What is a typical first step when a pay error is reported by a unit member?

• A. Notify the member to request a manual check from DFAS.
• B. Cancel all future pay until the issue is resolved.
• C. Gather documentation, review the LES, and verify entitlement codes and effective dates.
• D. Re-enlist the member to refresh entitlements.

Answer: (C)

When a pay error is reported, the first step is to gather evidence and confirm what the member’s pay should reflect. This means collecting supporting documents and carefully reviewing the Leave and Earning Statement to verify the entitlement codes that apply and the effective dates of those entitlements. Entitlement codes dictate which pay items are authorized, while effective dates show when those items start or stop, so checking them ensures you know exactly what should have been paid and when. With this verified information you can accurately pinpoint the discrepancy and prepare the correct correction or escalation, rather than making premature changes. Prematurely canceling pay or instructing the member to seek a manual DFAS check without a solid factual basis, or taking unrelated actions like re-enlisting, would not address the underlying issue and could cause further problems.