Search Decisions

Decision Text

AF | BCMR | CY1998 | 9702347
Original file (9702347.pdf) Auto-classification: Denied
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

IN THE MATTER OF: 

DOCKET NUMBER:  97-02347 
COUNSEL:  None 
HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

c. 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

His record be corrected to show he declined to participate in the 
Reserve  Component  Survivors Benefit  Plan  (RCSBP) when  he  first 
became eligible. 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

He  received  incomplete  and  inadequate  disclosure  prior  to 
completion of the election form.  During communications with an 
ARPC Retirement Technician in June 1997, additional facts came to 
his attention.  The SBP election form which he  signed  17 years 
earlier  was  irrevocable. 
The  dollar  amounts  could  not  be 
calculated  in  December  1979  for  his  pay  in  1997,  however, 
percentages were available and not provided as they should have. 
The letter he received from ARPC dated 19 December 1979 indicates 
attachments.  Atch  #2,  RCSBP  Information, consisted of  a  short 
paragraph  in the  cover  letter  and  the  second paragraph  of  the 
Notification  Letter. 
There  was  no  mention  of  it  being 
irrevocable or  the  cost  to  member.  He  based  his  decision  on 
incomplete  information  that  may  impact  his  retirement  pay 
significantly. 
In support of his request, the applicant attached a copy of the 
cover letter, the notification letter, his DD Form 1883  (Survivor 
Benefit Plan Election Certificate). 

His complete submission is attached at Exhibit A. 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 
The  applicant was notified of  his eligibility for participation 
in the RCSBP on 19 December 1979.  He acknowledged his election 
on  28 January  1980.  He  elected  spouse  only  coverage based  on 
full retired pay. 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 
The  Director  of  Customer  Assistance,  ARPC/DR,  reviewed  the 
application and stated that the member was mailed information to 
make  an  RCSBP  election. 
The  package  contained  complete 
information  on  the  RCSBP,  including  tables  with  which  to 
calculate the cost.  It explained the percentage of retired pay 
the  beneficiary  could  expect  to  receive  in  event  of  member's 
death.  Both the package and the DD Form  1883,  Survivor. Benefit 
Plan  Election  Certificate  addressed  the  irrevocability  of  an 
election.  There are no provisions to allow withdrawal from the 
RCSBP  at  this time.  The member was provided  all  the necessary 
information to make an informed decision.  They recommend denial 
of his request. 
A complete copy of the evaluation is attached at Exhibit C. 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 
The applicant  reviewed the evaluation and  responded that  he  did 
not receive the same information that is described in the letter. 
The  mail  he  received  is  what  he  attached  to  his  application. 
There were  no  tables or percentages  received  in  the ARPC  mail 
dated 19 December 1979.  He stated that  he reviewed the DD Form 
1883 which he completed and for the first time read the sentence 
stating the SBP is a permanent irrevocable decision.  He strongly 
and  sincerely  feels  the  information  received  was  grossly 
insufficient  for a  member  to  make  a  clear  lasting decision  of 
such importance. 

Bis complete response is attached at Exhibit E. 

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 

The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing 

1. 
law or regulations. 
2.  The application was timely filed. 
3.  Insufficient  relevant  evidence  has  been  presented  to 
demonstrate  the  existence  of  probable  error  or  injustice.  We 
took notice of  the  applicant's contentions of  being  incorrectly 
advised regarding coverage of SBP and that he was not made aware 
that his decision was permanently irrevocable.  However, the copy 
of  his  election  certificate  he  attached  to  his  application 
clearly states the decision is irrevocable and the effect  should 
be considered very carefully.  We have found no evidence that the 
applicant  was  not  provided  sufficient  information  to  make  an 
informed  decision  regarding  his  RCSBP  election.  Based  on  the 
above,  we  believe  no  basis  exists  to  recommend  granting  the 
relief sought in this application. 

2 

AFBCMR 97-02347 

4.  However,  Public  Law  (PL)  105-85  (effective  17 May  1998) 
provides  an opportunity  for retirees to  terminate  participation 
in the SBP beginning on the second anniversary of  their receipt 
of retired pay.  For further information applicant should contact 
the Retiree Services Branch  (AFPC/DPPTR) at 1-800-531-7502. 

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: 

The  applicant  be  notified  that  the  evidence  presented  did  not 
demonstrate  the  existence  of  probable  material  error  or 
injustice;  that  the  application  was  denied  without  a  personal 
appearance;  and  that  the  application will  only  be  reconsidered 
upon  the  submission  of  newly  discovered  relevant  evidence  not 
considered with this application. 

L. 

