ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER EXPLAINS NDAA AND ITS IMPACT

Military survivors across the country who have lost a spouse to military service are trying to understand Section 644 of the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which modifies the Survivor Benefit Plan/Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (SBP/DIC) offset. This legislation affects survivors who have their DIC annuity deducted dollar for dollar from their SBP annuity, causing many of them to lose as much as $12,804 a year. The 2008 NDAA would help correct this by providing survivors an allowance of $50 a month beginning in October. Then, for the following five years, that $50 would be raised $10 a month each year, ending at $100 a month.

Though I personally am not affected by the DIC offset, I know many who have lived with this inequity for years. Losing a spouse because of military service is painful beyond imagination. When that loss is compounded by such an unfair and severe financial loss, it can become unbearable. Most of the survivors I have spoken with in the past few weeks view this “solution” as too little, too late. I empathize with their anger and despair. I share those feelings and have to ask, “What can we do about this?”

With that question in mind, I contacted Col Phil Odom, USAF-Ret., in MOAA’s Government Relations Department. Odom is one of MOAA’s lobbyists, and SBP/DIC legislation is one of his primary responsibilities. He assured me MOAA will continue to work this problem as one of its key legislative issues, with the goal of complete repeal of the offset. The positive side is this is the first time ever Congress has acknowledged this inequity exists and something needs to be done about it. Granted, what was done this year can best be described as a “foot in the door”–and a very small foot at that–but it is progress! So what do we do now? We either can complain about how these survivors have been slighted again, or we can come back fighting. I vote for the latter.

The law can and must be changed to provide a more equitable solution for those who have sacrificed so much. To achieve that end, we must all get in this fight–that means every auxiliary member; every regular member, including retirees, active, reserve components, and spouses; grown children; and any patriotic citizen who will join us. Congress must hear from us over and over again. Then, and only then, will we achieve justice for our survivors impacted by the DIC offset. We must educate Congress that this is a priority issue and these survivors deserve better treatment. If we all join hands in this effort, we have a chance of achieving substantive progress in 2008, but please understand that we need every one of you.

Carolyn Epling
Cochair
MOAA Auxiliary Member Advisory Committee

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