Staff Judge Advocate, Claims Division

4217 Roberts Ave.
Fort Meade, MD 20755

(301) 677-9898
Fax (301) 677-9687


Hours of operations

  • 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday

Mission

Pursuant to Army Regulation 27-20, this office processes several types of claims for and against the Army. If you are unsure whether your claim can be processed by this office, please call or stop by the office. Please remember that our office personnel can not assist anyone in filing a claim against the government, however we can give you the necessary forms to fill out.

Information

The three most common types of claims filed with this office are the following

  • Personnel Claims Act, 31 USC § 3721, as implemented by Army Regulation 27-20, chapter 11.
    These are administrative claims by military personnel and DA civilians only for losses incident to service. This includes house hold goods transportation damage; POV transportation damage; on-post POV theft, vandalism and other unusual occurrences; and on-post quarters damage and theft. This is a gratuitous payment statute, not intended as total insurance coverage. All claims under this chapter must be presented to an Army claims office within two years of the incident.
  • Claims under Article 139, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 USC § 939, as implemented by Army Regulation 27-20, chapter 9
    These are administrative claims made against military personnel only for loss of, or damage to, real or personal property that has been willfully damaged or wrongfully taken. Claims for death or personal injury, subrogated claims, and claims founded in negligence or breach of a contractual or fiduciary relationship are excluded. All claims under this chapter must be presented to an Army claims office within 90 days of the incident.
  • Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 USC §§ 2671 – 2680, as implemented by Army Regulation 27-20, chapter 4.
    These are administrative claims made by anyone against the United States Government for loss or damage caused by a government employee acting in the scope of their employment. The FTCA requires the filing of an administrative claim, signed and demanding a sum certain, with the appropriate agency within two years of the incident. Once the claim is filed, the claimant must wait to file suit in federal court until either six months have elapsed since the date of filing, a final offer is issued, or the claim is denied, whichever comes first.

Protecting yourself during household goods moves

  • General Information
    • The Personnel Claims Act, from which we derive authority to pay household goods claims, is not insurance; it is a gratuitous payment statute, not intended to provide total insurance coverage. Consider purchasing insurance from your insurance company or through the carrier, especially for items having special value or qualities. If you do have private insurance, you are required to settle with your insurance company before filing your claim.
    • For a successful claim you must provide sufficient proof of:

      • Ownership (Recent photos, recent videos, purchase receipts, or statements from those having knowledge will assist greatly to prove ownership.);
      • Value (Provide evidence of style, brand, size, quality, model, make, age, and purchase receipts of the missing or damaged items to help establish their value or replacement cost.);
      • Tender to the carrier (Ensure that all your property to be shipped is listed on your inventory before you sign at the bottom.); and
      • A loss in the manner alleged (Ensure that the indicated condition of your property is accurately annotated on your shipment inventory. After delivery, do not dispose of any damaged items without contacting the Claims Office.).
    • Call or visit your local post Claims Office if you have any questions.

    Preparing for your move
    • Your negligence will bar compensation for any losses suffered.
      • Do not leave cash, jewelry, or other easily stolen expensive items unattended when the carrier is at your house.
      • Hand carry small valuable items such as stocks, bonds, cash, jewelry, coin collections, and items of great sentimental value. Do not ship them.
    • Help yourself substantiate your loss in the event items are lost or damaged during shipment.
      • Save purchase receipts (especially for high value items), take photos or videos (ideally with the date showing) that may help you substantiate your claim. Hand carry these items. Do not ship them.
      • Make and retain your own specific inventory of items, especially your most important possessions and ensure they are listed on your inventory.
      • Ensure that all furniture and appropriately labeled boxes are specifically annotated on the inventory, especially high value items. Insist on an accurate count of items such as 126 CDs (music or software); 25 pre-recorded video tapes; 6 Hummels; 2 Lladros, 4 men’s suits. For high value items, insist on accurate descriptions of items such as brand names, size, quality, etc. (e.g., 27" Sony Trinitron TV serial number XYZ; 12 "Colleen" Waterford crystal glasses; Wedgewood china-12 place settings).
      • Ensure that the condition of your items are accurately annotated on the inventory. The "exceptions" column of the inventory is the location where the carrier will indicate the scratches, dents, or other condition of the specific item pre-existing the move.
    • Help protect against unscrupulous carriers. Though this is rarely a problem, it is better to be safe.
      • Do not allow the carrier to take your property to a warehouse for packing.
      • Be present in your house at all times while the carriers are there.
      • Contact the Transportation Office if you have unresolved disputes with the carrier during the shipment process.
  • Protecting yourself on the day of delivery
    • Annotate and describe damaged or missing items to preserve your right to recover on a claim.
      • Before the carrier departs after delivery, annotate and describe on the DD Form 1840 (pink form) by inventory number all the discovered damage to your property and the missing items. Do not let the carrier convince you that it is not necessary to complete the DD Form 1840.
      • After the carrier departs, annotate and describe on DD Form 1840R (other side of pink form) by inventory number all of the damage to your property and the missing items discovered.
      • If you shipped a POV, thoroughly inspect then annotate and describe on the DD Form 788 all the discovered damage before leaving the Vehicle Processing Center (VPC). If you discover additional damage while enroute to your new duty station, notify the Claims Office as soon as possible, while enroute or within two days of arrival.
    • Filing deadlines to preserve your right to recover on a claim.
      • Submit your DD Form 1840/1840R (pink form) to the post Claims Office no later than 70 days after delivery of your property (the day of delivery counts as day one).
      • File your claim with the post Claims Office no later than 2 years after the day of delivery. There are no exceptions to this rule. If you do not file within two years, you cannot recover for your loss.
    • Necessary documents for filing a claim (and satisfying the requirements in paragraph 2b, above) will include:
      • Claims forms, such as DD Form 1842 (the actual signed claim for loss or damage), DD Form 1844 (a list of the property claimed lost or damaged)
      • DD Form 1840/1840R (pink form)
      • Shipment inventory
      • Government Bill of Lading (GBL)
      • PCS Orders or assignment of quarters orders for local moves,
      • Power of Attorney (POA) if someone, other than the military member, will file the claim,
      • Estimates of repair for any damaged property that exceeds $100.00 in the amount claimed and all damaged electronic equipment
      • Evidence of purchase value and replacement value for items claimed exceeding $100.00,
      • Private insurance settlement
      • Additional requirements and forms each individual Claims Office may have

Forms

 

 

 

OPERATING STATUS