On Your Side: Military Financial Support

Service members and their families have access to substantial resources to save money and manage their expenses. Learn more about different military pay and compensation benefits and ways to save and protect your family’s financial health with the following programs:

• Basic Pay
• Allowances
• Special and Incentive Pays
• Savings Deposit Program
• Thrift Savings Plan
• Free college and other benefits through the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
• Low-cost life insurance
• Low-cost loans

More ways to save and take control of your finances

About to make a purchase? Or want to pay off your debt? Saving for college? Use a financial calculator to help manage your money. Better yet, meet with a personal financial counselor for free to discuss any money matter. Call Military OneSource 24/7/365 at 800-342-9647.

• Achieve everyday savings by shopping at your military installation’s commissary and exchange. Shoppers typically save more than 25% compared to shopping in town.
• Check out Benefits.gov, which houses information on the wide range of benefits available to active-duty military and veterans. A go-to resource for all service members and families, it has information on interest rate reductions, tax benefits, educational and medical benefits and many other benefits you’re entitled to.
• The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act also provides service members with a range of rights and benefits from interest rate reductions to eviction protection. Know your rights and available perks.

Help with taxes

• Military OneSource provides free tax preparation and filing services and tax consultations.
• Military OneSource tax preparation and filing services is an easy-to-use online software product. Free technical assistance is available, if you need it, at 855-897-8639 and follow the prompts. If you have any personal tax-related questions, call 800-342-9647 to speak with a Military OneSource tax consultant.
• If you prefer a face-to-face meeting with a military tax consultant, the military-based Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program provides no-cost tax advice and preparation, return filing and other tax assistance to military members and their families. Find a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance location near you.
• Learn more about free tax services available through Military OneSource.
• The IRS has a detailed Armed Forces’ Tax Guide.
• Earned Income Tax Credits are federal income tax credits for low and moderate-income working individuals and families. The refundable credit can generate a refund if you do not have any taxes to pay. Service members and families may have an easier time qualifying for the credit because some military income, such as pay earned during service in a combat zone or Basic Allowances for Housing, are non-taxable and are not included in an individual’s or family’s total income. To find out more about the credit or tax help for military members and veterans, visit the IRS website.

Prevent identity theft and fraud

• The Federal Trade Commission has a website devoted to reporting Identity Theft and getting a recovery plan.
• Federal law entitles you to a free credit report each year. Check it for suspicious activity. If you’re a deploying service member and don’t plan to seek new credit while deployed, place an active-duty alert to reduce the risk of getting swindled.
• Monitor your credit report for signs of identity theft — especially if you’ve lost important papers. All Americans are eligible for a free credit report once a year from each of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
• Check out the Task Force on Market Integrity and Consumer Fraud for more information on scams that target the military.
• File a complaint on the Consumer Complaint Database at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau if you have an unresolved issue with a company about a financial product or service.
• Contact the Homeowner Preservation Foundation at 888-995-4673 for help with avoiding foreclosure.

Need help after a natural disaster? Find assistance via:

• DisasterAssistance.gov helps you search for disaster relief by the type of assistance you need or by federal agency.
• The American Red Cross provides disaster recovery information and specific tips for coping with different kinds of disasters including fires, hurricanes, floods and winter storms.

Get financial counseling

Learn more about protecting your financial health. Schedule a free financial counseling session with Military OneSource by calling 800-342-9647. OCONUS/International? View calling options.