It explains how to settle and pay claims under the Military Personnel and Civilian Employees' Claims Act for incident to service loss and damage of personal property. These claims are paid according to this subpart even when another subpart may also apply.

(a) Military installation. A facility used to serve a military purpose and used or controlled by the Air Force or any other Department of Defense (DOD) element.

(b) Personal property. Tangible property an individual owns, including but not limited to household goods, unaccompanied baggage, privately owned vehicles (POV), and mobile homes.

(c) Reconsideration. The original or a higher settlement authority's review of a prior settlement action.

(d) Unusual Occurrence. Something not expected to happen in the normal course of events.

(a) Settlement authority. The Secretary of the Air Force has delegated the authority to assign areas of responsibility and designate functional responsibility for claims under the Military Personnel and Civilian Employees' Claims Act to The Judge Advocate General (TJAG).

(b) Reconsideration authority. A settlement authority has the same authority specified in paragraph (a) of this section. However, with the exception of TJAG, a settlement authority may not deny a claim on reconsideration that it, or its delegate, had previously denied.

(c) Authority to reduce, withdraw and restore delegated settlement authority. Any superior settlement authority may reduce, withdraw, or restore delegated authority.

(a) How and when to file a claim. A claim is filed when a federal military agency receives from a claimant or duly authorized agent a properly completed AF Form 180, DD Form 1842 or other written and signed demand for a determinable sum of money.

(1) A claim is also filed when a federal military agency receives from a claimant or duly authorized agent an electronic submission, through a Department of Defense claims Web site, indicating that the claimant intends for the appropriate military branch to consider a digitally signed demand for a determinable sum of money.

(2) A claim is also filed when the Air Force receives from a claimant or duly authorized agent an electronic submission, through the Air Force claims Web site, a digitally signed demand for a determinable sum of money.

(b) Amending a claim. A claimant may amend a claim at any time prior to the expiration of the statute of limitations by submitting a signed amendment. The settlement authority adjudicates and settles or forwards the amended claim as appropriate.

(c) Separate claims. The claimant files a separate claim for each incident which caused a loss. For transportation claims, this means a separate claim for each shipment.

Upon request of a claimant, a settlement authority may make a partial payment in advance of final settlement when a claimant experiences personal hardship due to extensive property damage or loss. Partial payments are made if a claim for only part of the loss is submitted and is readily provable, up to the amount of the settlement authority. (The claimant may later amend the claim for the remainder of the loss.) If the total payable amount of the claim exceeds the payment limits of the settlement authority, send it with recommendations to the proper settlement authority.

(a) If a claim for only part of the loss is submitted and is readily provable, pay it up to the amount of the settlement authority. (The claimant may later amend the claim for the remainder of the loss.) If the total payable amount of the claim exceeds the payment limits of the settlement authority, send it with recommendations through claims channels to the proper settlement authority.

(b) When the total claim is submitted and the amount payable exceeds the settlement authority, pay a partial payment within the limits of settlement authority and send the claim, with recommendations, through claims channels to the proper settlement authority.

(a) The claimant must file the claim in writing within 2 years after it accrues. It accrues when the claimant discovered or reasonably should have discovered the full extent of the property damage or loss. For transportation losses, the claim usually accrues on the date of delivery.

(b) To compute the statutory period, the incident date is excluded and the day the claim was filed is included.

(c) Consider a claim filed after the statute has run if both of the following are present:

(1) The United States is at war or in an armed conflict when the claim accrues, or the United States enters a war or armed conflict after the claim accrues. Congress or the President establishes the beginning and end of war or armed conflict. A claimant may not file a claim more than 2 years after the war or armed conflict ends.

(2) Good cause is shown. A claimant may not file a claim more than 2 years after the good cause ceases to exist.

A claim may be filed by:

(a) A proper claimant.

(b) An authorized agent or legal representative of a proper claimant.

(c) A survivor of a deceased proper claimant in this order:

(1) Spouse.

(2) Children.

(3) Father or mother.

(4) Brothers or sisters.

Proper claimants are:

(a) Active duty Air Force military personnel.

(b) Civilian employees of the Air Force who are paid from appropriated funds.

(c) DOD school teachers and school administrative personnel who are provided logistic and administrative support by an Air Force installation commander.

(d) Air Force Reserve (AFRES) and Air National Guard (ANG) personnel when performing active duty, full-time National Guard duty, or inactive duty training, ANG technicians under 32 U.S.C. 709.

(e) Retired or separated Air Force military personnel who suffer damage or loss resulting from the last storage or movement of personal property, or for claims accruing before retirement or separation.

(f) AFROTC cadets while on active duty for summer training.

(g) United States Air Force Academy cadets.

The following individuals are not proper claimants:

(a) Subrogees and assignees of proper claimants, including insurance companies.

(b) Conditional vendors and lienholders.

