FY 2010 special pays

[grumbo]

Attached is a pdf of FY2010 medical special pays. It's in the terrible format that the army likes to put information out with, but you can find the chart at the end that gives the special pays. Bottom line is that most specialties won't see much change due to worsening economy and improving applications. Enjoy.

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[IgD]

One thing I like about civilian medicine is getting a stable pay check every month. There are no hoops to jump through or bonuses to worry about. Wouldn't you rather have those bonuses split up in 12 monthly payments??

 

[edmadison]

One thing I like about civilian medicine is getting a stable pay check every month. There are no hoops to jump through or bonuses to worry about. Wouldn't you rather have those bonuses split up in 12 monthly payments??

I sure would if the were prorated. I'm working 9/12 of the year -- do I get 9/12 of my ISP, no I get nothing. Thanks for serving.

Ed

 

[a1qwerty55]

Attached is a pdf of FY2010 medical special pays. It's in the terrible format that the army likes to put information out with, but you can find the chart at the end that gives the special pays. Bottom line is that most specialties won't see much change due to worsening economy and improving applications. Enjoy.

Another disappointing special pay year -

 

[GeoLeoX]

Special pay can be nice if they actually give it to you. Still waiting for this year's, it's a month late so far.

 

[BlackFrancis33]

I like how 20+% of our salary can be held hostage for no apparent reason. The pay rates haven't changed or anything. Its not like we don't count on this as a part of our salary. Its just one more thing that degrades job satisfaction.

 

[haujun]

I like how 20+% of our salary can be held hostage for no apparent reason. The pay rates haven't changed or anything. Its not like we don't count on this as a part of our salary. Its just one more thing that degrades job satisfaction.

I think all these problems with physician's special pay are attributed to general military attitude. When I asked why the ISP is taking its time my special pay OIC would send me e-mail that "this bonus pay is not right, but a privilege" and "you need to write MAJ not... Maj" when you address superior officer....In another words you are a lowly junior officer so don't complain about not getting the extra pay on time...

 

[GeoLeoX]

I think all these problems with physician's special pay are attributed to general military attitude. When I asked why the ISP is taking its time my special pay OIC would send me e-mail that "this bonus pay is not right, but a privilege" and "you need to write MAJ not... Maj" when you address superior officer....In another words you are a lowly junior officer so don't complain about not getting the extra pay on time...

jeezus, what a db.

MAJ GeoLeoX

 

[NoMoreAMCAS]

I like how 20+% of our salary can be held hostage for no apparent reason. The pay rates haven't changed or anything. Its not like we don't count on this as a part of our salary. Its just one more thing that degrades job satisfaction.

Sounds pretty crappy. Have they ever just flat out not paid the special pays for the year, or are they just consistently late?

I ask because I'm considering military medicine and would like to know the facts about the bonuses that most recruiters and websites speak of as certainties.

 

[NoMoreAMCAS]

I think all these problems with physician's special pay are attributed to general military attitude. When I asked why the ISP is taking its time my special pay OIC would send me e-mail that "this bonus pay is not right, but a privilege" and "you need to write MAJ not... Maj" when you address superior officer....In another words you are a lowly junior officer so don't complain about not getting the extra pay on time...

Lol, what a piece of ****. Exactly the kind of uptight ***hole I hated when I was in.

 

[GeoLeoX]

Sounds pretty crappy. Have they ever just flat out not paid the special pays for the year, or are they just consistently late?

I ask because I'm considering military medicine and would like to know the facts about the bonuses that most recruiters and websites speak of as certainties.

They are not usually late. It's pretty consistent that you get MSP in August, ISP in October. It's just this year that it's a little late. I did get my contract last week and signed it, so it shouldn't be much longer. That being said they are not guaranteed. Nor are they a "privilege". There is plenty of language in the contract that states that the government could stop offering the program whenever it feels like it. But then again the same language is in the contract for your base pay, BAH, etc. I consider the specialty pay to be part of my income rather than a special treat. There would be plenty of noise if they were stopped.

 

[Gastrapathy]

They are not usually late. It's pretty consistent that you get MSP in August, ISP in October. It's just this year that it's a little late. I did get my contract last week and signed it, so it shouldn't be much longer. That being said they are not guaranteed. Nor are they a "privilege". There is plenty of language in the contract that states that the government could stop offering the program whenever it feels like it. But then again the same language is in the contract for your base pay, BAH, etc. I consider the specialty pay to be part of my income rather than a special treat. There would be plenty of noise if they were stopped.

Umm...they have been late every year that I've been a fellow or attending. And the Navy message still isn't out so still no end in sight for me.

 

[a1qwerty55]

They are not usually late. It's pretty consistent that you get MSP in August, ISP in October. It's just this year that it's a little late. I did get my contract last week and signed it, so it shouldn't be much longer. That being said they are not guaranteed. Nor are they a "privilege". There is plenty of language in the contract that states that the government could stop offering the program whenever it feels like it. But then again the same language is in the contract for your base pay, BAH, etc. I consider the specialty pay to be part of my income rather than a special treat. There would be plenty of noise if they were stopped.

I've never had a problem getting it on time or being hassled. They are not guaranteed and I remember a certain super subspecialist not getting his because he failed the PT test, but then again, he didn't try to pass.

 

[GeoLeoX]

Umm...they have been late every year that I've been a fellow or attending. And the Navy message still isn't out so still no end in sight for me.

