This generation of veterans and servicemembers have access to the best benefits of any era in history. From the VA Home Loan program, to the GI Bill you can save you money, enhance your career opportunities and even change your life. Don’t miss out on any of the benefits you have earned.
LATEST:
Resources and Support for PCS Moves With Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders come mixed feelings. Whether you’re excited by the prospect of starting over, unhappy about your upcoming move, or processing mixed emotions, the more resources and support you have, the better. Here’s an assortment of resources in 8 PCS-related categories you might find… Read more »
Push for VA to Provide Service Dogs to Veterans with Mental Health Issues, PTSD In February of this year, the House unanimously passed the PAWS (Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers) for Veterans Therapy Act, which would require the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) to begin funding a pilot program where service dogs would be trained for… Read more »
The Brandon Act Would Grant Access to Confidential Mental Health Support Rep. Seth Moulton, (D-Mass.) ––a Marine veteran–– recently introduced a bill in Congress that would make it easier for service members to seek confidential mental health care outside their chain of command. The bill is called The Brandon Act, in honor of 21 year-old… Read more »
Make Sure Your Life Insurance Matches You and Your Family’s Needs? Though money can’t begin to fill the void caused by a death in a family, making sure the financial needs of your loved ones will be met, even in the worst case scenario, will give you peace of mind. When you join the military,… Read more »
Moving Your Dog, Cat or Other Pets During PCS Executing a Permanent Change of Station, or PCS, is hard on the whole family. Spouses have to relocate or find new employment, children have to change schools no matter the time of year and the whole family has to make new friends. More often than not,… Read more »
Man’s Best Friend Versus PTSD There are over 21 million veterans in the United States, and many have faced challenges integrating back into civilian life. There are estimates that a whopping 20 percent of veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, which is one of the most common trauma-induced mental illnesses afflicting veterans today…. Read more »
New TRICARE Select Fees For Retirees Begin January 1, 2021 On June 22nd, TRICARE announced in a press release that TRICARE Select Group A retired beneficiaries must pay for enrollment fees “in order to maintain their health coverage.” The new fees are set to take effect on January 1st, 2021, and this is the first… Read more »
Deployment Prep How-To Being deployed is pretty much inevitable for many military service members. For deployments lasting from just a few weeks to up to a year, there are many types of obstacles that can arise for the families and friends of service members to tackle. Having a checklist or even just an idea of… Read more »
Process Change for Student Survivor Benefit Plan The Department of Defense announced an updated process for child beneficiaries of the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) when verifying that they are a full-time student. The SBP annuity is paid to the dependents of fallen service members or deceased military retirees. Payments usually stop when the dependent reaches… Read more »
Extension of VGLI Application Period The VA has extended the Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI) application period by 90 days. The extension of the application period ensures all eligible service members and veterans have an opportunity to apply for VGLI despite the widespread upheaval caused by COVID-19. Under the VGLI application period extension, former service… Read more »
TRICARE Extension Possible for Dependents On June 11th, House Representative Elaine Luria (D-VA) introduced H.R. 7176, the Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act, which would improve dependent coverage under the TRICARE Young Adult Program. If passed, this amendment would allow TRICARE dependents to remain on their parents’ insurance policy until the age of 26… Read more »
COVID-19’s Impact on Military Retirees’ Compensation The pandemic has greatly impacted the economy and that can be felt in a number of places. Unfortunately, military veteran compensation has not escaped the grasp of COVID-19 and sadly, many retirees have been and will continue to feel its effects well into next year. Bureau of Labor and… Read more »
New Legislation for Veterans Economic Recovery Introduced In an effort to get veterans and their spouses back to work so they can provide for themselves and their families, top Veterans Affairs lawmakers on Capitol Hill (Phil Roe, R-Tenn., Senate Veterans Affairs Chairman Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, Senate ranking member Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Rep. Mike Levin,… Read more »
Aid and Attendance and Housebound Benefits The best strategies for financial health are staying informed and thinking proactively. Even if you‘re under 65, it‘s wise to do your homework now so you can make provisions for your anticipated needs. Take care of yourself and your loved ones. Don‘t leave money on the table by overlooking… Read more »
Contract Revoked for Privatizing PCS Moves There has been increasing pressure on defense officials to improve household goods moves for military families, and to hold moving companies accountable. Officials at U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) have been considering several ideas and suggestions to improve the process. USTRANSCOM is a unified, functional combatant command which provides support… Read more »
Basic Training for Tax Time for Military Taxes are due on July 15, 2020, though if you’re serving in a combat zone, you have additional time to file. Whether you have one month or several before your deadline, taking these steps can help you make sure you don’t overpay. Earned Income Tax Credits See if… Read more »
