Family resources

Benefits

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It’s not just the service member who’s in the military 24/7 — the family is, too. Being married to the military is a challenging life, but it can be a fulfilling one, too, if you stay flexible and get smart on how the system works. Looking for information on the Defense Department’s dependent schools? Child care options? Legal assistance resources? You’ll find all that and more here.

Send us your drawings and photos
To mark National Military Appreciation Month in May, we’re planning a month-long online salute to service members and their families. As part of that coverage, we’d like to showcase your...
Survivors’ benefit denied to spouses of fallen troops
A $50 monthly survivors’ allowance that begins Oct. 1 is facing criticism from advocates for widows and widowers because the payments are small and will not go to survivors of service members...
Older survivors get boost in payments
Social Security-eligible military survivors will see an increase in their survivor annuities April 1 as part of a chain of military benefits improvements taking place over the next two years.
Congress orders DoD to step up family readiness support
The services’ senior enlisted advisers — or spouses of senior enlisted personnel — will be among the members of a new family readiness council that will help the Defense Department...
Widow battles offsets in survivor benefits
The widow of a Navy SEAL who died in a 2004 training accident says military survivor benefits need a dramatic overhaul because the monthly payments don’t come close to making up for financial...
4 more states offer benefits to spouses forced to quit jobs
New Jersey, Arkansas, South Carolina and Connecticut have joined the list of states that now allow military spouses to collect unemployment compensation when they must quit their jobs to follow their...
Fisher House chief: Smash the bureaucracy
After helping heal hundreds of service members at Fisher House comfort homes across the nation, Ken Fisher said the failures in the health care system for wounded troops and veterans that have been...
Families of wounded ask Congress for more leave
An Army wife’s story of losing her job for taking time off to care for her combat-wounded husband is helping to persuade lawmakers to amend the Family and Medical Leave Act so that it gives...
Fund for injured veterans hits VA snag
Wounded Iraq war veteran Jimmy King and his wife, Beth, were two months behind on their rent and utilities, and other bills were mounting, just weeks before the birth of their first baby.
Policy on extra leave days called unfair to reserves
Reserve component leaders are up in arms about a recent Pentagon policy change that they say makes it difficult, if not impossible, for some reservists to use extra leave days they are awarded for...
Families: Survivor benefits overlook some
Gaps in government assistance are causing serious problems for the spouses, children and parents of service members and veterans, lawmakers were told April 24.
Education: What’s available to military families
Education is important to service members — whether you’re talking about the quality of schools for children, opportunities for spouses to further their education or advancing your own...
Armed Services YMCA
The Armed Services YMCA is a social services agency with branches and affiliates at many major installations in the U.S. Most services are offered free or for a nominal fee with a valid military...
Operation Homefront
This network, with 26 chapters nationwide, offers help with day-to-day issues for families of deployed troops. Services include food needs; critical car, home and appliance repair;...
Red Cross
Armed Forces Emergency Services of the American Red Cross provides a vital link to home for those serving in remote areas. Emergency messages can be initiated by service members or their families for...
Relief Societies
Private military relief societies can help service members solve emergency financial problems.
Spouse Clubs
These clubs, found at most military installations, help spouses get acquainted with new communities, make friends and find support. The clubs are chartered and registered with the local installations.
USA Cares
This civilian group, formed in 2003, helps families with various problems that arise during deployments and mobilizations, with a focus on helping families through short-term financial crunches. They...
USO Centers
The United Service Organizations operates more than 130 centers worldwide offering hospitality in commercial and military airports, on military bases and at Navy fleet centers.
Families: Financial help
Defense officials have embarked on a financial readiness campaign in an effort to educate service members and family members about wise financial decisions that can help them build wealth. Part of...
Resources for troops and families: Chaplains
Defense and service officials aim to help troops and families adjust to being uprooted every few years to move to a new community. Many spiritual, legal, financial, employment and other resources are...
Family resources: Child Care
The Defense Department Child Development Program is the largest employer-sponsored child care program in the country, serving some 200,000 children from newborn to age 12. It includes child...
Family Centers and Support Groups
Family centers act as one-stop places for members and their families to find information, education and assistance to help them manage the challenges and enjoy the benefits of military life.
Military OneSource
The Defense Department has a toll-free phone number and a Web site to augment installation family support programs.
Injured Service Member Support
The 24-hour-a-day Military Severely Injured Center provides personalized assistance for all service members severely injured in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom to ensure...
Inspector General
Installation inspectors general investigate complaints that cannot be resolved through the immediate chain of command. These typically involve service members who feel they have been wronged by...
Legal Assistance
Service members can get free legal advice for a variety of needs, particularly in preparing tax returns and in understanding any contract before signing it, from car loans to rental leases.
Liaison Office
The Army has a liaison office offering help with issues ranging from space-available travel to military pay.
Life Insurance
Active-duty service members automatically are insured for $400,000 under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) program.
Survivor Benefits
Spouse and/or child Survivor Benefit Plan coverage is automatic for all active-duty members and is free. However, the member's death must be classified as in the line of duty in order for an...
Death Benefits
Most military installations have casualty assistance officers to help families of service members who die on active duty. The officers are responsible for notifying the family of the death and...

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