Start with the debt basis

• What payment or entitlement created the alleged debt?
• What period and amount are involved?
• Which personnel, pay, travel, dependency, or status transaction generated it?
• Is the debt itself wrong, or is the debt valid but collection would be inequitable or should be remitted?

Do not combine a dispute with a waiver request

DFAS expressly distinguishes disputing the validity or amount of a debt from asking the government to waive collection of an otherwise valid debt. DFAS states that a waiver request will be returned if the DD Form 2789 says the debt itself is disputed. If validity is contested, seek the audit/correction or protest first.

Waiver versus remission

• Waiver: generally concerns erroneous payments of pay or allowances. DFAS processes qualifying waiver requests.
• Remission: cancellation of some or all qualifying military debt by the Secretary of a Military Department. DFAS states that it does not process military-service remission decisions.

Build the debt file

• Debt notice and every later collection notice
• LES/pay history for the entire affected period
• Orders, promotion/status records, dependency records, travel documents or other source transaction
• Audit or pay inquiry
• AskDFAS ticket and supporting attachments
• DD Form 2789 and endorsements if waiver is sought
• Proof of collection and later refund or adjustment

Official sources

• DFAS — Waivers and Remissions
• DFAS — Disputing or Protesting a Military Debt
• DFAS — Completing DD Form 2789

Source status: SRC-055; SRC-056; SRC-057 verified October 4, 2026. Follow the decision notice and current service/agency instructions when they provide a more specific deadline or filing route.