The Department of Defense (DoD) recently announced they are removing Social Security Numbers from all DoD issued military ID cards in an attempt to make them more secure and help prevent identity theft. In my opinion, this move is long overdue, and was the subject of an article I wrote about how military members are prime targets for identity theft.

New guidelines regarding the issuing of DoD ID Cards.

The new process for issuing DoD identification cards will eventually phase out the requirement for printing SSN’s on DoD ID Cards, including ending the requirement to enter SSN information in the bar codes of CAC cards. This change will affect all DoD ID card holders, including active duty military members, members of the Guard and Reserve, family members, retirees, contractors, and anyone else who receives a DoD ID card. As part of the directive, SSNs should not be relied on as a unique ID number.

These changes are being made by the Department to protect the identity information of cardholders. Changes to ID cards will occur when the cardholders’ expired cards are renewed.

Three phase removal of SSNs from DoD ID cards

The removal of SSNs will occur in three phases, all of which will occur when DoD ID cards are renewed (do not go to the Pass and ID section at your base and request a new card solely to get your SSN removed, they will probably not do it).

• Phase One: Remove Dependent SSNs To begin by end of calendar year 2008
• Phase Two: Remove printed SSNs from all cards* To begin by end of calendar year 2009
• Phase Three: Remove SSNs embedded in barcodes To begin during calendar year 2012

Removal of SSNs from DoD Retiree cards

DoD issued retiree cards usually have an indefinite expiration date. The earliest you will be able to replace your DoD issued retiree card for one without your SSN will be January 2010, as the priority will be to get active duty military members cards replaced first.

Additional information:

DoD card renewal locations: Updated DoD identification cards without the owner SSN will be issued at over 1,500 RAPIDS ID card centers worldwide. Visit the RAPIDS Site Locator to find a DoD ID card renewal location near you.

Required items: Be sure to bring two forms of identification, including at least one state or federal photo ID.

For more information call you local Pass & ID center or the nearest RAPIDS Site.

The 2009 American Economic Recovery Act, also commonly referred to as the economic stimulus package, contains an assistance package to help US military who lost money on their home during a PCS move. The current economic crisis has affected housing prices around the nation, and the government wants to assist military members who were required to make a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) due to military needs.

Department of Defense Homeowners Assistance Program

The Department of Defense Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP) is managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and is only open to military members who were permanently reassigned because of a Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) during the mortgage crisis. The following information is from the website:

The Department of Defense (DOD) is proud to offer the Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP) to eligible service members and federal civilian, including non-appropriated fund, employees. The program is authorized by law, and administered by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to assist eligible homeowners who face financial loss when selling their primary residence homes in areas where real estate values have declined because of a base closure or realignment announcement.

There are two main eligibility criteria:

1. There has to be an announcement of a base closing or realignment action which affects your community.
2. A determination must be made that real estate values have dropped as a direct result of the base closing or realignment announcement.

Once those criteria are met, there are additional requirements.

Department of Defense Homeowners Assistance Program eligibility requirements:

Update: The Homeowners Assistance Program has recently been modified to include wounded service members, surviving spouses of military members who die while deployed, and certain other military service members who are required to move more than 50 miles because they receive permanent change-of-station orders.

Homeowners Assistance Program eligibility requirements:

• PCS orders require relocation of more than 50 miles.
• Reassignment ordered between 1 February 2006 and 30 September 2012 (or earlier date designated by Secretary of Defense).
• Property purchased or contract to purchase signed before 1 July 2006.
• Property sold by owner between 1 July 2006 and 30 September 2012 (or earlier date designated by Secretary of Defense).
• Property was the owner’s primary residence.
• Owner has not previously received these benefit payments.

Other eligible personnel:

• Personnel transferred or terminated within six months prior to the announcement who were owner-occupants at the time of transfer.
• Civilian and military personnel on overseas tours who transferred within three years prior to the announcement and who are homeowners in the area.

How to file a Department of Defense Homeowners Assistance Program claim

If you are a military member who is PCSing or has PCSed during the window of eligibility, you will need to download the application packet and complete the application, DD Form 1607, Application for Homeowners Assistance Program. The basic application is made on Part III. You will need to get your personnel officer to complete Section IV.

Supporting documents. You will also need to include verification of home ownership, the dates you lived in the home, a copy of your PCS orders, the efforts you made to sell your home and whether or not it sold, and the details of your mortgage.

You must submit your completed application by mail to the US Army Corps of Engineers district rwhere your home is located. For more information about the district lines, visit the USACE contact page.

The Homeowners Assistance Program has not been finalized

Details for the Homeowners Assistance Program are not yet written into law and the requirements are still being negotiated by Congress. Here is the message from the HAP website:

DoD policy guidance cannot be displayed until after the interim draft rule is published in the Federal Register. The dates for publishing in the Federal Register and initiating applicant processing are not known. They will be highlighted on this web site when the information becomes available.

For more information, visit the Department of Defense Homeowners Assistance Program home page, or the Department of Defense Homeowners Assistance Program FAQ page.