Deployment is very stressful on families.
But for some families, especially those in the lower enlisted ranks who sometimes struggle to make ends meet, dealing with deployment while struggling with financial difficulties makes life all the more taxing.
A family's private struggle is a concern for the entire military because that distress can affect the service member and how they perform on their mission, said a Navy command financial specialist. To help alleviate the stress, a wealth of private, public, local, national and government resources exist to help families in need, on both a short-term and long-term basis.
And despite popular belief, coming to the command with a stack of bills, an empty wallet and hungry children won’t get you in trouble, he said. They are there to help you set a budget and assist in sorting out a solution if you have a financial problem. Contacting the command is the best way to tap into all the resources available to military families.
They can help you sign up for government programs, especially if you are pregnant or currently have children, as family size often contributes to the eligibility for assistance. The command doesn’t want a service member deployed while their children and a spouse worry about how to afford diapers and food. So, it is part of their job to make sure the family has the resources they need.
Here is a look at some of the larger assistance organizations that military families can turn to for help.
Service Relief Societies
Each branch has its own relief society. They are a great resource for a short-term problems or emergency situations. They often offer small loans or grants that can help pay a bill or will book a plane ticket for an unexpected death in the family or another emergency. You don’t need command support to seek their help, either. And, they can be found on all major military installations. They also often host budgeting classes and couponing programs, and most offer some kind of “Budgeting for Baby” class, where they supply expecting mothers and fathers with financial information, as well as lots of necessities – like sleepers and diapers and blankets – for the new babies for free.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Known informally as “food stamps,” the SNAP program provides financial assistance for families who need help buying food. Eligible families have to pass an income test, though Combat Pay, Imminent Danger pay, and Hostile Fire pay don’t count as part of the income you report when deciding if you’re eligible for SNAP. Most families need to be at or below the federal poverty line to qualify, with deductions for things like housing and childcare. But families living on a military installation also don’t count their housing allowance toward their income when applying. Each state runs their own program, so you can use the SNAP map to find out where to apply. (http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/outreach/map.htm)
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infant, and Children
WIC provides food supplements for women and children under age 5 who are eligible, i.e., are considered low-income and in need of nutritional assistance. Many military families are eligible because most states consider housing and cost-of-living allowances exempt, plus in some instances combat and hazardous duty pays are exempt, as well. WIC also provides nutrition and breastfeeding education, for free. Like SNAP, WIC has state agencies through which you apply. http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/wic/WICSADirectorsContacts.pdf
Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance Program
The voluntary FSSA program, is only open to active duty and reservist families and helps increase a military family’s income so that they don’t need to be reliant on SNAP benefits. Eligibility depends on income and family size, with a maximum allotment of $1100 a month. You complete a Web application to determine eligibility and submit through your command. You have to re-apply yearly.
The National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program
Like WIC, many military children are eligible as most cost-of-living stipends, like housing allowances, are exempt when calculating annual income and determining a family’s eligibility for free breakfast, lunches and snacks at schools. You apply through your state agency. http://www.fns.usda.gov/office-type/child-nutrition-programs
Non-Profits
With more than 900 non-profits working with the military community, there are lots of avenues to find help. And specific help, at that, said Simone Velasquez Hoover, the executive director of the southeast branch of Operation Homefront.
Operation Homefront is a great resource for families because they have so many volunteers near and at so many military installations that, if they don’t already have a program to meet your need, they can help you find someone who can, Hoover said.
Still, what they do offer is vast. Operation Homefront alone provides emergency financial assistance grants with proof of household income. They can help provide food, health care, travel expenses, necessary furniture and help moving in times of need.
They also provide housing for the families and caregivers of Wounded Warriors, as well as give baby showers filled with goodies for expectant mothers with deployed spouses. They also help provide photographers and homecoming celebrations for deserving commands and military families.
They do toy drives for the children of junior service members, as well as back-to-school programs to outfit military children with backpacks and supplies for the entire academic year.
“It’s truly an honor serving such a unique community,” Hoover said.
And they aren’t the only ones. The Salvation Army and United Way, for instance, often provide similar services on a local level, often with little to no eligibility requirements for assistance.
Local Resources
Churches and local organizations often provide free assistance for families in need, no questions asked.
Joann Smith, certified nurse-midwife, runs a children’s clothing closet in Woodbine, Ga., at her midwifery practice. She has military families who use the service because she’s located and serves several different military installations within a 90-minute radius. They simply come and get gently used, donated clothing and donate back when they can.
Lots of churches allow entrance to their soup kitchens or food pantries with proof of address or a pay stub. And most command support teams and family readiness groups will have access to a list of local resources within a reasonable radius of the military installation if you ask.
