Filing a PCS claim

Capt. Patrice Pugh
435th Air Base Wing Legal Office

The procedures and deadlines for filing a PCS claim apply regardless of whether members are PCSing in or out of the KMC.

When damage occurs to household goods, the carrier must be given notice of all loss or damage. The DD Form 1840/1840R, or the pink form, received when the carrier delivers the household goods, is used for this purpose. Annotate on the form, while the carrier is still present, any damage that has occurred. Upon unpacking, if any additional damage is discovered, it should be noted on the back of the DD Form 1840 or the 1840R. This form must be brought to the claims office within 70 days of delivery.

The government cannot recover funds from the carrier for damage to items not documented on the form and is therefore often precluded from making payment to the member.

Submitting a form to the claims office does not constitute filing a claim. In other words, even though it is submitted within 70 days, a formal claim still must be filed within two years of the date of delivery of the shipment.
The pink form may be dropped off at the Ramstein Law Center Claims Office, Bldg. 2137, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. At that time, claims personnel provide an initial briefing as well as a checklist of all the required forms and documents needed to file the formal claim. Formal claims are normally accepted by appointment only. However, if the list of items claimed is five or less, an appointment is not necessary.

The claims office accepts smaller claims on a walk-in basis from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Wednesday. Call the claims office at 480-7011 or 06371-47-7011 for more details about PCS claims.