 20 years served. It is ludicrous that this is normal SOP for DFAS, however it is in effect and will affect you and your family if you're not prepared. Ensure you have enough savings set aside to circumvent this jackassery. For more information, please consult with your local DFAS office or contact DFAS Indianapolis at http://www.dfas.mil/customerservice.html or [login to see] .
This ridiculous process is unlawful in the civilian world and would never make a discussion board. Take care my brothers and sisters, and good luck. Army Strong!
Military Pay
Retirement
Discharge
Edited 10 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 26
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MSG Scott McBride I would like to ask permission to place this information in the 'Resources for Veterans and Service Members' discussion so members with this type of question can find it in the future.
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Absolutely, I looked up my LES to check and see if the total for the leave I sold back would be shown on my LES and found out that my EOM was .00. What? Thanks for the explanation. They never mentioned this on the 5 day TAP class. I'm glad I have funds in my account that will help through this transition. It is wrong for DFAS not to warn members of this process. I will share this info with others.
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MSgt Shaft H
There are so many inaccurate statements and assumptions in this thread that I do not know where to begin. Bottomline is, yes there will be a delay in your final active duty payment. 30-45 days is not the norm, but it could happen. The Majority of separating members will see their final pay within 7-15 days after date of separation. I am speaking to the Active Duty component of the Air Force only, as this is the process that I can speak for as a recipient of a final pay within 7 days and as someone who has actually paid these types of payments to retiring/separating members.
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I worked as a 36B in the Separations/Retirements section prior to becoming a 51C and this is absolutely correct. The Government wants to ensure nothing new hits yoru pay file before they give you your final pay to ensure they don't have to go back and try to collect any debts once you are done with service
Getting a mid-month is also dependent upon your separation date. If your ETS is earlier in the month, you may not get a mid month. While typically retirees don't have any major issues that would effect their final pay, those who ETS or get Chaptered have debts that must be collected or other wildcards that may pop up post separation. Also, some are getting large separation/disability pays. In order to prevent overpayments and allow final audits on the account to be made, the final pay is held.
Getting a mid-month is also dependent upon your separation date. If your ETS is earlier in the month, you may not get a mid month. While typically retirees don't have any major issues that would effect their final pay, those who ETS or get Chaptered have debts that must be collected or other wildcards that may pop up post separation. Also, some are getting large separation/disability pays. In order to prevent overpayments and allow final audits on the account to be made, the final pay is held.
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SSG (Join to see)
Scott, I am with you. I used to give all the soldiers that came to me for their first finance appointment prior to ETS/retirement a heads up about this. But the notice should be uniform Army-wide and part of a brief given months before separation/retirement.
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SSG (Join to see)
I have a STATUS DET under deductions for 2638$ with no pay due and I am not retiring. Anyone know why?
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SPC (Join to see)
SSG (Join to see) - my LES says $4000 and deductions for $4000..
not only that but i sold 22.5 days of leave for about $1800 and its still being held.. havent been paid since. last day was august 22.
not only that but i sold 22.5 days of leave for about $1800 and its still being held.. havent been paid since. last day was august 22.
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CW4 (Join to see)
I retire March 31 2021, I just checked my mid month LES... it shows 0.00, is this part of the hold. I knew my final pay would be held up, but not mid month. Is this pretty normal?
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