--------FB LIKEBOX-----

You Might Qualify for up to $500

September 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I expect that all of you know what Basic Allowance for Housing is, less known is Basic Allowance for Subsistence.  It’s roughly $300 for enlisted and $220 for officers.

Have you ever heard of Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance (FSSA) Program to help with your financial needs? This program can help you increase your regular BAS to up to $500. You have to apply, you have to qualify. Also: You might not qualify for Food Stamps but you very well might be able to qualify for this program.

Who is eligible?

Service members (SM) on active duty receiving full or partial  BAS are eligible.  This Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance (FSSA) Program is also available for service members and their families stationed overseas. Note that this does not include soldiers in basic training.

How much?

Under this program, a service member’s Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) is increased to make his or her household income equal to 130 percent of the United States Department of Agriculture federal poverty line.   The maximum entitlement is $500 per month.

How to Apply?

This program is voluntary and you HAVE to apply in order to be considered. FSSA requires annual re-certification and certification by the service member’s command – totally worth for an additional $150 or so.

Filed Under: entitlements, Military Money Matters, Resources Tagged With: , , , ,

DFAS Customer Service Phone Numbers

July 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

DFAS phone numbersI know, I know, listing contacts and phone numbers is really NOT exciting. Think back though, to the last time you were looking for a phone number. Did you really find that number right away? See. So there, that’s why it can’t hurt that I post it again.

General DFAS “customer service”:

          888-332-7411
press
 1 Military Retired and Annuitant Pay
2 Military Pay
3 Travel Pay
4 Military Debts (including waivers)
5 myPay and password resets
6 Garnishments
# Additional options:
Savings Deposit Program
Navy Secondary Dependency and Catch 62
Thrift Savings Plan

Pay Army                                                                    888-729-2769

Army Transportation Pay
 011-49-631-411-6568/ 6566 / 6430
DCMS/DeCA/DLA/Defense Agencies
 011-49-631-411-6520
DFAS Japan Customers

Customer Service

 011-81-311-755-4599
Air Force
 011-81-311-755-6517 / 6288
Navy
 011-81-311-755-2932 / 3202
Army
 011-81-311-755-2186 / 2153
Marines
 011-81-311-755-2942 / 3338
Transportation
 011-81-311-755-2975
Filed Under: Military Money Matters, Resources Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

10% interest for savings? Here is how

June 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

10% interest during deploymentYour spouse is deploying to a designated combat zone. You have your Power of Attorneys, you made sure your finances are taking care of. Among other things you called your bank and checked if you qualify for a reduced credit card interest rate due to the deployment (USAA). But while banks are giving record low interest rates, the DoD Savings Deposit Program will allow you 10% on your deposited money! What a great opportunity! If you can at all take advantage of what’s out there.

The DoD Savings Deposit Program (SDP)

Your family qualifies under this program to earn 10% interest on any amount up to $10,000. You might say ” I don’t have $10,000″ well, maybe you have $5,000, maybe $1,000? Any amount is smart to pack into this program. 10% is an incredibly high interest rate. Don’t let it get away. Of course there are rules and it’s not hard to do at all:

via DFAS

If you are serving in an SDP-eligible combat zone, you can start your SDP account once you’ve been deployed for a minimum of 30 consecutive days or at least one day in each of three consecutive months, and you must be receiving Hostile Fire Pay. Any military finance office in theater can help you establish an account and assist you in setting up the deposit method most convenient for you.

A total of $10,000 may be deposited during each deployment and will earn 10% interest annually. You cannot close your account until you have left the combat zone, although your money will continue to draw interest for 90 days once you’ve returned home or to your permanent duty station.

Groupon: Get the Best Deal in Your City Today!

Deposits may be made in cash, by check or through allotment. Once started, allotments may be increased or decreased as your financial situation changes. Your allotment will stop upon your departure from the combat zone.

