US Navy Announces Changes to IDP

Sailors will now receive imminent danger pay (IDP) only for days they actually spend in IDP areas, according to NAVADMIN 062/12, released Feb. 17.

This change, announced by the Department of Defense Feb. 2 and enacted in the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, was implemented Feb. 1. According to the new policy, Sailors will receive $7.50 for each day served in a qualifying IDP area. Sailors who serve in qualifying areas for the entire month, regardless of the length of the month, are entitled to the full rate of $225. Prior to enactment of this change, service members who served any part of a month in a qualifying area were entitled to the full rate.

“It is crucial for commanders to ensure their Sailors are aware of these changes to imminent danger pay,” said Vice Adm. Scott R. Van Buskirk, chief of naval personnel. “Additionally, commanders must track duties performed by their Sailors that will qualify them for IDP and hostile fire pay, and provide this information to personnel support detachments to ensure Sailors are receiving payments for which they qualify.”

Sailors will see this change in their Feb. 15 pay records. Sailors do not need to take any action at this time regarding overpayments of IDP made from Dec. 31, 2011 to Jan. 31, 2012; the Navy is working with Defense Finance and Accounting Services (DFAS) to waive or remit these debts. Under DoD policy, such debts may be waived when there is no indication of fraud, fault, misrepresentation, or when members were unaware they were overpaid.

Sailors who travel to designated IDP areas are reminded to keep track of the number of days they are in the area to verify that they are correctly paid.

DoD defines IDP areas as places where members are subject to the threat of physical harm or imminent danger because of civil insurrection, civil war, terrorism or wartime conditions.

Sailors exposed to hostile fire or a hostile mine explosion event, remain eligible to receive non-prorated hostile fire pay (HFP) for the full monthly amount of $225. Sailors may not receive HFP and IDP in the same month.

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Naval Today Staff , February 22, 2012; Image: navy