Luke AFB  Military and Family Support Center

Airman and Family Readiness Center

To help budget your move wisely, contact your local Airman and Family Readiness Center and sign up for classes and counseling sessions on your permanent change of station. Even if you are an experienced mover, you need to know the most current and up-to-date allowances and benefits available. Remember, you normally incur expenses which will not be fully covered by your PCS entitlements. A good rule of thumb is to have at least enough savings to cover cost of living expenses for 90 days.

At Luke Air Force Base, the LA&FRC offers many programs to help you become financially fit. Don't let your fear of the ‘B' word, budgeting, prevent you from creating and defining your personal financial goals! A budget can be the best indicator of what you need to do with your money – savings, investing, paying down consumer debt, etc. – and help you plan accordingly!

Let your A&FRC representative help you:

• Create a spending plan based on your lifestyle and needs
• Reduce your consumer debt quickly and efficiently by providing a Power Pay assessment
• Contact your creditors to arrange payment plans
• Provide you with the latest financial/consumer information (car buying, consumer scams, credit bureau research, etc.)

The Air Force Aid Society is the official charity of the U.S. Air Force. A private, non-profit organization, AFAS promotes the Air Force mission by providing worldwide emergency assistance, sponsoring education assistance programs and offering a variety of base community enhancement programs that improve quality of life for airmen and their families. AFAS assists with rent, food, shelter, vehicle repairs including parts and labor and emergency travel for death or serious illness of immediate family members. Contact the Military and Family Readiness Center with questions at 623-856-6550, or apply for AFAS assistance on the AFAS website.

Bundles for Babies

This program discusses, among other topics, preparing financially for your new baby. While all branches of the military are invited to attend this excellent class, the free Army and Air Force Exchange Service gift card is for active-duty Air Force members and their spouses.

Child Care for Permanent Change of Station

Sponsored by AFAS, this program offers relocating families 20 hours of free child care per child within 60 days of making a PCS. Child care is authorized for both inbound and outbound families; however, care must be provided by on-base licensed family child care providers. This program is for active-duty Air Force assigned to Luke Air Force Base only.

Give Parents a Break

AFAS recognizes that Air Force families are subject to unique stresses due to the nature of military life, such as deployments, remote tours of duty and extended working hours. In an effort to help these families, AFAS, in cooperation with the Air Force child care community, has agreed to provide funding for child care under our Give Parents a Break program. The purpose of this program is to offer eligible parents a few hours’ break from the stresses of parenting. Active-duty Air Force families may use this time to suit their personal needs. AFAS will pay the cost of having the base Child Development Center open once a quarter for families referred to the program. Families will not be charged for the care.

Child Care for Volunteers

AFAS provides funding for the Child Care for Volunteers program. AFAS will pay limited child care expenses in Air Force licensed or affiliated family day care homes for volunteers who are engaged in supporting programs which benefit the Air Force community.

Respite Care

The AFAS Respite Care program is intended for active-duty Air Force families, Air Guard and Air Force Reserves on Title 10 order for 15 days or longer who have a family member with special needs enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program. The goal of the program is to provide a break for a few hours a week or month to families who have the responsibility of 24-hour-a-day care for an ill or disabled family member. This person may be a child, spouse or parent living in the household.

AFAS assistance for respite care is based on need—the need for respite time, as well as financial need—and is always given as a grant. Families with a special needs family member who have the financial means to pay for care should do so. Our program is intended to assist those who cannot afford it and would otherwise never get a break.

Families are referred to AFAS for respite care through the EFMP or the Family Advocacy Office. Visit the M&FRC in Building 1113 for assistance.

Cost of Living

This metropolitan area is the fastest growing in the U.S. Glendale is Arizona's fifth largest city with a population of more than 1.4 million residents. The majority of Glendale's population is 35 - 54 years old and 21.84 percent have a bachelor's degree or higher. The median income is $56,991. The cost of living varies depending on the area and overall slightly higher than the national average.

Cost of Living Allowance

Luke Air Force Base does not have a Cost of Living Allowance.

Temporary Lodging Allowance

Temporary Lodging Allowance is used to partially reimburse a service member for the more than normal expenses incurred during occupancy of temporary lodging and expenses of meals obtained as a direct result of use of temporary lodging outside the continental United States. The OCONUS base handles the paperwork and processing of TLA.

Temporary Lodging Expenses

Temporary Lodging Expenses are intended to partially reimburse members for lodging and meal expenses when a member/dependent(s) occupy temporary quarters in CONUS in conjunction with a permanent change of station.

Housing and Utility Costs

Rentals and property to purchase are both plentiful. Three-bedroom rentals start at about $2,395 The median price in the valley for a new three bedroom home is $329,400 however, housing prices can vary drastically. Utility costs will vary considerably throughout the year. The summers usually bring much higher electric bills, occupants need to be aware the air conditioner unit usually will operate on a full-time basis and occupants need to prepare financially for high-heat periods.

Contracts

Take care in signing financial contracts after you arrive. Arizona does not have usury laws, which means that there is no cap on the amount of interest that can be charged for consumer loans. Pay special attention to certain types of contracts such as rent-to-own agreements. Those contracts can result in final costs that may range as high as 300% more than the actual cost of the item purchased. If you have concerns about any sales agreements or interest rates, the staff at the Luke Airman and Family Readiness Center would be happy to review them with you before you enter into any final agreement.

Advance Pay

The counselors at the Luke Airman and Family Readiness Center can assist you in fully explaining the ramifications of drawing advanced military pay and when it will be taken out so you are not without pay after arrival at your new base. Remember, advance pay repayments will be automatically withdrawn from the service member's pay reducing his or her monthly income, in some cases, drastically.

Government Travel Card

Use your government credit card only for authorized expenses and make sure you stay within your daily allowances. Save all receipts, especially if your expenses exceed your authorizations since they may be tax-deductible items.