While your account will be closed and all funds returned to you via direct deposit 120 days after leaving the combat zone, there are some guidelines regarding earlier withdrawal you need to know:

  • Once your account reaches a $10,000 balance, you may withdraw funds over $10,000 on a quarterly basis.
  • Emergency withdrawal must be approved by your commanding officer who must determine that it is necessary for the health and welfare of you or your family.
  • If you want your funds before the 120-day period ends, your myPay account provides an automated request option for Savings Deposit Program participants.
  • You can also send a request including your name, Social Security number and date of departure from the combat zone…
    • … via e-mail to CCL-SDP@dfas.mil
    • …via fax to (216) 522-5060 “Attention: SDP”
    • …or by mail to DFAS-Cleveland Center (DFAS-CL), ATTN: SDP, Special Claims, 1240 East 9th St., Cleveland , OH 44199-2055
  • Funds will be transferred electronically to the direct deposit account on record, but may be deposited in another account you identify or via hard copy check. You must identify how you want funds returned to you. For banking/credit union accounts, provide the bank name, routing number, account number and account type (savings or checking). For hard copy checks, provide a complete mailing address.
  • Be sure your allotment has been stopped before requesting withdrawal.

Need help with your SDP account? Our staff is ready to help, just contact us at:

Toll Free (Stateside Only): 1-888-332-7411
Commercial: 216-522-5096
DSN: 580-5096
Fax: (Attention SDP): 216-522-5060
E-mail: CCL-SDP@dfas.mil
Filed Under: Military Money Matters, Programs/Events, Resources Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

I bet you didn’t know:”PCS Customer Service”

June 11, 2011 By 1 Comment

I bet yoDFAS get paid for your DITYu didn’t know that there is such a thing as PCS customer service. I was surprised. This term is a little bit misleading. This customer service refers only to PCS travel voucher payments and not to your general PCS procedure as there are many moving parts to this puzzle, think: JPPSO, TMO, Finance and so on. You might not need this info right NOW, but bookmark it or know where to find it.

Military PCS Customer Service

When completing a Military PCS move, service members will in-process with their local Defense Military Pay Office (DMPO) at their new permanent duty station.  The DMPO will then submit the PCS travel voucher to DFAS Rome for processing.

Please contact your servicing DMPO for submission information and for any additional questions you may have regarding your PCS voucher.  All PPM/DITY (when you are packing and moving yourself) claims must first be checked by the servicing Transportation Office for approval of weight allowance.  After approval by the Transportation Office, vouchers are to be submitted to DFAS Rome for processing. PPM/DITY Claim forms must be submitted through fax, or mail.  Fax numbers and the DFAS Rome mailing address are listed below. Usually your finance, JPPS Office will help you with questions as well.

PPM/DITY Submission Information
General Customer
Service Questions		 1-888-332-7366
DSN: 699-0300
Select Option 1
Email: DFAS-IN.Travel@dfas.mil
PPM/DITY Claims Fax: 317-275-0277
DSN: 510-366-0277
Mailing Address DFAS Rome
Attention: Travel
325 Brooks Road
Rome, NY 13441

via DFAS


Filed Under: Allowances, entitlements, Military Money Matters, PCS'ing, PPM (DITY), Resources Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Women in the Work-Force

March 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Military Spouse employment is a hot topic. While our soldiers are receiving orders to move to a different place with a job already lined up (even if dangerous or work intensive – and there is plenty of that out there), we spouses usually come along, meaning that whatever job they’ve held needs to be given up as most jobs don’t transfer. Overseas assignments produce a new set of issues for accompanying spouses. Here are some interesting facts about women in the work-force.

White House report on Women

Recently, the White House published “The White House Report on Women”, which was long overdue since the last federal government report was produced during the Kennedy administration with Eleonore Roosevelt in charge (wow).

Facts that might interest you:

  • 27% of women earn more than their husbands
  • 57% of couples are dual income households.
  • women still receive less in certain industries, which weighs heavy when you consider that the majority of lost jobs are jobs held by men
  • when it comes to education, women have not only caught up with men, in many instances we’ve surpassed men.
  • the White House report shows women in their peak earnings years have significantly higher depression rates in the report than men.
  • one out of every five women work as nurses, nurses aides, teachers, secretaries, and cashiers.
  • median income for a working woman in America is $35,000
  • What was really interesting that in the report there was no mention of women business owners.
Manisha Thakor is the founder of the Women’s Financial Literacy Initiative . She is a passionate advocate for global women’s economic empowerment, just a bit more nurturing and less in-your-face. She was interviewed by Sarah Eden who then told Manisha’s suggestions on how to create a financial command tower, why saving money is pretty much like flossing your teeth and what you do when your budget deploys.

