Some of you might be worried if your Soldier is deployed to Iraq under Operation New Dawn, they won't receive combat pays. If you are worried, stop. This was released today:
"WASHINGTON, Aug. 31, 2010 – The change from Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation New Dawn does not affect combat and other hazardous-duty entitlements troops serving in Iraq receive, a Pentagon spokeswoman said today.
Servicemembers deployed to Iraq will still receive hostile fire/imminent danger pay, hardship-duty pay, and incidental expenses. Some troops will qualify for family separation allowances. Also, all pay for warrant officers and enlisted members is tax exempt, while officers are exempt from taxes for up to $7,611.30 each month they serve in an eligible area."
http://www.defense.gov//News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=60679
By the way... What do you think of the new name?
Showing posts with label Pay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pay. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
HOPE Scholarship for Georgia Military
Just found this out:
"For anyone stationed in GEORGIA...check out the Early HOPE Scholarship. The state legislature has expanded the program to include military (AC, AGR, RC, and NG). If your child is presently attending or will be attending a "poor performing" school, you would be eligible for a voucher ($5k-$9K per child per year) to send your child to private school."
http://www.educatedgeorgia.org/foradvocates-q10167-c1-What_is_the_Early_HOPE_Scholarship_Program.aspx
"For anyone stationed in GEORGIA...check out the Early HOPE Scholarship. The state legislature has expanded the program to include military (AC, AGR, RC, and NG). If your child is presently attending or will be attending a "poor performing" school, you would be eligible for a voucher ($5k-$9K per child per year) to send your child to private school."
http://www.educatedgeorgia.org/foradvocates-q10167-c1-What_is_the_Early_HOPE_Scholarship_Program.aspx
Saturday, February 27, 2010
MyCAA is shutdown! Where is all the money going?
You know, I always try to be positive. I am a pretty upbeat, albeit sarcastic, person. But I am starting to get pretty freakin' pissed.
First, Education Centers close.
Second, Congress takes forever to approve the Defense Budget.
Third, though the Defense Budget is the largest in recent history, not much of the money is going to the Military. Most of the money is earmarked for special projects. Thanks Congress!
Forth, Our COLA is cut. We are living in Chicago. With a 11.25% tax rate. No Commissary. Now, what makes me so furious is if you are living somewhere and they lower your BAH rate, it's alright. You get to keep your original rate. Not with COLA! (Cost Of Living Allowance). And they didn't just take away twenty bucks or so... NO! They cut it in half. IN HALF! Guess we aren't eating beef for awhile.
Fifth, Now MyCAA is shut down. This is a program for Spouses to go to school to have a career that can move with their Soldier. It is very difficult to live on a single income nowadays. No explanation why MyCAA was shut down... Not much information going out... Such crap.
Here are a few links about MyCAA shutting down:
http://marnemessages.blogspot.com/2010/02/dod-halts-mycaa-program-unclassified.html
http://military-education.military.com/2010/02/new-faqs-for-halted-mycaa-program/
So many Spouses are now scrambling to pay for their classes that they assumed were covered.
I am very frustrated at, what I feel, is a complete lack of support from Congress. They are really sticking it to us this year. Guess who I'm not voting for in 2010!
First, Education Centers close.
Second, Congress takes forever to approve the Defense Budget.
Third, though the Defense Budget is the largest in recent history, not much of the money is going to the Military. Most of the money is earmarked for special projects. Thanks Congress!
Forth, Our COLA is cut. We are living in Chicago. With a 11.25% tax rate. No Commissary. Now, what makes me so furious is if you are living somewhere and they lower your BAH rate, it's alright. You get to keep your original rate. Not with COLA! (Cost Of Living Allowance). And they didn't just take away twenty bucks or so... NO! They cut it in half. IN HALF! Guess we aren't eating beef for awhile.
Fifth, Now MyCAA is shut down. This is a program for Spouses to go to school to have a career that can move with their Soldier. It is very difficult to live on a single income nowadays. No explanation why MyCAA was shut down... Not much information going out... Such crap.
Here are a few links about MyCAA shutting down:
http://marnemessages.blogspot.com/2010/02/dod-halts-mycaa-program-unclassified.html
http://military-education.military.com/2010/02/new-faqs-for-halted-mycaa-program/
So many Spouses are now scrambling to pay for their classes that they assumed were covered.
