Benefits available for military families
Today is Veterans Day and November is Military Family Appreciation Month. In addition to a day and month celebrating service members’ and their families’ dedication to their country, there are benefits to military service.
This includes military pay (and an annuity if you have more than 20 years of service), health care and life insurance, but there are a few other benefits that can make other areas of life as a veteran or active duty servicemember easier.
Here are nine military family benefits you should know.
1. Help with educational expenses: Military service members and veterans can get help with educational expenses including books and living expenses through the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, better known as the GI Bill. Members can also transfer these benefits to a living spouse andchildren. Beyond that, children of service members who died in Iraq or Afghanistan as a result of the Sept. 11 attacks can receive additional Pell Grant funds aswell as Iraq and Afghanistan Service Funds.
2. Discounts: Many mainstream retailers offer special discounts to military members and families that aren’t available to the general public. This includes car companies like Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai and Infiniti aswell as Brides Across America, Ashley Stewart and Apple, which offers a 10% discount on all products and services, according to Military Benefits.
3. Child care: Military families can receive child care in-home or at one of more than 800 facilities overseen by the Department of Defense. Families can even receive before- and after-school care for school-aged children (ages 6-12) as well as holiday break programming.
4. Groceries/commissary: Service members and their families can shop at base grocery stores and commissaries that are operated by the Department of Defense. These stores charge on average 30% less than what most consumers pay, according to Military One Source.
5. Tax-free housing: Military members can receive a Basic Allowance for Housing, whichis tax exempt. The allowance is monthly and based on outside factors like location and pay grade.
6. Legal assistance: Through the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, service members are entitled to certain legal assistance for civil proceedings including debt, repossessions, lease terminations and liens among other things. For example, the act places a 6% cap on interest rates on financial obligations incurred before the beginning of military service (including student loans). Creditors must also go to a judicial court before initiating foreclosure or re possession proceedings if the home or item was obtained before entering service.
7. Taxpreparation: Military members also qualify for free or discounted tax preparation through several sources. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, sponsored by the IRS, offers free tax preparation and assistance for more complex military-specific tax issues. Military members can also get free tax preparation through the Military One Source Program, TaxSlayer, TurboTax and the IRS’s free file software, according to Military. com. Service members who are in active combat may also be exempt fromtheir earnings being taxed, according to Military OneSource.
8. Travel: There are several travel benefits available to service members. Some airlines, including American and Delta, offer early boarding for military members as well as free checked baggage up to a certain limit. Military members can also benefit fromSpace-Available travel for unused seats on Department of Defense flights after existing passengers, baggage and cargo have been accommodated.
9. Special needs support: Military families with special needs can receive aid through the Exceptional Family Member Program. Each branch of the Armed Forces has its own program, complete with benefits like learning support and residential aid.