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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

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

n/t

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

n/t

... 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...

... 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

... 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

... 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 :-)

... 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

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

n/t

... 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.

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

Sidney Poitier :O)))))

... 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

... 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.

... 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

... 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.

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

I can't answer any of your other questions Peter, but I can tell you that you can probably purchase the 7000 miles you are lacking to get you up to 70,000 if you want to.  I did it last year when I was a few thousand miles short with my AA Advantage miles.  You might want to check the Delta Airlines website to find out how to do it.  I won't cost you much, at least not as much as the ticket you will be able to get if you have 70,000 miles.

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

Whomever told you that at the AFB was so full of dookey their eyes are brown. They have survivor benefit plan open enrollment periods at intervals. I retired single and I got Honey in on an open enrollment period. You need to talk to DEERS as well. Does she have her military ID card yet? That makes her eligible for Tricare, BX/Commissary privilidges and all that, even after you die (so long as she does not remarry or go back to the Philippines, and maybe even if she does, I don't know about that). Tricare for her costs you $300 per year but that is better than nothing. When you get medicare, add part B and you get to keep your tricare for life instead of the VA care, which is usually substandard. You can still choose to receive VA compentsation for your disabilities and it is tax-free (so far, I don't trust Kerry on that one). You do not have to get your care at the VA to get comp, you can use your tricare benefits. VA comp is also usually more than what you draw in retirement pay, too, depending on the rank you carried when you retired and the level of your disability. If you retired with 20 years of service, you can draw BOTH VA compensation AND retired pay, depending on circumstances (I do). That is a new law. You should have gotten that poop in your periodical retired pay newsletters. You have to be examined by the VA, but it would be worth your while. The VA may rate you higher than the military did, they have different guidelines, but at 50% with a spouse, you would draw about $709 per month along with, or instead of, retired pay (depending). Go to www.va.gov and you can find out a lot of stuff, get pamphlets, electronic application for benefits and all that. Then go to your nearest VA facility and talk to one of their benefits counselors. There is way too much stuff to go over here. The VA also does have special Agent Orange programs and compensation. Several diseases you may have now or may get are linked to AO.

And talk to someone who knows what the &*%$ they are talking about at the AFB, or else contact DoD directly. Ask them when the next open enrollment period is, and also when the last one was (if they say there hasn't been one in a long time they are lying through their teeth). DEERS may also be able to assist you in that area. The AFB people can give you the toll-free number to DEERS.

I am a Viet Nam vet and retired, with a service-connected (combat) disability. Don't let the AF give you the run around. They're trying to protect their budget. If the VA gives you rating trouble, you can authorize the VFW or another organization to represent you at hearings. It is also important to get these things done (military ID for wife and VA compensation), because if you have kids they are eligible for all sorts of benefits from a retired GI dad, even (and in some cases especially) if you pass on while they are still minors. College living expenses,outright college grants and other things not only from the feds but also from your state government. You'd be surprised at the benefits to a disabled vet's/retiree's children.

** senior citizen **
(retired Marine and in receipt of disability pay)

... in response to Re: 5 months and all is well, posted by senior citizen on Oct 13, 2004

Hi Señor,

Overall, I didn’t think SBP was that great of a deal when I retired, so I didn’t sign up for it. Those SBP open enrollment periods are not regular options. There have been a few, but it wasn’t a good deal for everyone. In the last one (1999-2000), I think you had to buy in with a cash premium to make up for all the years that you didn’t pay, essentially requiring most guys to pay back premiums with interest. For some, that wasn’t much help at all. There are no more “scheduled” open enrollment periods and there may never be any unless specifically authorized by congress.

In Peter’s case, it would be really nice if he could now cover his wife at 55% (or 35%) of his retired pay, for the rest of her life, which could be 50 years after he croaks. However, that wouldn’t be fair to the people who have been paying premiums all along because the participating members are supposed to bear the majority of the cost.

I think Peter already got her ID and DEERS enrollment taken care of. We have Tricare Prime for $460/year and it can’t be beat. The wife recently had major surgery at the Naval Hospital here in San Diego, and the total bill for EVERYTHING, hospital stay, surgery, lab tests, pre & post doctor visits, prescription drugs, etc., etc., came to exactly $26.70.

I think in Peter’s case, he really needs to sit down with a retired affairs expert, a VA counselor, etc. like you suggested. Those quarterly retired newsletters that you mentioned do list all these benefits in detail. Peter should be on the mailing list for the Air Force publication.

Ray

... in response to SBP, posted by Ray on Oct 13, 2004

Yeah, but open enrollment dates are mostly for those who got married, or remarried, since retirement. Especially those who were single when they retired. Since I was single (never married) when I retired, I did not have to pay the cash premium, so it made sense for us.

I agree that SBP isn't all that hot, but every little bit helps and he did ask about it by name. I recommend he begin a real retirement account right now, pay it up to the max, and also get her into a money-market or index fund of some sort.

However, being able to draw retirement PLUS VA is attractive. If he is of the Viet Nam era, his disability retirement is non-taxable, and if he had 20 years in he should be able to draw both pensions. In my case the VA money eventually became more than the retirement pay, so I put the retirement pay straight into Honey's retirement account.

I also suggest he get good term insurance. Military Benefit Association has decent term insurance, and they are the ones I use, but it could be any of several.

I got prime for Honey but I use the old Tricare For Life thing for me. Because, since I also draw Medicare A & B, I can go to a civilian hospital if I want.

... in response to Re: SBP, posted by senior citizen on Oct 14, 2004

Senior,

That sounds like you made out great on SBP if you didn’t have to buy in. You’re right. Those who were single when they retired had an excellent opportunity in the last open enrollment period, especially if you had been retired for many years and then married a much younger woman. I don’t think there is any commercial life policy anywhere that could give you that kind of a deal.

Ray

... in response to Re: 5 months and all is well, posted by senior citizen on Oct 13, 2004

...that I am missing something?  I served during Nam but I was stationed in Fuerth, Germany (Darby Kaserne, 1/94th FA, 2nd Armored Div.) the whole enlistment (3 years).  I've never tried for any benefits other than education (i is now an kollege eddumacated engamaneer).  Unfortunately I've been told my credit is so bad that I can't use the VA Home loan guarantee (the heart attack and following 11 months of unemployment caused me to declare bankruptcy).  

But is there something I should be qualifying Honey and AJ on?

Bear+

... in response to Is it possible..., posted by Bear on Oct 13, 2004

Hi Bear,

Most of that stuff he was talking about applies to retired and/or disbled vets only.

Ray

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

Hello Peter:

It's good to hear from you.  I wondered where you had been.  Glad to hear things are going so well.

Stephen