(c) Non-Air Force personnel, including American Red Cross personnel, United Services Organization (USO) performers, employees of government contractors, and Civil Air Patrol (CAP) members.

(d) AFROTC cadets who are not on active duty for summer training.

(e) Active duty military personnel and civilian employees of a military service other than the Air Force.

(f) DOD employees who are not assigned to the Air Force.

(g) Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) employees and other employees whose salaries are paid from nonappropriated funds (see subpart O).

(h) Military personnel of foreign governments.

Payable claims must be for:

(a) Personal property which is reasonable or useful under the circumstances of military service.

(b) Loss, damage, destruction, confiscation, or forced abandonment which is incident to service.

(c) Losses that are not collectible from any other source, including insurance and carriers.

(d) Property that is owned by the claimants, or their immediate families, or borrowed for their use, or in which the claimants or their immediate families has an enforceable ownership interest.

(e) Losses occurring without the claimants' negligence.

Claims may be payable for loss of or damage to tangible personal property when the damage occurs incident to service. For loss of or damage to property to be incident to service, it must occur at a place and time that is connected to the service of an active duty military member or employment of a civilian employee.

(a) Authorized location. Claims are only payable when the claimed property is located in an authorized location. There must be some connection between the claimant's service and the location of the claimed property. Duty locations where personal property is used, stored or held because of official duties are authorized places. Other authorized places may include:

(1) Any location on a military installation not otherwise excluded.

(2) Any office, building, recreation area, or real estate the Air Force or any other DoD element uses or controls.

(3) Any place a military member is required or ordered to be pursuant to their duties and while performing those duties.

(4) Assigned Government housing or quarters in the United States or provided in kind. The Military Personnel and Civilian Employees' Claims Act specifically prohibits payment for loss of or damage to property in quarters within the U.S. unless the housing or quarters are assigned or otherwise provided in kind. Base housing that has not been privatized is generally considered assigned or provided in kind wherever it is located.

(i) Privatized housing or quarters within the United States subject to the Military Housing Privatization Initiative located within the fence line of a military installation or on federal land in which the DoD has an interest is considered assigned or otherwise provided in kind for the purposes of the Military Personnel and Civilian Employees' Claims Act.

(ii) [Reserved]

(5) Housing or quarters outside the United States. Outside the US, authorized off-base quarters, as well as assigned quarters, including quarters in U.S. territories and possessions, are authorized places. The residence of a civilian employee is not an authorized location if the employee is a local inhabitant.

(6) Temporary duty (TDY) quarters and locations en route to the TDY destination. Significant deviations from the direct travel route are not authorized locations.

(7) Permanent change of station (PCS) temporary quarters and locations enroute to the PCS destination. Significant deviations from the direct travel route are not authorized locations.

(8) Entitlement and benefit locations. For these locations to be authorized, the claimant must be using them for the intended purpose and the property must be reasonably linked to that purpose.

(9) Locations where personal property shipped or stored at government expense are found. Government facilities where property is stored at the claimant's expense or for their convenience without an entitlement are not authorized places.

(b) Payable causes of loss incident to service. Because the Personnel Claims Act (PCA) is not a substitute for private insurance, loss or damage at quarters or other authorized locations may only be paid if caused by:

(1) An unusual occurrence;

(2) Theft, vandalism or other malfeasance;

(3) Hostile action;

(4) A carrier, contractor, warehouseman or other transportation service provider storing or moving goods or privately owned vehicles at government expense;

(5) An agent of the US; or

(6) A permanent seizure of a witness' property by the Air Force.

(c) Privately owned vehicles (POV). Pay for damage to or loss of POVs caused by government negligence under subpart F or K. Pay under this subpart for damage or loss incident to:

(1) Theft of POVs or their contents, or vandalism to parked POVs:

(i) Anywhere on a military installation.

(ii) At offbase quarters overseas.

(iii) At other authorized places.

(2) Government shipment:

(i) To or from oversea areas incident to PCS.

(ii) On a space available reimbursable basis.

(iii) As a replacement vehicle under the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR).

(3) Authorized use for government duty other than PCS moves. The owner must have specific advance permission of the appropriate supervisor or official. Adequate proof of the permission and of nonavailability of official transportation must be provided prior to paying such claims. Claims arising while the claimant is deviating from the principal route or purpose of the trip should not be paid, but claims occurring after the claimant returns to the route or purpose should be paid. Travel between quarters and place of duty, including parking, is not authorized use for government duty.

(4) Paint spray, smokestack emission, and other similar operations by the Air Force on a military installation caused by a contractor's negligence. (Process the claim under subpart F or K, if government negligence causes such losses.) If a contractor's operation caused the damage:

(i) Refer the claim first to the contractor for settlement.

(ii) Settle the claim under this subpart if the contractor does not pay it or excessively delays payment, and assert a claim against the contractor.

(d) Damage to mobile or manufactured homes and contents in shipment. Pay such claims if there is no evidence of structural or mechanical failure for which the manufacturer is responsible.

