CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Starting this fall, military members and Department of Defense civilian employees will be eligible for full replacement value protection on personal property shipments funded by the government.
What is FRV? FRV is a new program that allows members to file claims directly with the household goods carrier. Under this program, members may receive as much as $5,000 for any single shipment, or four times the weight of their shipment up to $50,000 -- whichever is greater. This recovery applies to personal property items that are lost, damaged, or destroyed by the carrier during shipment or storage.
What does FRV mean to you? If someone files a claim and opts to use FRV, the carrier will replace items that are lost, damaged or destroyed with a new or comparable used item. The carrier will still require the member to prove the item's value and quality and will likely want them to provide evidence of what it would cost to replace the item. Furthermore, if an item is damaged, the carrier may request that they provide estimates of repair, or the carrier may get its own estimates, or repair the item themselves. When using FRV, members should not get estimates unless instructed to do so by the carrier. Otherwise, the carrier will not make reimbursement for any estimate fees incurred.
When will FRV be available? FRV is being phased in according to the location where the member's property is being shipped. FRV implementation dates are as follows:
Oct. 1 for international shipments
Nov. 1 for stateside shipments
Mar. 1, 2008 for non-temporary storage shipments
Mar. 1, 2008 for local move or direct procurement method shipments
How much will FRV cost? FRV protection is absolutely free. Members will not incur any additional costs for this entitlement.
Where and when are claims filed to receive FRV? In order to receive FRV, members must file claims directly with the carrier within nine months of the date their property is delivered. Claims may still be filed with the government or the carrier up to two years from the date of delivery, but if it is filed after nine months, FRV will not be available.
Whether or not members use FRV or the traditional claims filing procedures, they are still required to submit DD Forms 1840/1840R (pink form) within 75 days of delivery. Failure to do so could result in receiving very little or no money when the claim is filed.
For more information, contact the Charleston AFB Claims Office at 963-2025 or the traffic management office at 963-2261. You may also find additional FRV information on the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command's website at www.sddc.army.mil.