Change in Imminent Danger Pay affects Reservists Published Feb. 10, 2012 By 2nd Lt. Denise Hauser 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. -- One day in the Southwest Asia area of responsibility will no longer add up to one month of imminent danger pay for 446th Airlift Wing aircrews and other deployed members. A new law may affect the pay you receive when you are on duty in an imminent danger pay area. About 27 locations world-wide have been designated by the Secretary of Defense as IDP areas. According to Tracey Coy, a reserve pay technician with the 446th AW Finance Office, one day in the AOR is anytime between midnight and midnight in that local time zone; and you have to be on the ground. It cannot be a flyover. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, requires IDP be prorated so Airmen are paid for only the actual days they perform duty in an IDP area. Before Dec. 21, 2011, Airmen received the full $225 a month even if they performed duty only one day in the IDP area, much as the 446th aircrews do. Now these Reservists will receive $7.50 for each day they are on duty in an IDP area up to the maximum monthly rate of $225. Airmen who are exposed to a hostile fire, or hostile mine explosion event are eligible to receive non-prorated Hostile Fire Pay in the full monthly amount of $225. However, Airmen cannot receive both IDP and HFP in the same month. "This affects anyone who goes into the AOR and is entitled to IDP," said Coy. "It used to be one day in the AOR would entitle a servicemember for a full month of IDP, now with the change they are only paid for the time they are there." Although the law requiring proration took effect Dec. 31, 2011; it took time to publish implementing guidance and ready pay systems. As a result, prorating the pay did not begin until Feb. 1, 2012. If you are eligible to receive IDP, you may see the prorated amount of the pay in your Feb. 15 pay, depending on the actual number of days you spend in an IDP area. Some members may have been overpaid between the date the National Defense Appropriations Act was signed and when pay systems began proration. The military services are working to waive or remit debts for members who may have been overpaid during this period. The intent is that you will not be liable for any overpayment during this period. Also, you do not need to request or take any action for this to take place. Your service will take care of this for you. "If a Reservist received full IDP pay for the month of January, the debt was waived," said Coy. "However, after Feb. 1, if someone is overpaid then a debt will be collected by the military pay office." If you have any questions about this pay, please contact your finance office. For more information, please visit http://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/payentitlements/specialpay/hfp_idp.html.