Mil Money

Doorstep deliveries starting June 1 for these 8 military commissaries

The delivery fee for commissary groceries will generally be less than $4, in addition to cost of groceries, plus 5% surcharge and any driver tip.

Beware of new fraudulent ‘fraud alerts’

Criminals are getting slicker about getting access to your hard-earned money.

How big could your military pay raise be in 2023?

Some lawmakers are saying a 4.6% raise is not enough.

DoD officially kills plan to merge commissaries, exchanges

Recent studies have shown that alternative approaches can realize the benefits of consolidation without the risks such a move would bring to the missions of the commissaries and exchanges.

Here are some experts’ suggestions for donating to Ukrainian relief

Interested in helping the Ukrainian people in their hour of need? Here are eight charities doing Ukrainian relief work, for starters.

New food insecurity stipend should help as many troops as possible, lawmakers argue

Military officials expect to start awarding the new Basic Needs Allowance in calendar 2023.

Troops would see a 4.6% pay raise next year under Biden’s fiscal 2023 budget plan

The pay raise would be the largest for service members since 2003.

There’s help for military discount-seeking Home Depot customers who aren’t tech savvy

Older non-tech-savvy veterans do have military retiree IDs in their pockets, but may not have a smartphone, a retiree says.

Military taxpayers: These new rules might bump up your refund

Service members and their families, especially younger troops, are eligible for new or expanded tax credits, perhaps putting more cash in their pockets.

Pilot program to help military families pay for in-home childcare is off to a slow start

Just five families are getting in-home childcare fee assistance since the program began last summer, but more are in the pipeline.

Military families’ at-home COVID tests should be covered, too, lawmakers say

Military families with youngsters in child care are among those paying out-of-pocket for frequent at-home tests.

The Home Front

Nearly a third of military spouses are jobless. What’s being done to help?

A recent report found 39% of military spouse respondents discussed wanting their service member to leave active-duty military service because of their own employment struggles.

Here are the military commissaries that will test doorstep deliveries

Doorstep deliveries will be made to customers within a 20-mile radius of the commissaries, according to preliminary documents.

Millions of military kids serve as caregivers. They need help too.

The specific impacts of caregiver duties will vary by child, but there is a potential for adverse effects on their mental and physical wellbeing.

Are military spouse employment programs working?

Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent by DoD, nonprofit organizations and employers, but spouse unemployment is still high, advocacy group says.

Utility bills for base housing are returning; few details offered

Defense officials intend to reestablish the Resident Energy Conservation Program, which would monetarily reward tenants who conserve energy and charge more to those who don't. But details are scant.

Another 16 million veterans can get Home Depot’s new military discount year-round

But be aware of the new rules for the military discount.

Here’s who gets the biggest military housing allowance bumps in 2022

The Basic Allowance for Housing is going up in 2022 for the vast majority — 86% — of Military Housing Areas across the 50 states.

Why are so few troops applying for the extra housing money approved to ease financial woes?

The military services have so far approved just 4,167 claims for the temporary increase in Basic Allowance for Housing, far fewer than were anticipated by defense officials.

Military charities step up to assist families affected by tainted water in Hawaii

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Army Emergency Relief and Air Force Aid Society are providing grants.

Money for Afghan refugees but not military pay boost in latest federal budget plan

The budget plan would avoid a partial government shutdown set for Friday night.

Military health care deadlines looming

Dec. 13 is the deadline for Tricare and FEDVIP enrollment and changes.

Here’s how the selection of a single contractor to arrange PCS moves might help

Troops can expect to see improvements in every part of the moving process, from scheduling to filing a claim for lost or damaged goods, says the chief executive officer of HomeSafe Alliance.

Rising costs for troops’ pay and benefits could hurt military readiness, experts warn

Former defense officials say military leaders and lawmakers need to start discussing changes now to see financial benefits in coming years.

Feds allege pawnshops ‘cheated’ and ‘gouged’ military families

These pawnshops allegedly charged active-duty members and families an annual interest rate of more than 200%.