New claims policy accelerates reimbursements

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Eric Schloeffel
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  The 23rd Wing Judge Advocate office recently unveiled a new process designed to make filing personal property claims more efficient.

The Air Force is consolidating the process of claims involving loss or damage during shipment or government storage of household goods and privately owned vehicles.

These claims will now be worked via Internet, which drastically improves the process for the JA office and the Airmen seeking compensation, said Capt. Sean Elameto, 23rd Wing assistant staff judge advocate.

"We are centralizing all these claims to one location in Dayton, Ohio," said the captain. "This system is more efficient as it enables people to submit their claims from home through the claims center website."

This new process is planned for all bases throughout the Air Force but is being gradually introduced in phases.

On Nov. 27, Moody became one of the first in the Air Force to implement the changes.
Though the brunt of each claim is handled online, Team Moody members still must go to the JA office to submit their DD 1840/1840R forms and obtain a logon name and password to enter the website.

Though some may be skeptical of using the Internet for issues previously handled face-to-face, the new website strives to provide customer service and a user-friendly interface, said Captain Elameto.

"If a user is having trouble working their claim, they can seek assistance by calling posted numbers that are available from 7 a.m. - 11 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time), seven days a week," he said. "The website is designed to make the process much easier and more time efficient so people don't need to come back and forth to the legal office to handle their claims."

Not only will the online filing system accelerate the processing of the claim; it also allows for quicker payments, said Tech. Sgt. Carmen Smith, 23rd Wing NCO-in charge of claims.

"The payment process is quicker because everything is done over the Internet," she said. "The documents are received quicker, so the payment is quicker. Doing it electronically makes it much more efficient and eliminates the middle man."

For more information on the new claims filing system, call the JA office at 257-3308.