Filed Under: Military LIfe, Military Money Matters, Resources Tagged With: , , , , ,

Military Family/ Pre-Deployment Checklist

March 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Pre-deployment/Military family checklistI was interested in Megan, after she had posted one of her blog posts on the MilitaryDutyStations Facebook wall. I went to her blog and then to her website and found a wealth of information. The information is structured my favorite way: in bullet points. Though, Megan is Canadian and lives in Canada, separation from a loved one is similar if not the same and therefore her suggestions are just as valid as if she was American.

Megan meant for this blog post to be a pre-deployment checklist, however, as I look through the list I am convinced that checking off and taking care of most of the bullets will help to keep your military family ready for anything at any time – regardless of your spouses deployment.

I am looking forward to more guest posts, but here is her first – enjoy!

When my husband went on his first deployment to Bosnia, many years ago I really wish I had the knowledge, lists and resources I do now! I had no idea about what it would be like, how tough some days would be, what to do to prepare for his departure, what resources were available, what information I needed, etc. I was completely and utterly clueless. It was one of the hardest experiences of my life, next to my mother dying. I was alone, in a strange city and had no family close by. I was also 6 months pregnant and with a 1 year old. I got a horrible flu and ended up in the hospital, the water pipes burst, I had over an hour commute each way to work, I had a class of 36 children and my daughter regressed (not surprisingly, she had to deal with a moody, pregnant mother, absent father and the arrival of a baby with colic). I look  back now at that first deployment and can finally laugh (it took at least 5 years before I could really joke about it and mean it) back then I spent a lot of time crying and whining to my best friend. In fact, she is responsible for my sanity today. My blogs, books, column and resources are all created  with the goal of strengthening military families and hopefully ensuring their deployment experiences are a little easier because of some of my tips.

Pre – Deployment Checklist

Hotwire

  • Get copy of deployment orders, birth certificate and drivers licence of deployed member

  • Confirm contact information, an email address, rear party and unit contact information

  • Contact Family Support or Readiness Centre

  • Attend de-briefings

  • Ensure you have up-to-date military family ID card(s) for all eligible family members

  • Update contact information for friends and family

  • Complete a “Need To Know” information page for the fridge

  • Power of Attorney & Will

  • Power of guardianship completed

  • Location of deeds and mortgage papers

  • Car & house insurance documents available

  • Marriage Certificate or Common Law Declaration copies

  • Create household budget and agree upon it together

  • Bill, credit card and car payments organized

  • Numbers securely recorded for accounts and credit cards

  • Authorization for access to accounts and information

  • Pay office information and pay allotments organized

  • Organize house maintenance (snow removal, garden, grass cutting,repairs, etc.)

  • Health Insurance and information accessible

  • Passwords available – computer, internet, etc.

  • Create an emergency contact list

  • Establish how you are going to get information out to friends and family

  • Contact school(s)/teachers – provide timings of deployment and new emergency contact information

  • Inform your work

  • Update a calendar together with important dates and events & make copies or provide electronic copy for deploying family member too

  • Ensure car maintenance is up to date, is scheduled and emergency car kit available

  • Ask family or friend to keep a set of house and car keys

  • If travelling with children, ensure you have the appropriate documentation (permission to travel, passports, etc.)


© Megan Egerton – While You Were Away 2011

For more information about our columns, books, blogs or resources, go to:

www.whileyouwereaway.org


What are your tips for a deployment/military family checklist?


Mint.com - Take Control of Your Money

Filed Under: Military Family, Military LIfe, Military Money Matters, Resources Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Your on Post/Base Tax Center – It’s a benefit

March 1, 2011 By 1 Comment

Military Installation Tax Centers are a benefitTax Software comes in all shapes and sizes: From Free (via militaryonesource.com ie) to “the sky is the limit”, from software on CD to online programs. They are all geared to help you do your taxes, preferably on time. If you are using this tax software then this can be done from the convenience of your home. However, if you are not so computer savvy – or tax savvy-  then simply make an appointment with  your On-post or On-base tax center. The tax centers are there to help you file your state and federal taxes and most centers will be open by the middle to end of January. The ‘tax preparers’ are IRS certified and, because they are military as well, they are knowledgeable about military-specific deductions such as PCS expenses or specialty pay like deployment benefits. Not all tax assistance centers are the same, so it is important that you call ahead to see if you need an appointment and to learn which documents are needed to ensure quick and ‘painfree’ tax preparation.

