Department of Defense Office of Financial Readiness (FINRED)

The Office of Financial Readiness (FINRED) website provides financial readiness resources, including service specific information for Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. You can sign up for the Military Money Newsletter offered by FINRED.

FINRED has also teamed up with Military OneSource to deliver a wealth of resources and information to assist servicemembers and family members with their finances, including financial counseling. Read up on different military pay and compensation benefits, consumer rights, military savings programs, and the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act (MSRRA).

MilSpouse Money Mission® is a financial education website made for military spouses to empower them in leading their families to stronger financial futures. The Department of Defense (DoD) launched this website as an official resource to provide relatable and trusted financial education for military spouses.

Department of Defense Military Compensation

Department of Defense maintains this website to provide timely and relevant communication to servicemembers regarding their pay, entitlements, and allowances. You’ll find a wealth of information to help you understand your benefits to include life insurance, survivor benefit plan, and retirement planning.

The Blended Retirement System (BRS) combines elements of the legacy retirement system with benefits like those offered in many civilian 401K plans. The opt-in period for most service members closed December 31, 2018. This page offers training videos and literature for servicemembers and leaders. If you have further questions about the Blended Retirement System, please contact your local pay or finance office.

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website provides valuable information about servicemember and family member benefits ranging from health care and housing assistance to life insurance and burials. Learn more about these services.

You can also visit the National Resource Directory which is a database of validated resources that supports recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration for servicemembers, veterans, family members, and caregivers.

If you or a veteran you know are in crisis, visit VeteransCrisisLine.net for resources and support. You can call the VA Crisis Line at 988 then press 1, Text 838255, or chat online.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Military Consumer Resources

Servicemembers, like all consumers, are potential targets for fraudsters. Certain scams are more likely to target the military community because military families may relocate frequently and many servicemembers – for the first time – are living on their own and earning a paycheck. Moreover, frauds against military consumers can undermine military readiness and troop morale. Learn about the FTC’s efforts to eliminate such scams through aggressive enforcement and a vigorous, ongoing educational campaign. You can also learn about the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network that tracks reporting by military consumers.

The FTC also maintains a website for Servicemembers called MilitaryConsumer.gov. Military Consumer is a joint initiative to empower active duty and retired servicemembers, military families, veterans, and civilians in the military community.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Office of Servicemember Affairs

CFPB’s Office of Servicemember Affairs (OSA) works to help military families overcome unique financial challenges by providing educational resources, monitoring complaints, and working with other agencies to solve problems faced by servicemembers. The CFPB also takes enforcement actions that have recovered millions in relief for servicemembers, veterans, and military families from companies that targeted them with scams or illegal practices.

If you are a servicemember, veteran, or military family member having problems with your credit report or other consumer financial products because of identity theft or for another reason, you can submit a complaint to the CFPB.

Department of Justice Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative

Here, servicemembers, veterans, and their family members will find information about the federal laws that protect their rights. The Department of Justice protects a servicemember's civilian employment rights by enforcing the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), voting rights by enforcing the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act of 1986 (UOCAVA), and financial security through the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). Servicemembers who believe their rights under USERRA, UOCAVA, or the SCRA have been violated will be able to file a complaint with the Department of Justice on this site. Servicemembers, veterans, and their families will also find information about where to obtain legal assistance.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Military Tax Publication 3, Armed Forces Tax Guide

This publication covers the special tax situations of active members of the U.S. Armed Forces. For federal tax purposes, the U.S. Armed Forces includes commissioned officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel in all regular and reserve units under control of the Secretaries of the Defense, Army, Navy, and Air Force. The U.S. Armed Forces also includes the Coast Guard. The Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration can also receive many of the same tax benefits. The U.S. Armed Forces doesn't include the U.S. Merchant Marine or the American Red Cross.

USA.gov

The new USA.gov helps you locate and understand government benefits, programs, and information, including a page for military and veterans.

Thrift Savings Plan

The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a retirement savings and investment plan for Federal employees and members of the uniformed services, including the Ready Reserve. It was established by Congress in the Federal Employees' Retirement System Act of 1986 and offers the same types of savings and tax benefits that many private corporations offer their employees under 401(k) plans. The TSP is a defined contribution plan, meaning that the retirement income you receive from your TSP account will depend on how much you (and your agency, if you are eligible to receive agency contributions) put into your account during your working years and the earnings accumulated over that time. For more information, visit: www.tsp.gov.

Related Resources