Making Forms Easier to Fill Out and Submit
 

In the past year, DFAS began rolling out a series of new form tools to help annuitants fill out and submit forms easily and correctly. The tools include helpful PDF Form Wizards, how-to checklists, how-to videos, and AskDFAS online upload tools.

DFAS receives a high percentage of forms we are unable to process, often because a form is missing information or a signature. We know it is frustrating for you when we are unable to fulfill your request because of missing information or signatures. We hope these tools will make the processes easier by reducing the number of incorrect documents that cause delays and by allowing digital submissions.

Right now, here are the helpful form tools that are available.

DD 2788 - School Certifications

We have a Form Wizard, a PDF how-to checklist and an AskDFAS online upload tool. See the article in this newsletter on the big changes to the School Cert process. The School Cert tools are available here: www.dfas.mil/schoolcerts

SF1174 - Retiree Arrears of Pay

We have a Form Wizard, a PDF how-to checklist, a YouTube how-to video and an AskDFAS online upload tool. The tools are available on our “How to Claim Arrears of Pay Using the 1174” webpage: https://www.dfas.mil/retireeaop

DD2656-7 - Annuity Application - to Start an SBP Annuity

We have a Form Wizard, a PDF how-to checklist, a YouTube how-to video and an AskDFAS online upload tool. The tools are available on our “Start an SBP Annuity” webpage: https://www.dfas.mil/startsbp

DD 2790 - Custodian Certificate to Support Claim on behalf of Minor Children of Deceased Members of the Armed Forces

We have a PDF how-to checklist and a YouTube how-to video. The tools are available on our “Start an SBP Annuity” webpage:: https://www.dfas.mil/startsbp

DFAS Form 9415 - Representative Payee

We have a PDF how-to checklist and a YouTube how-to video. The tools are available on our “Start an SBP Annuity” webpage:: https://www.dfas.mil/startsbp

Certificate to Establish Identity of Annuitant (CEI)

We have a PDF how-to checklist for the CEI. The how-to checklist is available on our “Forms” page: https://www.dfas.mil/raforms


What are Form Tools?

PDF Form Wizards

The Form Wizards “take the form out of the form” by having you answer a series of questions. Once you have answered the questions, the wizard automatically places your answers in the correct areas of the form and generates a ready-to-print PDF of the completed form. Customers can also save a PDF of the generated form to their own computer.

The wizards are designed to generate a printable version of the filled-out forms, since these forms require a “wet” signature and in some cases, witnesses or notaries.

The PDF Form Wizards can only be used on a Windows or MAC computer with compatible PDF software, such as the free Adobe Acrobat DC.

How-to checklists and videos

The new how-to checklists provide a different kind of help, by explaining the information that needs to be included on a form, and additional documentation that may be needed. The how-to videos complement the checklists with visual instructions. Both also have a reminder to sign the form, which is one of the major omissions that prevent us from processing a form.

AskDFAS online upload tools

The new AskDFAS online upload tools allow some forms and the required documentation to be uploaded and submitted through AskDFAS on the DFAS.mil website, which is also accessible on a mobile browser.

To use the new online tool to submit a form, you just need to fill in the required information in the online screen, and then upload a PDF of your completed and signed form and documentation.

Please note the AskDFAS online upload tools can only accept the specific form and documentation noted on the upload tool. Other requests or documents cannot be processed through the online upload tools.

Links to all of these tools are also available on the DFAS R&A Forms page: https://www.dfas.mil/raforms

We have more helpful tools coming. Watch the Latest News area of our website for news: https://www.dfas.mil/retiredmilitary


 

Page updated Dec 3, 2020