Six Things Every Military Family Should Know

Military families face a huge challenge staying up-to-date on all of the information and resources available to them. New legislation, programs and resources are constantly being created to improve the lives of military families. Here are six important things that every military family member should know about this year:

1. The Military Spouses Residency Relief Act
   In 2010, legislation was approved allowing military spouses the option of claiming the same state of residency as their servicemember husband or wife. In the past, military spouses have had to change their state of residency with each new move thereby causing the spouse to re-register to vote, change their driver’s license and re-register any vehicles in their name. This act benefits spouses of servicemembers by eliminating the hassle and paperwork involved in transitioning these items and, in some cases, eliminates multiple state tax preparation for working spouses. Individual states are still in the process of working through the details of the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act (MSRRA); however, spouses should familiarize themselves with how this important change impacts them. Up-to-date information on the status of MSRRA can be found on the Facebook group “Military Spouses Residency Relief Act”.
2. Expanded Homeowner’s Assistance Program
   The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) temporarily expands the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Homeowner’s Assistance Program (HAP) to include servicemembers required to permanently relocate during the home mortgage crisis. HAP is designed to help eligible homeowners who face financial loss due to the sale of their primary residence homes when they are required to make a Permanent Change of Station outside of a 50 miles radius of their former duty station or home port. The expanded version of HAP provides assistance to those servicemembers who received reassignment orders between 1 February 2006 and 30 September 2010 for property purchased before 1 July 2006. For more details visit: http://hap.usace.army.mil/EP_PCS.html.
3. Post 9/11 GI Bill
   The Post-9/11 GI Bill, which went into effect on August 1, 2009, expands previous education benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Individuals who serve at least 90 days aggregate military service after September 10, 2001 are eligible to receive a percentage of the maximum benefit of this education support bill based on their active duty service time. Highlights of the Post-9/11 GI Bill include tuition and fee coverage, a housing stipend, and a books and supplies stipend. This education support bill also allows the option for an eligible servicemember to transfer benefits to family members. For more information call 1-888-GI-BILL-1 or visit http://www.gibill.va.gov/.
4. TRICARE Case Management Services
   Managing healthcare needs can quickly become overwhelming when a family member has a complex health issue that requires ongoing physician care. Telephone calls to discuss insurance coverage and referrals can be frustrating when dealing with multiple customer service representatives who are not familiar with the situation. Fortunately, TRICARE, the health care program serving active duty servicemembers, National Guard and Reserve members, and their families, has established a case management system that can help eligible beneficiaries navigate their healthcare issues. Case Management Services, staffed by nurses and social workers, is designed to help patients and their families manage complex heath care and support systems. These services are available to TRICARE beneficiaries receiving care for chronic health issues, high risk/high cost situations or for catastrophic or terminal illnesses. To find out if you qualify for case management, contact your local military treatment facility or regional TRICARE contractor. For more information, visit http://www.tricare.mil/.
5. Military OneSource
   The number of Web sites that are developed to help military families can be overwhelming, making it hard to know where to start when trying to find answers. Military OneSource was established for active-duty, Guard, and Reserve servicemembers and their families as a springboard to information and services on almost any topic of concern. From tax filing services to Webinars on weight management, MilitaryOneSource.com has an incredibly array of information and links to resources. Additionally, military families can contact a Military OneSource consultant via phone or email. For more information visit http://www.militaryonesource.com/ or call 1-800-342-9647.
6. Discounts and Deals
   The number of discounts and deals available to military families continues to grow! From free admission to the Museum of Modern Art in New York City to discounts on dinner at favorite family restaurants, military families just need to show military identification to start saving money at retail stores, restaurants, museums and attractions. Sometimes discounts are not posted, so be sure to ask before beginning your transaction. Here are three deals that military families should know about:
   
   Spring break is coming! Walt Disney World has always welcomed military families with great deals and 2010 is no exception. From January 3 to July 31, 2010, military personnel may purchase a 4 day Base ticket for themselves and up to 5 family members or friends at $99 per ticket, plus tax. This provides access to 1 park per day but can be upgraded for a fee. For more information, restrictions and to purchase tickets, visit Shades of Green at http://www.shadesofgreen.org/ or your local military base. Need a place to stay while on vacation? Visit the Armed Forces Vacation Club (AFVC) for incredible deals on over 200,000 accommodations in over 100 countries. Search the Space-A section of the site for hotels that are typically $369 per unit per week. For program requirements and eligibility visit http://www.afvclub.com/ or call 1-800-724-9988.
   
   The DoD has contracted with the YMCA to provide free family memberships and respite childcare to select DoD Title 10 Military Groups. For more information and eligibility guidelines visit http://www.militaryonesource.com/ or call 1-800-342-9647.
   
   Looking for a babysitter or childcare provider? Funded by the DoD, Sittercity membership is available to military servicemembers and their families for free. Sittercity is an online tool for finding babysitters, nannies, childcare providers, dog walkers, housekeepers, tutors and more. For more information, visit http://www.sittercity.com/.