Fort Belvoir  Military and Family Support Center

The Fort Belvoir Financial Readiness Program provides financial management classes, briefings and one-on-one counseling to those experiencing money management difficulties or for those who wish to be in control of their finances. Classes cover such topics as budgeting, getting out of debt and investing for your future. For more information, call 571-231-7000/7025.

Be aware that, if you draw Advanced Pay when relocating, repayments of advanced pay will be automatically withdrawn from your monthly pay and can reduce monthly income, in some cases, drastically.

Even though the cost of living in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area is extremely high, a cost of living allowance is not paid to personnel assigned here.

Rental costs in the area range from $840 per month for an efficiency apartment to $3,000 per month for a four-bedroom house. Utility costs can range from $100-$400 per month. Costs for temporary, month-to-month rental properties are about $2,000-$3,000 per month.

Insurance Requirements

To purchase license plates or decals, you must certify that the vehicle is covered by the minimum insurance requirements or pay the uninsured motor vehicle fee. Insurance requirements also apply to antique motor vehicles. Your insurance carrier must be authorized to conduct business in Virginia. Virginia requires the following minimum coverage:

• Bodily injury/death of one person $25,000
• Bodily injury/death of two or more persons $50,000
• Property damage $20,000

The $500 uninsured motor vehicle fee, which is paid to the Department of Motor Vehicles, does not provide any insurance; it only allows you to drive an uninsured vehicle at your own risk. It expires with your registration and must be paid at renewal.

Intransit Emergencies

Army Emergency Relief (AER) is available for to Active Duty military, retirees, National Guard/ Reserves on active duty for more than 30 days, and their family members for authorized financial emergencies. Personnel who encounter an emergency during their PCS move may contact the Armed Forces Emergency Service Center (Red Cross) for guidance and assistance at 1-877-272-7337.

The nearest Salvation Army Family Store is located at 13287 Gordon Blvd. Woodbridge, Virginia, Telephone 703-490-2396.

TRICARE defines emergency care as medical services provided for a sudden or unexpected medical or psychiatric condition, or the sudden worsening of a chronic (ongoing) condition that is threatening to life, limb, or sight and needs immediate medical treatment, or which has painful symptoms that need immediate relief to stop suffering.  If you are traveling near a military treatment facility (MTF), you should go to the MTF or military dental treatment facility for emergency services. If you are hospitalized in a civilian facility for more than 24 hours, contact your regional contractor.