If you (your spouse) are deployed, you and your spouse have 180 days from the time you leave the deployment area to prepare your tax return. But if you are expecting to receive taxes returned to you, why wait for your money? Hear ye, homefront spouses, you can still go and file your taxes jointly, but you must bring a Power of Attorney to do so, because you will be signing for your deployed soldier. You can get Power of Attorney, at your on base or post legal office . Hopefully, you did this already BEFORE your soldier deployed.

You might also want to bring:
Free Credit Score 120x60

  • W-2′s
  • 1099s
  • 1098s
  • Social Security Cards for your and your dependents as well as all birth dates
  • A copy of last years tax return(s)
  • Copies of court orders for divorce, child custody and child support (if applicable)
  • Bring your bank direct-deposit information – account and routing numbers – so that you can file electronically

Some of the mentioned documents you can print out via myPay

Other documents:

  • receipts of your PCS expenses (now is the time to get them out and all your diligent documentation will pay off)
  • childcare costs
  • donation receipts ( you should have several especially if you PCS’d this year)
  • Stock, bond, or mutual fund sales
  • Alimony paid or received
  • Did you gain or lose money on the sale of your home, bring any documentation you might have
  • ANY income receipts you might have had last year in form of benefits, payments, annuities…Note: Banks and institutions usually don’t send their forms out anymore but make them available for you online.

If you are in doubt about specific income/expenses, bring your documentation and ask when you get to the tax center. The earlier it’s done the earlier it’s off your  mind. Regular deadline is April 15th.

LifeLock Identity Theft Prevention - Save 10%

Filed Under: Military Money Matters, Resources Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Quick Reminder: Tax season is upon us

February 27, 2011 By 1 Comment

Groupon Deal Sunday through Tuesday:
3 DVD rentals or 1$ at REDBOX! Click, to get the deal!


Groupon: Get the Best Deal in Your City Today! If you want to do your taxes as early as possible in 2011-either because you expect a return on your tax payments, you are VERY organized, or you are simply excited to dive into tax calculations- then don’t wait longer than you necessarily have to.

Military service members, military retirees and annuitants, and federal civilian employees paid by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) can get their 2010 tax statements up to two weeks earlier using myPay. Get your MYPAY access. Here is some help with it here is a video tutorial

DFAS has recently released the schedule for posting and mailing 2010 tax statements such as W-2s, 1099Rs and 1099INTs customers will need to file their annual tax returns.

Take a look at the digital delivery vs snail mail here:

Form/Document Date available on myPay Dates mailed via the
U.S. Post Office
Retiree Annual Statement (RAS) Dec. 4, 2010 Dec. 16-31. 2010
Retiree 1099R Dec. 14, 2010 Dec. 16-31, 2010
Annuitant Account Statement (AAS) Dec. 15, 2010 Dec. 19-31, 2010
Annuitant 1099R Dec. 15, 2010 Dec. 19-31, 2010
VSI/SSB W-2 * Not available via myPay Jan. 4-5, 2011
Active Duty Air Force, Army, Navy W-2 Jan. 24, 2011 Jan. 24-29, 2011
Reserve Air Force, Army, Navy W-2 Jan. 4, 2011 Jan. 4-7, 2011
Marine Corps Active & Reserve W-2 Jan. 18, 2011 Jan. 19-20, 2011
Civilian employee W-2 Jan. 6, 2011 Jan. 7-15, 2011
Savings Deposit Program 1099INT Jan. 21, 2011 Jan. 21-22, 2011
Vendor Pay 1099 Not available via myPay Jan. 20-25, 2011
Vendor Pay MISC W-2 Jan. 31, 2011 Jan. 20-25, 2011
Travel PCS W-2 Jan. 31, 2011 Jan. 20-25, 2011
Army Non-Appropriated Fund Civilian Pay W-2 Jan. 11, 2011 Not available

* Voluntary Separation Incentive/Special Separation Benefit

Tax statements available through myPay are approved for use by the IRS. In addition to their earlier availability over mailed forms, tax statements posted to accounts in myPay remain available throughout the year.

