Financial Assistance

The Financial Readiness Program offers a wide range of services to assist Soldiers, Family members, civilian employees and retirees with their finances. The program training and counseling opportunities. The workshops and training programs cover financial topics to include:  budgeting, financial goal setting, financial planning, pre-retirement planning, credit usage, credit repair, insurance, investing, and other consumer fraud.  Individual counseling sessions can be scheduled for advice on consumer topics to include: major purchases, bankruptcy, TSP, home ownership, investing, and retirement.

Financial Readiness workshops are designed to assist Soldiers and Families formulate plans to provide for a comfortable lifestyle while allowing the opportunity to develop a sense of financial stability. The Financial Readiness Program will assist in preparing a working family spending plan. Individuals experiencing or anticipating financial difficulties can receive financial counseling.  Appointments are encouraged.  Call the Financial Program Office at Army Community Service at 608-388-3540.

Cost of Living at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin is below the national average making Fort McCoy an affordable place to live and raise your family. There is no Cost of living Allowance (COLA) for Fort McCoy.

Housing/Lodging

Average costs for renting an apartment or home range from $550 for a studio/efficiency to over $1,500 a month for a duplex/single family home. Purchasing quality three to four BR homes may average $175-225K. Average monthly utility payments are between $250-300 a month depending upon size and type of rental or home.

Dislocation Allowance (DLA)

DLA is paid to cover the expense of physically relocating your family members and or household.  DLA is based on member being with or without dependents and based upon a Soldier's pay grade.  This can be advanced at your current duty station or reimbursed at your next duty station.

You must request DLA from the PCS Finance Office at 608-388-3608.  If you don't ask for it, you're not going to get it.  The dislocation allowance is not an advance from your basic pay or a loan.  It's money given to service members making a permanent change of station move.

Advance Pay

If you request advance pay, it comes from your basic pay.  Be aware that this is a loan and you will pay the money back.  Advance pay repayment will be automatically withdrawn from your monthly pay and this will reduce your monthly income.

Auto Insurance Minimums

Wisconsin has a financial responsibility law.  The law is designed to make sure that any motorist licensed to drive in Wisconsin has insurance or enough money to pay for damages to others that may be caused by a motor vehicle.  These requirements may be met through a motor vehicle liability insurance policy, a surety bond, personal funds, or certificate of self-insurance.  Details are available at the Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Hill Farms State Office Building, 4802 Sheboygan Ave., Madison, WI 53702.

To satisfy the Wisconsin Financial Responsibility Law your auto insurance policy must provide the following minimum liability coverage:

• $50,000 for injury or death of two or more people; and
• $10,000 for property damage

The law also requires uninsured motorist coverage of $25,000/$50,000 for bodily injury liability coverage only.

A PCS move can be one of the most exciting and rewarding parts of a military career.  Any PCS move is going to cost money so it is important to plan ahead to avoid financial surprises. Start saving now. Experts say 3-6 months pay in reserve will amply cover emergencies. Get a sponsor at the new post. He or she will be able to answer a lot of your questions.

MilitaryOneSource has PCS budget planning tools and resources available:  https://www.militaryonesource.mil/moving-pcs/plan-to-move/

Army Community Service has financial counseling available.  Appointments are encouraged.  Call ACS at 608-388-3540 for more information.