5 months and all is well

[Peter Lee]

Hi, Guys and Gals

Just letting u all know I still read the posts and that I'm going on over 5 months with Maricel in the USA  Maricel just got her drivers license yesterday.  She passed testing in a stick shift in the rain.   Got my approval notice of I-797C and so far so good.   Maricel is 21 now and I will be 61 in Dec, no real problems yet.  I would not ever think this would work out as good as it has so far.  I was disappointed that the USAF at Patrick AFB told me that the wife could not get half pay on my death as they said that when I retired as a single man in 1975 I chose the option not to have my pay deducted 6.5% so she could get half pay.   Even though I was single at the time I thought I could still have that option after I got married but they said once I made the choice there was no changing it.  But it was insulting to hear that if I died in the middle of the month she would be able to collect a one time $33 per day that I was alive that month.  The VA will not give her any benefits as I chose not to get VA pay but retired disability pay.   Does anyone have any ideas or more information on how my wife could get some inexpensive insurance from a x Vietnam vet who is retired at 50% disability?  Does any one have any info on Dependency Indemnity Compensation thru the VA?  I was told unofficially that because I was in Vietnam that I could be covered under Agent Orange if I died of a disease and my wife could be eligible for a $967 pension thru the VA.  Also my car insurance jumped $700 per 6 months to have her added to my policy for the 2 cars with [Giko] any one have a less expensive Co. ?   I have accumulated 63,000 sky miles with Delta and they said I need 70,000 for a round trip for one to the Philippines.   I expect to have  a round trip ticket by the end of next year.  In the 5 months we have sent a total of $500 back to her Mom and Dad which I thought reasonable.   Now Maricel is looking to get a job.   I would rather she didn’t work be she wanted to save her own money and help send some money back to her parents in the future without my help.  
See Ya
Peter and Maricel Lee

[CartagenaPapito]

... in response to 5 months and all is well, posted by Peter Lee on Oct 12, 2004

n/t

[Matt]

... in response to 5 months and all is well, posted by Peter Lee on Oct 12, 2004

n/t

[9ball]

... in response to 5 months and all is well, posted by Peter Lee on Oct 12, 2004

congrats peter and maricel, glad all is well.

my memory tells me this is your first marriage.

here' what i found on a quick google...

"I did not have any dependents when I retired three years ago. However, I have married recently. Is my spouse eligible for SBP coverage, and if so, when must I apply?
Yes. Application must be filed with your DFAS within one year of the date you were married."

from
http://www.military.com/Resources/ResourcesContent/0,13964,31295,00.html

better get a second opinion on that application...

p.s. encourage maricel to get a job...it will give her an immense dose of self-confidence and allows her to make good friends on her own...yea let her work til the buns are in da oven.

laters...

[Jay]

... in response to 5 months and all is well, posted by Peter Lee on Oct 12, 2004

Hi Peter,

Glad to hear you and Maricel are okay. Don't be a stranger now that she's here. :-)

Take Care,
Jay

[Ray]

... in response to 5 months and all is well, posted by Peter Lee on Oct 12, 2004

Hi Peter,

What, no bun in the oven yet? I’m glad to hear that you guys didn’t get blown out to sea with all of the storms down there? How did your boat come through the hurricanes? Did Maricel pass her driver’s test on the first try? That’s great that now you have a chauffeur if you need one :-)

The Air Farce guy told you pretty much the truth about the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP). You had to make the choice at time of retirement. There have been a few special open enrollment periods where you had an option to sign up late under certain circumstances, but it wasn’t that good of deal for everyone. Don’t count on any more open enrollment periods.

Had you been married at the time you retired and selected SBP coverage, your wife could draw up to 55% of your retired pay if you croaked. However, there were a lot of restrictions and conditions attached that you wouldn’t get with a standard life insurance policy. If she remarried under age 55, she would lose her coverage. Also, at age 62, her payment would be reduced to 35%, effectively taking away her Social Security benefit. When I retired, I chose not to participate, but instead put the premium amount toward a good life insurance policy. When I divorced years later, my divorce attorney, a retired Navy JAG lawyer, told me that turning down SBP coverage was probably the smartest thing I ever did because a lot of guys really got screwed in the divorce on the SBP.