I am very frustrated at, what I feel, is a complete lack of support from Congress. They are really sticking it to us this year. Guess who I'm not voting for in 2010!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
2010 BAH Rates
Finally, the 2010 BAH rates are now available.
http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem/bah.html
Remember, if BAH amount goes down for your duty station, you will still receive the higher amount you originally received.
http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem/bah.html
Remember, if BAH amount goes down for your duty station, you will still receive the higher amount you originally received.
Monday, October 12, 2009
2010 Defense Budget
Oh! I am so frustrated right now! No, strike that. I am furious, fuming, and all around angry. 34 weeks pregnant and this angry is not healthy for those that are the cause of my anger.
For those of you unfamiliar with the Army finances, the Fiscal Year is actually begins October 1st. This means the defense budget needs to be approved by Congress by September 30th each year. Congress decides our pay, our housing allowances, money for such programs as the Education Centers located on many major Military installations.
This year President Obama proposed a 2.9% raise, 6% increase in some BAH rates, and an increase in BAS rates. (2.9% is the lowest increase in base pay that can be proposed. Thanks for the lovely pay raise, Obama). Congress came back and propose a 3.4% raise in base pay. Then that was it. Nothing more.
It is October 11, 2009 and the 2010 defense budget has not been passed, or if it has it has not been released to the public. Remember that the Fiscal Year 2010 began October 1st? We are 11 days into the new year with no money. Many programs have had to stop running, many have lost their jobs that their families depended on for income.
So instead of maintaining our Military with appropriate funding, something they do every year, Congress continues to argue over Healthcare and President Obama flies to Copenhagen to discuss the Olympics. This sure does makes my husband and I feel super appreciated in our sacrifices to serve our country.
For those of you unfamiliar with the Army finances, the Fiscal Year is actually begins October 1st. This means the defense budget needs to be approved by Congress by September 30th each year. Congress decides our pay, our housing allowances, money for such programs as the Education Centers located on many major Military installations.
This year President Obama proposed a 2.9% raise, 6% increase in some BAH rates, and an increase in BAS rates. (2.9% is the lowest increase in base pay that can be proposed. Thanks for the lovely pay raise, Obama). Congress came back and propose a 3.4% raise in base pay. Then that was it. Nothing more.
It is October 11, 2009 and the 2010 defense budget has not been passed, or if it has it has not been released to the public. Remember that the Fiscal Year 2010 began October 1st? We are 11 days into the new year with no money. Many programs have had to stop running, many have lost their jobs that their families depended on for income.
So instead of maintaining our Military with appropriate funding, something they do every year, Congress continues to argue over Healthcare and President Obama flies to Copenhagen to discuss the Olympics. This sure does makes my husband and I feel super appreciated in our sacrifices to serve our country.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Pay Questions
A lot of wives ask about pay... when we get paid, how much will it be, etc. etc. I feel like I have said/typed this post a hundred times; but it is vital information! It is frightening not knowing about money... So here it is again!
About your pay questions:
1. It could take up to 30 days after your husband goes to Basic Training; but I know that is an issue the Army is working on to get the pay to family as soon as possible. Don't count on your pay until it is in your checking account.
2. You are paid on the 1st and the 15th. For the 1st you are paid for the second half of the previous month. In other words, you are paid for the work you have done, not the work you are about to do. (So if you are getting a raise for being in the Army for 4 years on June 19th, you will get a prorated amount in the July 1st pay.)
3. It is better to have a direct deposit program. Do you already have a bank? If he is going Active Duty I recommend USAA. It is a Bank/Insurance (Auto, Home, Renters, etc. etc.) that caters to the Military. It is FABULOUS!
- Make sure both names are on the account and you have Power of Attorney your bank requires.
4. Health Insurance: I am not sure exactly how it works with him going to Basic... You should be able get Tricare Prime if you live near a post/base and go on post/base for your Health Care. This is free with no deductibles. I personally prefer Tricare Standard where you go off post, but you do have Doctor co-pays with that (For Active Duty family members your deductible is $150 individual, $300 for family).
- Dental insurance, I go off post and it is $12.12 a month from our pay check. But we pay nothing extra when I go to the Dentist, not matter how many times a year I go and I always go off post. (Others have said they have paid deductibles for their dental; this shouldn't happen. When ever you recieve a bill call United Concordia and double check.)
