DoD civilians notified about housing benefit error

Stars & Stripes ^ | May 2, 2013 | John Vandiver

[Timber Rattler]

More than 500 Defense Department employees in Europe and the Pacific were notified this week that they were erroneously given housing benefits and must now apply for a special waiver to avoid being indebted to the government for all past allowances received, according to military officials.

Effective immediately, those workers will no longer be eligible for Living Quarters Allowances—a benefit that subsidizes rental and utility costs and can add up to $50,000 per-year in some cases. Defense officials on Thursday were unable to provide a complete tally of how many overseas employees were affected by a DOD-wide audit that was prompted by a widespread misinterpretation of rules governing who is eligible for the housing allowance.

However, 481 Army civilians—302 in Europe and 179 in the Pacific —are affected, according to Clifford M. Dickman, deputy director of the Civilian Human Resource Agency Army.

“This is something we’ve never encountered before,” said Dickman said.

[Timber Rattler]

Incompetence.

[I want the USA back]

Ah but there’s money to send to bearded savages who hate us.

[RWGinger]

If we make these people pay back at error BY the gov’t then we should go after people who cheat us on welfare

yes I know it won’t happen but the real cheats get away with billions

[V_TWIN]

“Clifford M. Dickman”

Geez, what a name.

[US Navy Vet]

In my 20 years in the United States Navy the 2 most HATED Groups of people were Personelman(Swive up your records/Quite a few of them Filipino(HUMM)) and Disbursing Clerks(Swive up your PAY/AGAIN Quite a few of them Filipino(HUMMMM)). But the STUPID A$$ Navy said your PAY and Records were YOUR responsiblity!

[Joe 6-pack]

When I was in Korea, a lot of DOD civilians were scamming the system. In the ROK, most landlords don't charge rent, but rather work off of "key money." When you lease a place, you put down a huge deposit, which the landlord deposits and collects interest. When you move out, the original deposit is refunded.

A number of DOD civilians who were married to Koreans would live with relatives and submit a bogus lease to the housing office who would cut the check for the key money. The civilian would stay with his Korean family for free and keep the interest off the key money...

[Iron Munro]

Is there anything this country can do right the first time anymore?

Maybe more diversity and Affirmative Action will put us back on top.

[IbJensen]

You’re right. It is incompetence on the part of this evil central socialist government.

That being said, I have, as a veteran and observer of Pentagon and DOD activities, abhorred the large contingent of civilians working in the military.

I don’t believe there is a single job in any branch of the service that a uniformed military person couldn’t perform.

Thanks to the civilians who aren’t content with ruining civilian lives and the nation’s economy women will advance to the firing line and homosexuals can romp about in the showers playing grabass and dropping the soap!

[molson209]

that song with , “ Company Store “ comes to mind

[Lera]

a benefit that subsidizes rental and utility costs and can add up to $50,000 per-year in some cases.

What kind of houses are these civilian employees living in that cost 50,000 per year ?

If they want to live in something that expensive they should be footing the bills themselves . That's just pathetic waste of other peoples money.

[Grams A]

How about all the government employees working in DC who owe back taxes?

[heylady]

Do you think when they finally realize Obama is a FRAUD they will make HIM pay all the money back?

The price of housing is phenomenal in many other countries. When you factor in utilities I can see how it could be near $50,000 a year. The gov also pays for houshold good to be shipped to the new job location and then shipped back home when the 3-5 year stint is up. Do I think it is a waste of money? You betcha.

My son was deployed to Iraq for 16 months while his family stayed home. Let State Department and other civilian employees do 1 year or 1 1/2 year stints and save the gov the enormous relocation cost to bring the entire family along for an extended vacation.

[Timber Rattler]

What kind of houses are these civilian employees living in that cost 50,000 per year ?

German, for the most part.

[IYAS9YAS]

When I was in the Air Force, they overpaid me for something. They had no compunction about taking it all out of the next paycheck. Didn't even give me a chance to pay it back in installments. This was 24 years ago, though.

Crap, when did I get this old?

[B4Ranch]

Civilians are the bosses of the military. What makes you think they would turn over their authority to the military?

[RWGinger]

You asked
“How about all the government employees working in DC who owe back taxes?”

sure
there are any number of wrongs to right.

I would guess though that the number of people who are frauding us taxpayers is greater than the fed employees
and the amount they cheat us out of is hufgely higher

but sure, go after them all. It is not a case of only doing one