Questions regarding benefits ( confused wife)

[joel's_rackie]

Hi everyone! My husband is still in BC. Pardon me if i had a lot of questions since I am so new to this. (ship12/div224 PIR 07/08/2011)

1. I just  received an application form DEER and TDP, how soon does this apply from the time you submitted the forms?

2. How and where can I avail a military ID? (I'm form San Francisco)

3. Do they get paid while in training or after they graduate BC? Do this go directly to their bank account?

4. BAH how soon does this apply? I was told you don't get BAH or pay check only until SR graduates from BC.

Please help, I'm really confused..

[Mrs.B_Div 302_Ship9]

:)  join the crowd of confused military wives! LOL  I will try to help as I just went through this not that long ago.

 

1) Your DEER application and TDP will apply as soon as you're done with them. Your husband should have already activated it. You don't really have to do anything with it. Just make sure you NEVER loose that DEERS form, as you will need that all during his time in the Navy.

 

2)

A. Go to your nearest military base (doesn't matter which branch, they'll all do this for you; if you have a Navy base near you, you can do that too) Make sure you take your DEERS form and 3 government issued ID's. Necessary ones: Drivers License, Marriage certificate and Social Security card. (make sure your ssc has your married name on it. it gets confusing if it doesn't.)  Also make sure you have your insurance for the car.

B. Then go to the visitors center at the front of the base (the guards will tell you where to go). They will give you a temporary gate pass and then ask for a base map. There will be a DEERS office that you can go to. They will take your picture, and fill out some forms, then you will get your Military ID right then.

 

3.  They will get paid during boot camp (normally about 2-3 weeks after getting there. The amount will be smaller than what it normally will be due to uniforms and all the stuff they need there. (deodorant, combs, etc, etc.) If your husband sets up direct deposit into your bank, then you will have the money immediately, but if not, they will be given the chance to open the account with Navy Federal or Armed Forces Bank. You will need to wait until after he is out to become a joint owner of the account to be able to get money. IF he does that and you need the money, contact his recruiter and they can contact the RDC's to have it changed. I had to do that and everything worked out just fine!

 

4. You DO get BAH during BC and something called separation pay. Your BAH will apply to the housing/county/city/state you are in right now. When you are moved to the PDS (permanent duty station) then your BAH will change and adjust to that state/county/city etc. 

 

I hope this information helps!!!  You can friend me and ask me any more questions you may have. I just did all this recently and trust me, it was NO fun doing it alone.  I was pregnant (7 months) while my husband was in boot and it was all overwhelming and plus I was having a very troubled pregnancy. Ughhh! Hang in there! it really all does work out! Sometimes it doesn't seem like it will, but in the long run, it does! :) Best of luck.

 

[TickledTink]

OMG thank  you!  I kept finding conflicting info about BAH and it was stressing me out because like you, I'm pregnant (14 wks) and not working so I wouldn't be able to pay rent if I didn't get BAH!  My DH got to RTC on the 12th, I'm hoping that we will get money tomorrow and not have to wait until the 15th.  We opened a joint Navy FCU acct before he left and I also have POA

[Mrs.B_Div 302_Ship9]

perfect! You're set to go then. I just asked my husband and he thinks that it might be the 15th. :(  But there are no promises either way.  It just depends on how fast his P days went (processing). etc. IF the paycheck doesn't show up on the 1st, it will be there on the 15th. If you need to pay rent, you can always tell them what is going on and maybe they'll wait for then, or if you have anything, make a "down payment." I'm really sorry! I hope for your sake that the pay check is there on the 1st.  Most the time, with a weekend like this tho, they give you the money before hand (even if it's early). Strange, but nice. :)

 

Also, most bases have something called, Family Relief Center and you can get a $300 loan (lowest payments are $11 every month). That might help...just a thought.

 

Just remember that the paycheck will be less than it normally will be just because of the uniform issue, etc.  Everything is horribly expensive! His PeaCoat costs around $260 alone!!! Then there's the 3 Camo sets, covers, dress whites, blues and Service Uniforms, boots, shoes, belts, etc. And school supplies. LOL. I was still shocked with how much we got the first time, but it is less than normal.  I hope that info helps! :)

[TickledTink]

LOL!  Just checked our Navy Fed acct and there is $1800 in it!!  Thank GOD!

I did still have some money left over from selling the company stocks I had when I left my job last month, but it was really cutting it close because I also had to pay to renew our car & renters insurance and such.  I feel SO RELIEVED right now!

Now did they have him sign up for mypay during his P days or should I sign up for it for him so that I can see the LES?  I'm just curious how it all breaks down, especially because he is supposed to be an E3 and I've also gotten conflicting info on whether he is going to get E1 pay or E3 pay during RTC

[Mrs.B_Div 302_Ship9]

YAY!!! :)   So happy for you. That is such a relief for anyone. 

 

You can try to sign him up for MyPay. My husband did that after boot camp.

 

Also, he will be getting the pay of an E-1 while in boot camp, but once he is out, he will start getting his E-3 pay. We have a friend who didn't get his E-3 pay for a LONG time after boot camp, but that was because he just didn't get it fixed. If that happens to you guys, just go talk to the finance office. They will fix it right away and make sure they give you the back pay. :)

[TickledTink]

Awesome!  Thank you!

[joel's_rackie]

I am just worried for all of this and thank you so much for replying Mrs. B and TickledTink!

We should have had a POA before he left, we figured that we won't need it since we have a joint account anyway. Boy, am I wrong.

Now, he signed up for NFCU account (not sure if it's a joint one).  From the last time I talked to him, he told me that he would set up a direct deposit account from NFCU to our "regular" bank account.

I wonder how soon that would be.. I didn't have an idea you could open an account prior to leaving BC. Should have thought of that..

[Mrs.B_Div 302_Ship9]

He should just leave it direct deposit in your regular bank right now and then get the NFCU afterwards. :)  If you get a chance to talk to him in the next 3 or so weeks, talk to him about it. He may be able to work that out. IF his RDC's aren't the nicest of ones, then he may choose to leave that alone, but my husband's RCD's were really nice and helped him out a LOT. (one time he couldn't get a hold of me, my phone had broken and when he told his RDC's he didn't get to talk to me, they let him call a day later and gave him an extra 20 minutes!!! )

[joel's_rackie]

Wow! that was nice! so far i had 3 phone calls already. I hope he has the same RDC.. Thanks so much! I'll mention it in my letters if I don't get to receive any phone calls in the near future.

[TickledTink]

Yeah, we took his contract that he got when he first swore in in February in to the branch and they used that as his proof of being Active Duty

[Mrs.B_Div 302_Ship9]

I can't reply right now to everything here, but I will try to cover most of it (baby is up and fussing! LOL)

mnm05215- Yes, they will all get paid as an E-1 until after he is done with boot camp. Once he is done and is in A-school for his rate, he will get his regular pay for whatever rank he is.

[joel's_rackie]

What is MyPay and LES? sorry.. How can I sign him up for that?