Claim service changes to affect Airmen here Published Aug. 23, 2007 By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace 436th AW Public Affairs DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Airmen here will soon be eligible for full replacement value protection on most DoD-funded personal property shipments announced Air Force officials Aug. 7. The change is to improve service and help ensure Airmen get fair reimbursement for their items damaged in permanent change of station moves. Under the full replacement value program, the transportation service provider is liable for the greater of $5,000 per shipment, or $4 times the net weight of the shipment, in pounds, up to $50,000. Airmen must supply prompt notice of loss and damage and submit a DD Form 1840, listing all damage discovered at delivery, or DD Form 1840R listing all damage discovered after delivery, to the provider within 75 days of delivery. The provider has the right to inspect the damaged items once the notice forms are received. Airmen will not face an additional charge for full replacement value coverage and must file the claim directly with the transportation service provider within nine months of delivery by using DD Form 1844 to receive full replacement value. The provider will settle the claim by repairing or paying to repair damaged items. The provider will pay full replacement value cost on items that need replacing or have been lost or destroyed. When the claim is filed directly with the provider, the provider will be responsible for obtaining all repair and replacement costs. If the provider denies an Airman's full claim, makes an offer on the claim that is not acceptable, or does not respond within 30 days, Airmen may transfer the claim to the Air Force claims service center or contact the Dover Air Force Base legal office. If an Airman files a claim with the provider after nine months, but before the two-year time limit for filing the claim, the provider is only liable for depreciated value of lost or damaged items. Additionally, if an Airman transfers the claim to the claims service center within nine months of delivery, the center will only be responsible for depreciated replacement costs. They will then attempt to recover full replacement value from the provider. If successful in recovering the full replacement value, the claims office will then pay the customer the difference between the depreciated cost already paid and the full replacement value cost. For more information, visit the Army Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command Web site at www.sddc.army.mil or call the Air Force claims service center 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at DSN 986-8044 or, toll free, at (877) 754-1212.