5. They amount your Soldier will be paid can be found on this chart: http://www.defenselink.mil/militarypay/pay/bp/01_activeduty.html This is the most accurate you will find on the internet because it is actually released by the Military.
6. What is Deducted from your pay:
- Federal and State Taxes (We don't get out of paying those unless they are deployed)
- FICA Medicare and Social Security.
- SGLI/Army Life Insurance. We pay $27 a month for my husband's SGLI (Should something happen the Soldier, the Army has a $450,000 Life Insurance policy to every soldier)
- $5.50 for Family SGLI ($100,000 Life Insurance policy on the family member should something happen to the Family Member).
- We choose to deduct other amounts for our Roth IRA, Mutual Funds, and Savings accounts. These are to be set up by the soldier should he so choose.
7. You can view your Soldier's pay stub online through https://mypay.dfas.mil/mypay.aspx He has to set you up to view it with your own separate Log On and Password. YOU MAY NOT USE HIS. It is actually against the UCMJ (Army Code of Law) to use his Log On and Passwords for any .mil websites.
Terms to know:
- BAH is a tax free allowance for housing if you live off post/base. You will not receive this should you live on post/base.
- BAS is another tax free allowance for Substance (Food)
- DEERs. This system allows you to have a dependent Military ID, access to the Commissary/PX, and access to Tricare Insurance. Your children will also be in this system. Every Military dependent (Wife/Husband/Child) is enrolled in DEERs.
FYI: We should be getting a 3.4% raise in January of 2010. New BAH/BAS rates have not been announced.
About your pay questions:
1. It could take up to 30 days after your husband goes to Basic Training; but I know that is an issue the Army is working on to get the pay to family as soon as possible. Don't count on your pay until it is in your checking account.
2. You are paid on the 1st and the 15th. For the 1st you are paid for the second half of the previous month. In other words, you are paid for the work you have done, not the work you are about to do. (So if you are getting a raise for being in the Army for 4 years on June 19th, you will get a prorated amount in the July 1st pay.)
3. It is better to have a direct deposit program. Do you already have a bank? If he is going Active Duty I recommend USAA. It is a Bank/Insurance (Auto, Home, Renters, etc. etc.) that caters to the Military. It is FABULOUS!
- Make sure both names are on the account and you have Power of Attorney your bank requires.
4. Health Insurance: I am not sure exactly how it works with him going to Basic... You should be able get Tricare Prime if you live near a post/base and go on post/base for your Health Care. This is free with no deductibles. I personally prefer Tricare Standard where you go off post, but you do have Doctor co-pays with that (For Active Duty family members your deductible is $150 individual, $300 for family).
- Dental insurance, I go off post and it is $12.12 a month from our pay check. But we pay nothing extra when I go to the Dentist, not matter how many times a year I go and I always go off post. (Others have said they have paid deductibles for their dental; this shouldn't happen. When ever you recieve a bill call United Concordia and double check.)
5. They amount your Soldier will be paid can be found on this chart: http://www.defenselink.mil
6. What is Deducted from your pay:
- Federal and State Taxes (We don't get out of paying those unless they are deployed)
- FICA Medicare and Social Security.
- SGLI/Army Life Insurance. We pay $27 a month for my husband's SGLI (Should something happen the Soldier, the Army has a $450,000 Life Insurance policy to every soldier)
- $5.50 for Family SGLI ($100,000 Life Insurance policy on the family member should something happen to the Family Member).
- We choose to deduct other amounts for our Roth IRA, Mutual Funds, and Savings accounts. These are to be set up by the soldier should he so choose.
7. You can view your Soldier's pay stub online through https://mypay.dfas.mil/myp
Terms to know:
- BAH is a tax free allowance for housing if you live off post/base. You will not receive this should you live on post/base.
- BAS is another tax free allowance for Substance (Food)
- DEERs. This system allows you to have a dependent Military ID, access to the Commissary/PX, and access to Tricare Insurance. Your children will also be in this system. Every Military dependent (Wife/Husband/Child) is enrolled in DEERs.
FYI: We should be getting a 3.4% raise in January of 2010. New BAH/BAS rates have not been announced.
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