DTS: Informational Guide The prospect of traveling and seeing the world is one of many allures of service in our nations Armed Forces. Whether if it is changing duty stations, going on a deployment or for official business, such as training or retirement out-processing; travel is a reality for both military members and Department of… Read more »
IDT Travel Reimbursement and Tax Deduction for National Guard and Reserves For soldiers in the Reserves and National Guard, the cost of traveling to and from Inactive Duty Training (IDT) every month can add up. Many live long distance from where their unit is located, some even traveling by plane for drill. It is not… Read more »
PCS Pay Entitlements In the United States Armed Forces, a permanent change of station (PCS) is the assignment, detail, or transfer of a member or unit to a different duty station under competent orders which neither specify the duty as temporary, nor provide for further assignment to a new station, nor direct return to the… Read more »
Photo: Lake Waccamaw State Park in North Carolina (image by Chelsea Bostelman) Therapeutic Outdoor Recreation for Veterans There are endless lists of free programs and discounts related to outdoor recreation for veterans and their families. Spending time outdoors and in nature can be of great value for veterans and service members in transition. Outdoor Recreation… Read more »
Oh, What a Difference a Day Makes You may have noticed that there’s a lot going on these days. Nations across the world are fighting against a pandemic, the likes of which we’ve not seen in a generation. We have doctors and nurses on the front lines, treating those who have contracted COVID-19. We have… Read more »
Less Obvious But Still Essential Overseas PCS Tips There is a lot of advice out there on what to pack and how to prepare for your Permanent Change of Station (PCS) overseas. Starting with deciding what to ship across the world and what to keep back, and ending with your final check list the night… Read more »
Veteran Mental Health and Resilience Resources The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an experience of unfamiliar stress for many people. The ever-evolving social distancing, quarantine, and personal protective equipment guidelines have added additional stressors to those we have already been dealing with. What is Resilience? Resilience is a tool that helps protect mental health and… Read more »
Aid for Homeless During COVID-19 The CARES Act allocated $17.2 billion for the Veterans Health Administration during this pandemic. The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) will use $300 million to combat the increased risk of veterans experiencing homelessness from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the VA, veterans who are homeless or at… Read more »
DFAS myPay The United States Military works hard to ensure that the individuals that make up its branches are provided for in all areas of life such as housing, healthcare, and finances. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) is an agency of the United States Department of Defense (DOD), headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. DFAS… Read more »
VA Loan Best Practices If you are an active service member, spouse, or dependent, the chances are great that you have heard of VA Loans. You may have even looked into them or read about them somewhere on the internet. A few weeks ago, we published an article explaining why you should consider using this… Read more »
Armed Forces Day is May 16th Armed Forces Day has been around since 1950. This year it falls on May 16th, the 3rd Saturday of May. Back in August of 1949, the Secretary of Defense announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day. This was to replace the separate branch-specific days they already had and… Read more »
TRICARE: All About the TRICARE Program Answering the call for our nation’s military, provides numerous benefits to the individuals who serve within its branches. In addition to serving the nation with selfless and honorable service, also comes valuable training, pay, retirement and healthcare benefits. However, a lot of military benefits can be overwhelming and sometimes… Read more »
What is the COVID-19 Stop Movement Order? The original Stop Movement Order, suspending travel for all Department of Defense (DOD) persons and their families, put into effect in March, was recently extended until June 30th. The order applies to both active and non-active duty DOD persons who were scheduled or had planned to travel within… Read more »
With 325 active-duty member suicides in 2018 according to the Defense Department, the U.S. Military as a whole has made it their mission to make that number more manageable. Service member suicides have surpassed the national average year after year as reported by Military Times, making mental health and addiction support resources more necessary. With… Read more »
10 Best States for Veterans Deciding where you want to move is one of the many decisions made when planning your transition out of the military. After being told where to move from duty station to duty station, you now have the choice of where you want to move and there may be many places… Read more »
With COVID-19 affecting the globe, many find themselves in a desperate financial situation. For those currently in the Reserves or National Guard, or retired from either, it’s possible that you may have lost some of your income, especially if you are not currently on active duty and have a civilian job. You may even be… Read more »
Telemedicine for Military Communities In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, telemedicine is increasingly important and in high demand. Many health programs are temporarily expanding these services, making it easier and safer for people to connect with their healthcare teams. What is Telemedicine? Telemedicine is the use of technology to communicate about health, often without… Read more »
