Financial Assistance

The Personal Financial Management Services provided at the Military and Family Support Center will provide Financial Readiness Training at touchpoints across the military lifecycle. Training will be delivered in a classroom or one-on-one setting using Air Force standardized training curriculum. Mandatory touchpoints for Financial Readiness Training include first duty station for enlisted and officers, Thrift Savings Plan (vesting), Continuation Pay, transition, pre- and post-deployment, marriage, divorce, birth of first child, disabling sickness or condition, subsequent duty station and promotion.

Personal Financial Management Program will provide private first class with budgeting, credit management, financial planning and basic investing. Available computer-generated spending and savings plans and the PowerPay debt repayment programs may be used to identify and compare alternate financial options. Additionally a plethora of financial-related information and pamphlets are available as well. Individual and family consultations are available.

For more information, please visit https://www.andrewsfss.com/personal-financial-readiness. 

Cost of Living

The cost of living is high in Washington D.C. and the surrounding National Capital Region. Tips on dealing with the costs encountered while living here are available through these and other programs and services available at the Military and Family Readiness Center.

While most of these high costs are associated with housing and related expenses, everything else is relative to the actual area where you live, including your commuting costs. Your actual cost-of-living expenses will vary and depend on a variety of factors, such as where you chose to live Maryland, Virginia or the District, the size and specific location of your home or apartment and whether you chose to buy or rent.

Initial up-front moving expenses can vary as well, but you may want to plan on approximately $2,100 to $2,600 for a security deposit if you choose to rent. In most cases rental costs are equal to or lower than your Basic Allowance for Housing. 

Housing Early Assistance Tool creates an easy online experience to connect you, the service member, with your future destination and offers an online venue to obtain housing assistance prior to a permanent change of station transfer. Headquarters Air Force Housing has successfully implemented HEAT across the Air Force enterprise so members can reach out to installations when preparing for transition. Installations are accessible through the HEAT tool across the continental U.S. and most installations outside the continental U.S. Members should use HEAT when preparing to transfer to their new assignment. Learn more at the Military Homes website. 

Basic Needs Allowance: Service members with dependents CONUS or OCONUS are eligible for BNA and may be certified if: 

• They have completed Initial Entry Training (IET)
• GHI during the most recent calendar year (i.e., the calendar year immediately preceding the year they apply for BNA) did not exceed 130% of the FPG for such year, as published by the HHS for their location and the number of individuals in their household.
• Voluntarily applied for the BNA and provided the required information to determine eligibility. 

For additional information – contact Total Force Service Center 800-525-0102.

During your move if you find yourself in need of emergency financial assistance the Air Force Aid Society may be able to assist you. To obtain more information about how to apply visit Air Force Aid Society at https://afas.org. Your submitted application will then be routed to the nearest Air Force installation. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard members should contact their emergency financial assistance branch for financial support.

For more information, please visit https://www.andrewsfss.com/air-force-aid-society.