Army here and once again thankful I didn't join the Navy. It also depends a lot on the local folks at your base/post/etc. to get the contract to you to sign and then have it processed.

 

[EMDoc0411]

I haven't heard anything about this yet. Am I the only one? Can I sign for the specialty pay anytime? Such as when I am deployed in a few months? I'm under the assumption that it would offer me a tax break. Thanks.

 

[NavyFP]

The Navy NAVADMIN is out, but the rates are not listed on NMO.

http://www.npc.navy.mil/NR/rdonlyres/C786F0F7-E567-45BC-AAC9-7F7ACA1D228F/0/NAV09330.txt

 

[a1qwerty55]

I haven't heard anything about this yet. Am I the only one? Can I sign for the specialty pay anytime? Such as when I am deployed in a few months? I'm under the assumption that it would offer me a tax break. Thanks.

Wish it were true, no tax break on the bonuses - as your max tax break is the base pay of the most senior E-9.

 

[GeoLeoX]

I haven't heard anything about this yet. Am I the only one? Can I sign for the specialty pay anytime? Such as when I am deployed in a few months? I'm under the assumption that it would offer me a tax break. Thanks.

At least in the Army the ISP contract should come from your HR people who "take care" of you wherever you are assigned. It comes down from above as was posted several weeks ago:

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
(ASD(HA)) promulgates the annual Health Professions Special Pay Program.
These ASD(HA) specific Corps/specialty memorandums are released to
Services to administer. The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower
& Reserve Affairs (ASA(M&RA)) then staffs the action & releases the
ALARACT message which provides the contractual agreement references,
policies, & plan rates for FY10. Actual release is not known for FY10,
but would expect it in the next couple weeks with an effective date
retroactive to 1 Oct 09. ALARACT message release will be available via
message sources & will also be provided through Medical Command channels
once released. Until such time, there is no authority to executed any
Health Professions Special Pay agreements.

The bottom line is that there should be people who take care of specialty pay and sending you a contract to sign. Once the proper signatures are secured (you are only responsible for getting your own signature usually) the paperwork is sent back to the OTSG.

More information than you could possibly need regarding the ISP is in the .pdf that grumbo posted at the top of this thread.

 

[The White Coat Investor]

Wish it were true, no tax break on the bonuses - as your max tax break is the base pay of the most senior E-9.

There is one tax break- you don't pay SS or medicare on it.

 

[EMDoc0411]

There is one tax break- you don't pay SS or medicare on it.

So if this is correct, is it ok for me to delay signing until I am on deployment in February?

 

[NavyFP]

So if this is correct, is it ok for me to delay signing until I am on deployment in February?

You can wait until the cows come home. There will be no tax advantage for you to wait, unless you want the income on your 2010 taxes and not your 2009 taxes.

You don't pay SS or Medicare on bonuses, period. Does not matter if you are deployed or not.

 

[Gastrapathy]

Wish it were true, no tax break on the bonuses - as your max tax break is the base pay of the most senior E-9.

So I thought the max tax break was the annual income of the most senior E-9, and, thus a well-timed bonus is still beneficial. My bonuses have never quite lined up with deployment, so definitely could be wrong. Last conversation where a grizzled CAPT said that to me was 4-5 years ago.

 

[NavyFP]

So I thought the max tax break was the annual income of the most senior E-9, and, thus a well-timed bonus is still beneficial. My bonuses have never quite lined up with deployment, so definitely could be wrong. Last conversation where a grizzled CAPT said that to me was 4-5 years ago.

This is from the bottom of the 2009 pay chart from DFAS.

For the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, Chief Master Sergeant of the AF, Sergeant Major of the Army or Marine Corps or Senior Enlisted Advisor of the JCS, basic pay is $7,143.30. Combat Zone Tax Exclusion for O-1 and above is based on this basic pay rate plus Hostile Fire Pay/Imminent Danger Pay which is $225.00.

For most docs VSP+BCP = 1200/mon add to that the 225 for hostile fire pay and any base pay over 5900 will result in maxing the tax free benefit.

Junior O4s fall 300-600 under the cap and there is no benefit going over 10.
O3s are 2000-2500 under the cap so they could save themselves about $500 in taxes by timing when they take the bonus.

Then you have to look at opportunity costs and whether that $500 is worth it.

 

[Gastrapathy]

This is from the bottom of the 2009 pay chart from DFAS.

For the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, Chief Master Sergeant of the AF, Sergeant Major of the Army or Marine Corps or Senior Enlisted Advisor of the JCS, basic pay is $7,143.30. Combat Zone Tax Exclusion for O-1 and above is based on this basic pay rate plus Hostile Fire Pay/Imminent Danger Pay which is $225.00.

For most docs VSP+BCP = 1200/mon add to that the 225 for hostile fire pay and any base pay over 5900 will result in maxing the tax free benefit.

Junior O4s fall 300-600 under the cap and there is no benefit going over 10.
O3s are 2000-2500 under the cap so they could save themselves about $500 in taxes by timing when they take the bonus.

Then you have to look at opportunity costs and whether that $500 is worth it.

So clearly no point in trying to time the bonus but still a potential benefit for GMO types if the timing works out.

 

[Rock Star]

Great thread. If there any IMA reservists out there would love to hear your experience in receiving the aforementioned special pays when you were activated for more than 30 days. Just want a heads up prior to my eventual activation to the area of play. thanks.