Photo: Stadtbibliotheck in Stuttgart, Germany (image by Chelsea Bostelman) Did You Know About These Library Perks for the Military? Every April, libraries and library workers are celebrated during National Library Week. When is the last time you visited a library? For good reason, books come to mind for most people when thinking of libraries. But… Read more »
WWP Announces COVID-19 Relief Program On April 9th, The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) announced that it was putting up $10 million to assist wounded warriors in need as the US battles against COVID-19. Many in the military community are facing dire financial strains due to losses of income and financial insecurity. The hope is that… Read more »
Two Republican lawmakers, Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, and Rep. Trent Kelly (R-MS), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Military Personnel released their latest proposal on military family readiness on April 2, 2020. New Military Family Readiness Legislation Proposed Rep Thornberry stated that “Family readiness is a major… Read more »
COVID-19: What Veterans Need to Know As a veteran, you might be concerned about COVID-19 and what the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and its medical facilities are doing to protect and care for veterans during this pandemic. For up-to-date info on what organizations are doing to help during this unprecedented crisis, please visit –… Read more »
The New Veterans Benefits Banking Program Detailed As of December 20, 2019, the VA has a new program to help veterans receive better access to banking. Through the Veterans Benefits Banking Program (VBBP), the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Association of Military Banks of America (AMBA) are working to offer veterans and service members… Read more »
Organizations Supporting Military, Veterans and Their Families During The COVID-19 Pandemic During this time, many military families might be struggling either emotionally or financially. A spouse might have lost their job, they might need to spend more money on childcare, and regular resources could be limited. The good news is that there are different programs… Read more »
Military Family Support Organizations April is the Month of the Military Child. Our military children are resilient, understanding, and patient, as they have to be. They too go through deployments as well as PCS moves and anything else military life might bring them. It isn’t always easy but the good news is that there are… Read more »
Organizations That Provide Service Dogs Service members and veterans can come home from war needing to heal. There are many different ways to do this. One way to help with this is to offer these service members and veterans a service dog. This is a trained dog that works with those with a disability, such… Read more »
$1,500 For Childcare Costs From Army Emergency Relief Childcare costs can be a huge drain on your budget. In some cases, the cost of childcare can mean a spouse decides not to pursue their own career. Luckily, a new AER program can help with this. As of February 1, 2020, AER or Army Emergency Relief… Read more »
Although the military just received its 2020 military pay raise of 3.1%, it’s already time to look ahead to 2021. On February 10th, the US Department of Defense released a statement on the 2021 proposed military pay raise. President Donald J. Trump requested $705.4 billion to fund the Defense Department. The Department of Defense has asked… Read more »
Toyota Military Discount Toyota was formed in 1926 by Sakichi Toyoda to manufacture and sell the automatic looms which he had invented and perfected. Toyota Automobile was started in 1933 as a division of Toyoda Automatic Loom Works. The Toyota military discount is a rebate offer of $500. What Is the Toyota Military Discount? The… Read more »
Free Medical Marijuana Cards For Veterans? Since Medical Marijuana could be helpful to veterans with PTSD and chronic pain, two Florida legislators are pushing bills to give free medical cards to military veterans. With the high veteran suicide rate and so many veterans in need of pain management and relief, this could be a step… Read more »
Breast Cancer Screenings Will Use New Technology There is good news with regards to TRICARE and breast cancer screenings as the Department of Defense Department has added new technology for breast cancer screenings to its coverage. This was decided after female veterans in Congress pushed the Pentagon to make it available to active-duty service members,… Read more »
Changes to Army’s DLA Policy As of October 10, 2019, there has been a change in the way the Army handles DLA (Dislocation Allowance.) Dislocation Allowance is to partially reimburse a service member with or without dependents for the expenses incurred in relocating the member’s household during a PCS move. RELATED: PCS and Moving Discounts… Read more »
Open Enrollment Begins for TRICARE and FEDVIP TRICARE and FEDVIP open enrollment season has begun. This includes changing your TRICARE plan, getting or swapping dental plans and obtain vision coverage depending on your military status. During this open season, which lasts until December 9, 2019, is the only time you can make these changes unless… Read more »
Discounts For Military and Veterans For Black Friday & Thanksgiving Shopping Black Friday and Thanksgiving is around the corner. Did you know that you can find plenty of deals this time of year at your Commissary as well as the Exchange? Here is a break down of what you can find this year! Never miss… Read more »
Military Benefit Changes For 2020 Changes announced so far. Please keep checking back, as we will continue updating new changes to your military benefits for 2020. TRICARE Drug Costs To Increase By Over 40% Every year on January 1st, TRICARE has its regular cost increases. In 2020, we will see updates on prescription drug costs…. Read more »