Partial Government Shutdown Q & A Published Oct. 10, 2013 By Staff Reports 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- Below are common questions and answers regarding the partial government shutdown. For more information on specific programs or facilities at Spangdahlem, please use the following link: www.spangdahlem.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-131011-002.pdf TLA Voucher Q&A (POCs: CES & CPTS) Q: What is the requirement for members residing in Temporary Lodging Facilities to file interim vouchers? A: JFTR requires members to check in with the housing office every 15 or fewer days to report their progress in finding permanent quarters. However United States Air Forces in Europe Instruction 65-104 and HQ USAFE/A7D Policy Letter dated June 29, 2009 requires members to check with the housing office and file interim vouchers every 10 days. This also allows housing personnel the chance to provide additional guidance as necessary to ensure your housing process is moving along as required. It is highly recommended that members file their TLA voucher in conjunction with their housing office visit. Q: What is driving the 10-day requirement? A: USAFE policy requires members to maintain a documented search for permanent housing. Within the first 10 days the member should view a minimum of two houses. During subsequent 10-day increments, the service member should view at least an additional five houses. If permanent housing has not been secured, necessitating a third 10-day increment the service member must meet with a housing specialist or the housing manager to justify additional TLA claims. Since members must already follow up with the housing office every 10 days, it is convenient for the member to file their voucher at the same time. Filing a voucher every 10 days provides several benefits: 1) It saves members time by accomplishing two tasks during the same appointment, 2) It helps members periodically settle their lodging bills. 3) It enables members to pay their Government Travel Card bills sooner, reducing the risk of overdue accounts. Q: I just moved into the Temporary Lodging Facility. Will I receive TLA? A: Yes. Defense Finance and Accounting Services (DFAS) resumed TLA processing on Oct. 8, 2013. Please note, TLA payments disburse as part of military pay; therefore, members will receive reimbursement in either their mid-month or end-of-month pay (separate from PCS travel voucher). Military Pay Q&A (POC: CPTS) Q: Will I get paid on Oct. 15? A: Yes, the Pay Our Military Act appropriated fiscal year 2014 dollars for military pay and allowances. Q: I just moved into off-base housing. Will I receive Overseas Housing Allowance, Cost Of Living Allowance, utilities, and advances? A: It depends. DFAS resumed military pay processing on Oct. 8, 2013. Your retroactive allowances will post to either your mid-month or end-of-month pay (depends on when you submitted the forms and whether or not DFAS approved them prior to cut-off). Please work with the housing office, your landlord, and your squadron leadership to develop a game plan for fulfilling your financial requirements if your allowances do not start prior to end-of-month October. Again, all allowances are retroactive. You will not lose money as a result of the processing delay. Travel Pay Q&A (POC: CPTS) Q: When will I receive my travel pay (PCS, DLA, and TDY)? A: The Air Force Financial Services Center (AFFSC) is unable to reimburse travel claims in the absence of a continuing resolution or appropriation. As soon as the CR passes, the AFFSC will resume voucher processing. Please be advised, their average processing time was two weeks prior to government shutdown. The shutdown could delay reimbursement for at least two additional weeks. If your travel was solely in FY13, you do not require an amendment. However, if your travel crossed fiscal years and you do not have an FY14 fund cite, you must request an amendment (normally via Defense Travel System). Q: I have a new Citibank balance. How will I pay it in the absence of my travel pay? A: If your Citibank GTC was in good standing prior to government shutdown, Citibank will automatically code your card as current. Therefore, you are not required to reimburse them until your voucher is paid in full. In addition, your agency program coordinator does not need to code you "mission critical." Q: My GTC was past due when the government shut down. Am I exempt as well? A: No. If you are past due on your GTC, your fees will compound until you pay your card in full. In addition, your non-payment could affect your personal credit. US Civilian Pay Q&A (POC: CPTS) Q: Will I get paid on October 11? A: Yes. You will be paid for Sept. 22 - 30 on Oct. 11. We are aware that individuals who filed the exact same info in ATAAPS were paid differently in several instances. As soon as Congress passes separate legislation required to retroactively pay our furloughed employees, we will unlock ATAAPS for the 21st pay period in order to facilitate corrections. In addition, we understand that individuals furloughed for greater than 72 hours did not accrue leave. Once ATAAPS unlocks, you will annotate your furlough days as "KG" versus "KE". In other words, you will be considered "excepted" for the duration of the furlough and will be reimbursed. In the interim, please notify your leadership if you're unable to make ends meet. There are several financial programs available to you and your families. Local National Civilian Pay Q&A (POC: CPTS) Q: Will I get paid at the end of October? A: Yes. You will be paid in full at the end of the month.