Like Senior Citizen suggested, you should try to talk with someone who has all of the facts, preferably a retired assistance specialist. I don’t know about the Air Farce, but the Navy has Retired Activities Offices (RAOs) at most major bases. They even have one in Cebu! Also, talk to your insurance agent, attorney, and financial advisor about other options to provide protection for the wife.

Ray

[Jay]

... in response to Re: 5 months, posted by Ray on Oct 13, 2004

[This message has been edited by Jay]

Hi Ray,

Sorry to be so picky, but I noticed a couple of typo's in your post. Seems to be the same word, too. That's strange.

Anyhoo, the correct spelling for the branch of service you mention is A-I-R  F-O-R-C-E. Not to be confused with Chair Force, which is a common misspelling used mostly by Navel semen, after spending too much time on ships in close quarters.

Again sorry to be picky as I'm SURE this was just a simple typo or spelling error. ;-)

Got any new pics yet?

Take Care,
Jay :-)

[Ray]

... in response to Re: Re: 5 months, posted by Jay on Oct 13, 2004

RAFL!

Sarry abaut the spelling errar Jay. There must be samething wrang with my keybaard... :a-

Roy

[Jay]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: 5 months, posted by Ray on Oct 14, 2004

n/t

[Dave H]

... in response to Re: Re: 5 months, posted by Jay on Oct 13, 2004

Hey Jay,

I'm trying to get my sons to consider joining the Air Force, but without much success so far. They seem to just want to kill people with their bare hands! Hmmm...I wonder where they ever got an idea like that? ;o) I guess that is what happens when you don't have a mother's good influence. I shaved my head recently. Now I sort of look like a cross between G. Gordon Liddy and Stone Cold. (:{) During my recent visit to the Philippines, I was a guest at a PNP compound that had recently come under attack by the NPA. Lots of bullet holes everywhere. They put my picture and short bio on the local news. Perhaps the NPA will be inviting me to dinner next. ;o)

Dave H.

[gregas]

... in response to Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, posted by Dave H on Oct 13, 2004

Sidney Poitier :O)))))

[Jay]

... in response to Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, posted by Dave H on Oct 13, 2004

Hey Dave,

I would be a little nervous about that too. LOL!

You need to post a pic of your new look. Were you bald in the Philippines? I bet that would scare the locals! :-)

Just curious? What's your oldest think of Iraq? I know I would be watching all this real close if I was his age. I'm just curious what a guy his age thinks.

April, who is 20, is a huge Bush supporter and her husband, 29, is a raving Democrat. I guess I did something right. :-)

Take Care,
Jay

[Dave H]

... in response to Re: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, posted by Jay on Oct 13, 2004

Hi Jay,

I finally got some time off work and am catching up on P-L posts.

I still had a little bit of hair in the Philippines. -:o) There's not too many Kanos in Butuan. But my house is surrounded by many relatives, several of whom are PNP and military, and many more who are badasses with bolos, including my wife. More than one a-hole has found that out the hard way when they came into the barangay to mess with a relative.

Good for April! Both of my sons support Bush and the war in Iraq. My oldest son (19) was seriously considering enlisting after graduation. Two of his friends joined the Marines. We had recruiters coming by the house. But after his accident he would not be accepted. My youngest son (14) is in the JRROTC and wants to graduate early so he can enlist. If they would take me, I'd already be there!

Dave H.

[Jeff S]

... in response to 5 months and all is well, posted by Peter Lee on Oct 12, 2004

Glad to see you back. Congrats and keep us posted.
- Jeff

[Dave H]

... in response to 5 months and all is well, posted by Peter Lee on Oct 12, 2004

Hi Peter and Maricel,

Time flies when you're having fun! Happy to hear that everything is going well! Has that bad hip caused any sexual problems? :oD Just joking..and being bad! I hope you made it through the hurricanes with no problems.

Dave H.