RETIREE CORNER Published Nov. 24, 2010 By Denis Miller Director, Retiree Activities Office MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Change Of Address Retirees should be aware of the correct address change procedures to ensure their retiree account is correct and current at DFAS. Individuals with internet access and MyPay accounts may change their address by going to : https://mypay.dfas.mil/mypay.aspx, entering their personal identification number and then changing their correspondence address. Because there are other changes that can be made electronically, retired members and annuitants are encouraged to go this route. Those without a PIN should use the same website and request a PIN which will be sent through the mail. Retirees receiving, or entitled to receive, retired pay, including retirees whose pay in part comes from Veterans Affairs or Civil Service who do not have internet access should send their change of address to : DFAS, US Military Retirement Pay, PO Box 7130, London, KY, 40742-7130.This may also be accomplished by calling toll free 800-321-1080 or commercial 216-522-5534, or fax 800-469-6559. Include your social security number and sign your request when mailing or faxing. Those surviving spouses who are receiving, or entitled to receive an SBP/Retired Serviceman's Family Protection Plan annuity (this includes surviving spouses of retirees who were enrolled in SBP but who are receiving DIC in lieu of SBP) must send a change of address to: DFAS, US Military Annuitant Pay, PO Box 7131, London, KY, 40742-7131. Space Available Travel Space-available flights are a unique benefit to U.S. service members, retirees and their families. The Air Mobility Command at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., recently unveiled its first official, command-level, travel website. People planning to utilize the AMC military travel system can now point their browsers to www.amc.af.mil/amctravel/index.asp for the latest in AMC travel information. The site offers prospective space-available travelers a wealth of information, including an updated AMC passenger terminal contact list (complete with phone, e-mail and Web links), and more than a dozen travel documents. Eligibility Certificates Vital Survivor Benefit Plan annuitants are sent a Certificate of Eligibility each year about 60 to 90 days before their birthday to ensure their annuity payment is legitimate and going to the correct account. All annuitants-no matter their age-receive the form. If the form is not returned to the Defense Finance Accounting Service within 60 days, another one is sent. If the second one is not received within 90 days, the account will be suspended, assuming the annuitant is no longer eligible. Payments will be restarted when the completed form is received. Call DFAS at 1-800-321-1080 for more details. TRICARE Provides Free Vaccinations TRICARE covers the seasonal and H1N1 flu and age-appropriate doses of vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Beneficiaries can visit participating TRICARE retail network pharmacies to receive seasonal flu, H1N1 flu and pneumonia vaccines at no cost. This expanded coverage is available to all TRICARE beneficiaries eligible to use the TRICARE retail pharmacy benefit. To find a participating pharmacy, visit TRICARE's Express Scripts webpage at www.express-scripts.com or call Express Scripts at 1-877-363-1303. Some participating pharmacies are Albertsons, CVS, Kmart, Kroger, Longs, Rite Aid and Target. TRICARE regularly adds coverage for new vaccinations based on CDC recommendations on the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/vaccines. TRICARE Retiree Dental Program Major services are also available to help keep good dental health on track. The TRICARE Retiree Dental Program (TRDP) provides the coverage necessary to help enrollees maintain good oral health and often prevent the need for major dental treatment down the road. Benefits available to TRDP enrollees include diagnostic and preventive care such as regular oral exams and X-rays, routine cleanings and fluoride treatments. Visit www.trdp.org for complete information about all the benefits available under the TRDP, or call Delta Dental of California, TRDP contract administrator, toll-free at 888-838-8737. TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery TRICARE beneficiaries who use the retail pharmacy system to obtain their maintenance drugs can save 66 percent of their out-of-pocket costs by obtaining those medications through home delivery instead. In addition, beneficiaries have the added benefit of getting those medications delivered right to their door, avoiding the hassle and added expense of having to get in the car to go get them. The TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery is your least expensive option when not using the military pharmacy and it has several other advantages. It's safe, convenient and easy to use even when you're traveling on a temporary assignment or if you move. Users of the TRICARE Home Delivery system can also allows automatic refills; a big plus for anyone taking medications for a chronic, long-term condition. For more information on home delivery, www.tricare.mil. or 1-877-363-1303. News Service for Retirees The Air Force Personnel Center's Retirees Activities Office has set up a telephone news line for 'non-wired' retirees. A toll-free telephone news line has been set up for those retirees and surviving spouses who do not have computer access. By calling (800) 558-1404, retirees and spouses can stay informed using this new, easy-to-use menu-driven service. Callers can select from several different topics that are compiled from various electronic news sources. Topics include pay and annuity matters, medical and health care, and other benefits and entitlements. This news line joins the Air Force retiree website at www.retirees.af.mil in providing the latest news and information to the service's retiree community. Casualty Assistance When a retiree dies, his or her death needs to be reported to the nearest Casualty Assistance Office as soon as possible. An initial report of death will be completed from information taken over the telephone and reported to DFAS-CL (Retired Pay Center). Once the death certificate is obtained, the next-of-kin beneficiary should contact the casualty assistance office at a base near you for an appointment. The appointment will take about an hour and will be conducted in private. For further assistance contact the Airman and Family Readiness Center here at 731-4900. Corrections In the Retiree Newsletter "Still Serving" that was mailed out to all retirees Nov. 5, there were two errors. The phone number listed for the Retiree Affairs Office should be 731-4751 NOT 731-4791. The second error was the dates for the next Retiree Appreciation Weekend. In the newsletter, we listed the dates as April 22-24, 2011. The correct dates for the 2011 Retiree Appreciation Weekend at Malmstrom AFB will be April 29-30, and 1 May due to Easter Weekend the April 22-24l. We do apologize for the errors and hope no one was inconvenienced.