Filed Under: Military Money Matters, Resources Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Deposit your checks at the UPS Store

January 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

You might know, that I really don’t like it when a company is tooting their own horn or even spamming.  What I don’t mind is talking about a new service that companies offer to make our (milspouses ie.) daily lives easier and get ‘chores’ done faster. One of those companies is USAA. I am the first one to tell you, that USAA is one of the most innovative banks out there. They were among the first ones to accept scanned checks. Now I can take a picture of a check and with their USAA app for smart phones direct deposit it into my savings or checking account. Love this app!

Since USAA does not have too many brick an mortar subsidiaries and not everyone is comfortable to send their checking information via phone/wifi lines to them, USAA will be offering a wonderful alternative:

You will be able to deposit a check into your account at the local UPS office. It’s called USAA Easy deposit – with 1900 UPS offices all over the country it should be an easy thing to do. This new service is expected to roll out next month, so keep an eye out for it. I would be curious to know if this works at OCONUS military locations either civilian or military as well.

At this time this service will be limited to single party, personal checks. Any “Cash, cashier’s checks, money orders, foreign checks, savings bonds, business checks, traveler’s checks, and multiple party checks are not eligible for Easy Deposit” Also ” High dollar deposits may not be available for immediate withdrawal.”

USAA says it will work this way:

It’s simple and secure

USAA Easy Deposit means you’ll only need your USAA ATM/debit card and your endorsed check to make a secure deposit. You won’t need to provide personal information like your account number, PIN or even a deposit slip. Here’s how it works:

  • Give your endorsed check to the store clerk, who will swipe your ATM card and scan your check for you.
  • Confirm the deposit amount and the store clerk will submit your deposit to your account.
  • Your deposit receipt will be printed on the back of your check, which will then be returned to you.
  • Your account will be credited immediately.
    • Filed Under: Military Money Matters, Resources Tagged With: , , , , ,

    IT – Which shall not be named

    January 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

    living will, power of attorney health care

    We are a military family and with sadness and sorrow I am reminded on a almost daily basis that tragedy can strike any moment. I don’t like to think about bad things that  COULD happen in our family’s life, however not talking about it also means not being prepared for it. Do you have a durable power of attorney for health care? Or an advance health care directive, a living will?

    Advance Health Care Directive:

    Determine your medical care in advance, so that when you can’t others know what your wishes are. In this document you can determine, while you are still able, the extend of medical care you would like to receive in a certain specific serious (health) situation. It might be a terminal condition when death is imminent, a persistent vegetative state or an end-state condition or an irreversible condition. Should one of these condition come to pass, this health directive will be used to develop a treatment plan in accordance with your wishes.

    You could determine:

    • how you would like to have pain treated
    • to what extend you would like to have life prolonging treatments administered

    Resources: What’s important to you? , Make your wishes known, Health Care Directive Form(English),(Spanish)

    What is a durable power of attorney for health care?

    Determine who has the right to make the medical decisions, that you have determined in your advance health care directive. It’s a power of attorney in reference to your health care. You would give a durable power of attorney for health care to a person you trust (and is available) and, who will be able to make decisions regarding YOUR health care, but only when YOU are not able to make decisions any more. ie. you are in a coma due to an accident or serious illness. The person you appoint could then sign for needed surgery and could also obtain your medical records which might be important if another physician needs to be consulted.

    Go to your on-base/on-post legal office to get the necessary forms and paperwork. Legal will guide you through the process. Make sure, whoever you appoint to make these decisions for you or to carry out your decisions, most importantly knows about it but also knows what you exactly want and what’s expected.

    Remember, that these forms can be changed anytime – and actually should if anything has changed.

    Disclaimer: This is not legal advice, this is my experience, perception, understandgin and suggestions. For legal advice consult your lawyer or save your money and see the legal office on base/post. TTFN

    via

    Filed Under: Military LIfe, Military Money Matters, Resources Tagged With: , , , , , ,
    « Older Posts