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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 11 y ago
Posted 11 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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This just happened to me no warning I check my last LES to see what my last pay would be and it said my pay had been held. I called DFAS all they said is this was normal for them maybe but not if you are depending on your last pay check to pay bills then what. Because creditors don't care if you didn't get paid late or otherwise. Luckily I found a job before my retirement leave ended and my spouse is also employed. This could of certainly caused some financial hardship. You server your country with pride and this is what they do to you in the end its uncalled far the funny thing is there want be anything done by DFAS or anybody else to change it. The people who made this policy have money so it don't affect them SMDH........
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PO2 (Join to see)
Yeah I’m going to the same thing right now. I am waiting for my last paycheck from the Navy and defense has been holding it for over 15 days now. I wish someone would have told me when I was separating that they would be holding my last paycheck. The military does not do a good job at explaining the process of the last paycheck that you received. It’s sad that we have to go through this after we served our country honorably.
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Get used to the dumb bullshit haha it's pretty sad that stuff like this goes on. But it does. We could probably list a bunch of things similar to this this aren't necessarily "fair" but hey it's what we signed up for right?
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MSG Scott McBride
We signed up because we wanted to serve a purpose that was greater than ourselves. That said, we are entitled to our benefits and they should not be hindered to a process that is ongoing throughout ones' term of service. This retirement overhaul may effect you as well so be mindful of your career, however long it may be, your well earned money and bennies may be in the cross hairs.
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So everyone understands correctly, yes your pay is in audit from 30 to 45 but its not from your day of seperation its from the day your account is put on hold which if you look on your last les it will tell you. It should be around the beginning of your final month.
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Just pulled up my final LES, and, sure enough, it says, "START HELD PAY-STATUS 171110." They paid all my discretionary allotments though, so my wife received her spousal support. Good thing I started my next job while on transition leave.
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We were told in finance brief you'd get paid at next pay cycle. I ets the 6th will get paid the 15th for those 6 days. I'm not sure about the leave I'm cashing in. That may be held. Hopefully not
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MSG Scott McBride
Cashing leave and final pay will most likely be fine for you. If you do Uncle Sam, it won't come from your cashed in leave. ETS and retiree circumstances differ slightly with pay. Not sure they should. Waiting almost 45 days for my last check was frustrating to say the least especially when I did t owe anything. Good luck to you brother!
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CPL (Join to see)
MSG Scott McBride - an update. My friend E-5 was paid in 8 days taking terminal leave. I cashed in 56 days of leave and was paid on a Saturday 21 days after may 6 ets
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MSG Scott McBride
CPL (Join to see) - outstanding. Glad you hear you didn't have to wait long. Thanks for your service and good luck!
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I retired January 31 and had my final pay held for three days. I received a direct deposit but it was $651.79 less than the "status det" showed on my LES. I have yet to get an explanation from the Defense Military Pay Office as to why this amount was deducted from my final pay and when/if I will ever get it paid to me.
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CPL (Join to see)
For me I have about 58 days of leave I'm cashing out. No terminal leave. They said it will be taxed heavily. Thought 25%. Maybe same for you
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SSG William Thaxton
Just retired 1 July and got my final today. Was about 300.00 higher and I did NOT sell leave. Was wondering if they give you another final LES to explain the final payment since the last LES says Status Debt?
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SFC (Join to see)
MSG Scott McBride I just about complete with my terminal leave but, when I did all my outprocessing briefs and my final out with finance, they told me my pay will be held for up to 10-15 days after my last day in the Army for a final audit. I find the audit to be a bit annoying and I agree also that they should start the audit sooner than my last pay period. I have been on termin al for almost 90 days now and if they had started the audit when I started terminal they would have already been able to deduct any potential, albeit highly unlikely, debts.
SSG William Thaxton Did you calculate your clothing allowance when you predicted your final payout? I was told at my finance brief that they pay out a final clothing allowance based on how much of the year you completed.
SSG William Thaxton Did you calculate your clothing allowance when you predicted your final payout? I was told at my finance brief that they pay out a final clothing allowance based on how much of the year you completed.
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SSG William Thaxton
SFC (Join to see) - I didn't but that is what it was. My post was from over 8 years ago lol (retired back in July 2016).
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I think this is Army specific. Marines pay out within 10 days. Not saying it won't be f'd up, but they pay on time.
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MSG Scott McBride
Yes, however I would check because all services' pay route through DFAS regardless of branch. Camp Pendleton specifically cannot handle any Army pay issues because they do not handle Army "Lines of Accounting" frustrating to say the least...we are all paid from the same pot.
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Sgt (Join to see)
Im actually going through this right now. I just got out the Marine Corps September 3rd, 2018 and it was explained to me that I would get my final pay on the next pay cycle. Still waiting. Thank God for my savings. The hold was not explained to me in TRS or by IPAC when checking out.
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