Checklist for New Military Spouses
Overview
Important information for new military spouses
Welcome to the military family. As the husband or wife of a
service member, you are an active participant in the military
lifestyle. You are also eligible for many benefits, including
health care, shopping privileges on base, and access to base
recreation facilities and other programs. You'll find it
helpful to attend orientations and briefings for military
spouses, and to read information that comes to you. Once you
arrive at the military installation, visit the Community
Service Center or Family Support Center as soon as possible to
get up-to-date information on benefits and services as well as
to enroll in a spouse orientation program. In the meantime,
here is a quick checklist to get you started.
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The basics
Your spouse, also known as your sponsor, is required to fill
out all paperwork that will allow you to receive military
benefits.
- Obtain an original copy of your
marriage certificate from the city, town, or county clerk's
office where the wedding took place.
- Ask your spouse to enroll you in
the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).
All service members and their dependents must be
enrolled in DEERS to receive benefits. This system is what
allows the military to verify that only authorized people
are treated in its facilities. It is up to your spouse to
enroll you. He or she can do that at the uniformed services
personnel office. To find the office nearest you, go to
http://www.dmdc.osd.mil/rsl. To enroll, you will
need certain documentation, such as a copy of your marriage
license and the birth certificates or Social Security cards
of all dependents, including children.
- Obtain a military identification
card from the ID card facility. To receive benefits as a
military spouse, you will need an identification card. All
family members, including children ages 10 and older, will
need their own ID cards. Your card will gain you admission
to military bases, exchanges, and commissaries, and will
allow you to receive medical care. Check with the ID card
facility to confirm which documents you need to receive a
card. Typically, you will need your marriage license, birth
certificate, photo identification, and Department of Defense
Form 1172 (application form) to apply for an ID card.
- Establish power of attorney.
This will allow you to conduct business on your spouse's
behalf. The base legal office will help you establish power
of attorney.
- Register your vehicle on base.
You can do this through the Provost Marshal or Military
Police. Check with them to see what documents you'll need,
but expect to bring your driver's license, Department of
Motor Vehicles registration, and proof of car insurance.
- Ask your spouse to list you as a
beneficiary on his or her Serviceman's Group Life Insurance
(SGLI) policy. This is also the time for your service
member to update his or her record of emergency data sheet
(DD Form 93).
- Determine whether you should change
your state and federal income tax status to reflect your
marital status. Check with the legal office or Voluntary
Income Tax Assistance program (VITA) on base to ensure you
are doing what is right for your situation.
- Memorize your spouse's Social
Security number. You will need it for all sorts of
paperwork and forms. Until you memorize the number, you can
always get it from the ID card.
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Health benefits
Tricare is the military's health benefits plan. Learn about
the three options available at
http://www.tricare.osd.mil.
- Tricare Prime. Similar to a
health maintenance organization (HMO), patients sign on with
a primary care manager and receive medical care from a list
of authorized health care providers. This is the least
expensive of the three plans and the only one requiring
enrollment.
- Tricare Standard. Patients can
see health care providers of their choosing. This is the
most expensive of the three options.
- Tricare Extra. Patients may see
any health care provider in the Tricare contractor network.
In addition to Tricare, other health care benefits are
available to service members and their families.
- The United Concordia Dental Plan
is offered to dependents of Active Duty service members.
Enrollment is automatic.
- Military hospitals. Also called
Military Treatment Facilities (MTF), care is given on a
priority basis as follows: Active Duty personnel; Active
Duty family members enrolled in Tricare Prime; retirees,
survivors and their family members enrolled in Tricare
Prime; Active Duty family members not enrolled in Tricare
Prime; and retirees, survivors and their family members not
enrolled in Tricare Prime. Non-enrolled persons eligible for
military health care may be seen at military hospitals and
clinics on a space available basis.
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Financial and housing
In addition to basic pay, your service member may be entitled
to additional pay depending on the branch of service,
deployments, duty locations, whether or not you live on base,
and other factors.
- Ask your spouse to update his or
her pay status. This can be done when your service
member changes his or her records and enrolls you in DEERS.
- Familiarize yourself with your
spouse's Leave and Earnings Statement (LES). The LES
tells you how much pay, allowances, and leave (vacation)
time your spouse has. Visit the Military Compensation Web
site to learn about basic pay and additional compensation (http://www.dod.mil/militarypay).
Learn how to read an LES at
http://www.dfas.mil/money/milpay/les_djms.pdf.
You'll need your service member's password to gain access to
the LES online.
- Apply for government housing.
Do this by putting your name on the waiting list at the
housing office, or if you prefer to live off base, ask for a
list of off-base housing. If you live on base, all your
housing costs and utilities (except phone, Internet
connection, etc.) will be provided, but you will not receive
an additional housing allowance in your pay.
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