The following members of the Board considered this application in 
Executive  Session on  21 May  1998,  under  the  provisions  of  AFI 
36-2603 : 

Mr. Henry C.  Saunders, Panel Chair 
Mrs. Barbara A. Weatgate, Member 
Ms. Ann L. Heidig, Member 
Ms Kay Byrne, Examiner (without vote) 

The following documentary evidence was considered: 

DD Form 149, dated 5 Aug 97  with atchs. 
Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

Exhibit A. 
Exhibit B. 
Exhibit C.  Letter, ARPC/DR, dated 28 Aug 9 7 .  
Exhibit D.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 22 Sep 97. 
Exhibit E.  Applicant's 

3 

AFBCMR 97-02347 



Similar Decisions

  • AF | BCMR | CY2004 | BC-2004-00178

    Original file (BC-2004-00178.DOC) Auto-classification: Denied

    ___________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: On 28 Sep 79, the former member executed DD Form 1883, Survivor Benefit Plan Election Certificate, electing no coverage under Option A (Defer). Applicant’s counsel also provided copies of the member’s ARPC Form 0-69 (Application for Retired Pay), and DD Form 2656, which were signed by the member on 26 May 02. Specifically, under Option A, the member declined to make an election at that time,...

  • AF | BCMR | CY1998 | 9703799

    Original file (9703799.pdf) Auto-classification: Denied

    AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS JUL 2 0 = IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NO: 97-03799 COUNSEL: None HEARING DESIRED: Yes Applicant requests her record be changed to show she declined to participate in the Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP) when she was first eligible. The appropriate Air Force office evaluated applicant's request and provided an advisory opinion to the Board recommending the application be denied (Exhibit C ) . Accordingly,...

  • ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090010144

    Original file (20090010144.txt) Auto-classification: Denied

    IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 12 January 2010 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20090010144 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant’s DD Form 2656-11 shows that on 8 January 2009 he verified that he had been notified by DFAS of the requirement to have 360 plus months toward Paid-Up SBP. Effective 1 October 2008, no reduction may be made in the retired pay of a participant in the SBP for any month after the later of : (1) the 360th month for which the participant’s retired pay is...

  • ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 2004102499C070208

    Original file (2004102499C070208.doc) Auto-classification: Approved

    The applicant provides a letter from the U. S. Army Reserve Personnel Command (AR-PERSCOM, formerly ARPERCEN); his Retiree Account Statement effective 25 July 2003; his DD Form 1883; his DD Form 2656; his divorce decree; and his marriage license. Public Law 99-661, dated 14 November 1986, permitted divorce courts to order SBP coverage (without the member’s agreement) in those cases where the member was participating in the SBP or was still on active duty and had not yet made an SBP...

  • ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090004231

    Original file (20090004231.txt) Auto-classification: Denied

    The applicant requests, in effect, that his military records be corrected by canceling his Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) election for spouse coverage. Public Law 95-397, the RCSBP, enacted 30 September 1978, provided a way for those who had qualified for reserve retirement but were not yet age 60 to provide an annuity for their survivors should they die before reaching age 60. However, the option to terminate SBP participation was established in November 1997 and in 1998 Army Echoes would...

  • ARMY | BCMR | CY2012 | 20120000029

    Original file (20120000029.txt) Auto-classification: Denied

    THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests, in effect, his military records be corrected by canceling his Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP) participation for spouse coverage. Public Law 95-397, the RCSBP, enacted 30 September 1978, provided a way for those who had qualified for reserve retirement but were not yet age 60 to provide an annuity for their survivors should they die before reaching age 60.

  • ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140010758

    Original file (20140010758.txt) Auto-classification: Denied

    The applicant requests correction of his records to show he elected enrollment in the Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP) under Option C (Immediate Coverage) instead of Option A (Deferred Coverage). Once a member elects either option B or option C in any category of coverage, that election is irrevocable. When the applicant received his 20-year letter, he submitted a DD Form 1883 wherein he indicated that he declined to participate in the RCSBP.

  • ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100013797

    Original file (20100013797.txt) Auto-classification: Denied

    The applicant requests his military records be corrected by changing his Reserve Component (RC) Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) election from "children only" to "spouse" coverage. A DD Form 1883, dated 7 March 1987, shows the applicant enrolled in the RCSBP for "spouse and children" coverage, option C, full base amount. The applicant married in October 1984 and he had 1 year from his date of marriage to enroll in the RCSBP for spouse coverage.

  • ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003083512C070212

    Original file (2003083512C070212.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

    APPLICANT REQUESTS: That the effective date of his Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) coverage be changed from 1 December 1999 to 1 July 2002. The applicant's notification of eligibility for retired pay is dated 22 January 1970. The applicant was a senior warrant officer who served in a Reserve Component in active status during the time the SBP and the RCSBP were established.

  • ARMY | BCMR | CY2001 | 2001065902C070421

    Original file (2001065902C070421.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

    Once a member elects either Options B or C in any category of coverage, that election is irrevocable. The evidence of record shows that the applicant did complete a DD Form 1883 in 1991 enrolling in the RCSBP for spouse and children coverage. Although the applicant may not have been in troop unit at the time, he could have contacted a retirement services officer at the nearest military installation or contacted the Retired Activities Office, U. S. Army Reserve Personnel Center for...