(e) Borrowed property. Pay for loss or damage to property claimants borrow for their use. Either the borrower or lender, if proper claimants, may file a claim. Do not pay for property borrowed to accommodate the lender, i.e., such as to avoid weight or baggage restrictions in travel.

(f) Marine or aircraft incident. Pay claims of crewmembers and passengers who are in duty or leave status at the time of the incident. Payable items include jettisoned baggage, clothing worn at the time of an incident, and reasonable amounts of money, jewelry, and other personal items.

(g) Combat losses. Pay for personal property losses, whether or not the United States was involved, due to:

(1) Enemy action.

(2) Action to prevent capture and confiscation.

(3) Combat activities.

(h) Civil activity losses. Pay for losses resulting from a claimant's acts to:

(1) Quell a civil disturbance.

(2) Assist during a public disaster.

(3) Save human life.

(4) Save government property.

(i) Confiscated property. Pay for losses when:

(1) A foreign government unjustly confiscates property.

(2) An unjust change or application of foreign law forces surrender or abandonmnet of property.

(j) Clothing and accessories worn on the person. Pay claims for damage to eyeglasses, hearing aids, and dentures the government did not supply, when the damage results from actions beyond the normal risks associated with daily living and working. Claimants assume the risk of normal wear and tear, and their negligence bars payment of the claim.

(k) Money losses. Pay claims for loss of money when the losses are due to theft from quarters, other authorized places, or from the person, if the claimant was required to be in the area and could not avoid the theft by due care. As a general rule, $200.00 is reasonable to have in quarters, and $100.00 is reasonable to have on the person unless:

(1) The money was in a bona fide coin collection.

(2) The claimant can justify possession of the money for a PCS move, extended TDY, vacation, extensive shopping trip, or similar circumstances. The claimant must show a good reason why the money had not been deposited in a bank or converted into travelers checks or a money order.

(3) Local commercial facilities are not available or because U.S. personnel do not generally use such facilities.

A claim is not payable if:

(a) It is not incident to the claimant's service.

(b) The loss or damage is caused in whole or in part by the negligence or wrongful act of the claimant, the claimant's spouse, agent, or employee.

(c) It is a subrogation or assigned claim.

(d) The loss is recovered or recoverable from an insurer or other source unless the settlement authority determines there is good cause for not claiming against the insurer.

(e) It is intangible property including bank books, promissory notes, stock certificates, bonds, baggage checks, insurance policies, checks, money orders, travelers checks and credit cards.

(f) It is government property, including issued clothing items carried on an individual issue supply account. (Clothing not carried on an individual issue supply account which is stolen or clothing lost or damaged in transit may be considered as a payable item when claimed.)

(g) It is enemy property.

(h) It is a loss within the United States at offbase quarters the government did not provide.

(i) It is damage to real property.

(j) It is an appraisal fee, unless the settlement authority requires one to adjudicate the claim.

(k) It is property acquired or shipped for persons other than the claimant or the claimant's immediate family; however, a claim for property acquired for bona fide gifts may be paid.

(l) It is an article held for sale, resale, or used primarily in a private business.

(m) It is an item acquired, possessed, shipped, or stored in violation of any U.S. Armed Force directive or regulation.

(n) It is an item fraudulently claimed.

(o) It is for charges for labor performed by the owner or immediate family member.

(p) It is for financial loss due to changed or cancelled orders.

(q) It is for expenses of enroute repair of a mobile or manufactured home.

(r) It is a loss of use of personal property.

(s) It is an attorney or agent fee.

(t) It is the cost of preparing a claim, other than estimate fees.

(u) It is an inconvenience expense.

(v) It is a loss of, or damage to POV driven during PCS.

(w) It is a personal property insurance premium.

(x) It is a claim for a thesis or other similar papers, except for the cost of materials.

(y) It is damage to, or loss of a rental vehicle which TDY or PCS orders authorized.

(z) It is a cost to relocate a telephone or mobile or manufactured home due to a government ordered quarters move.

A claimant may request reconsideration of an initial settlement or denial of a claim. The claimant sends the request in writing, to the settlement authority within a reasonable time following the initial settlement or denial. Sixty days is considered a reasonable time, but the settlement authority may waive the time limit for good cause.

(a) The original settlement authority reviews the reconsideration request. The settlement authority sends the entire claim file with recommendations and supporting rationale to the next higher settlement authority if all relief the claimant requests is not granted.

(b) The decision of the higher settlement authority is the final administrative action on the claim.

The Air Force becomes subrogated to the rights of the claimant upon settling a claim. The Air Force has the rights of contribution and indemnity permitted by the law of the situs or under contract. The Air Force does not seek contribution or indemnity from U.S. military personnel or civilian employees whose conduct in scope of employment gave rise to government liability.

The military services have jointly established the “Allowance List-Depreciation Guide” to determine values for most items and to limit payment for some categories of items.