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Navy
Personal Financial Management Program
525 Farragut Avenue, Suite 300
Building 26
Great Lakes, IL 60088
847-689-3603
100
847-688-3213
Contact information for key programs and services at this installation.
Resources are available to help you understand and manage your finances, including one-on-one financial counseling to assist you and your family with financial readiness. Services are designed to focus on money management issues throughout your active-duty lifecycle and into retirement. Financial readiness educational opportunities range from basic planning to long-term investing. Check out the information below to see what’s available at your installation.
The Personal Financial Management Program at Naval Station Great Lakes Fleet and Family Support Center equips sailors and their families with the knowledge, tools and resources needed to make informed financial decisions and achieve financial security. Through individual counseling and group education, PFM services address key areas such as:
Services We Offer
Thrift Savings Plan (TSP): Grow Your Wealth
TSP is a powerful, low-cost retirement savings plan for service members. Whether you're under the Blended Retirement System (BRS) or legacy system, you should understand how to maximize your contributions and choose the right investment options.
We can help you:
Office of Financial Readiness (FINRED)
FINRED is the Department of Defense’s financial wellness resource hub. We encourage all Sailors and families to explore:
Required Financial Touchpoints
Under DoDI 1342.22, service members must complete financial education at key life/career milestones. We provide this training in-person, online, or by request.
Touchpoint & Why It Matters
Understanding Your LES (Leave and Earnings Statement)
Your LES is a snapshot of your military pay, taxes, allowances, and entitlements. Sailors should review it every month on MyPay to catch any errors and understand their compensation.
Key LES Sections:
Need help? We offer 1-on-1 LES review sessions to help you understand your pay and fix issues.
Enlistment & Reenlistment Bonuses
If you’re eligible for an enlistment or reenlistment bonus, it typically processes within 30–60 days of completing required milestones (school, training, or orders execution). If you haven’t received your bonus:
PFM services are free, confidential and tailored to individual needs, supporting overall mission readiness and personal well-being.
To assist you and your family in being financially prepared, the Personal Financial Management Program at FFSC offers workshops and consultations on topics including basic money management, investing, home buying, credit card management, car buying, consumer awareness and more. For more information, please visit the Navy Great Lakes, Navy Life Mid-Atlantic website or contact your local FFSC Naval Station Great Lakes at 847-688-3603.
Protect your financial health. It's important to you and your career. Need help with finances? Military and community resources can help.
Lake County, located in the northeast corner of Illinois, is a diverse and vibrant region bordering Lake Michigan and just north of Chicago. It includes cities such as Waukegan, North Chicago (home of Naval Station Great Lakes), Gurnee, Libertyville, and Vernon Hills. With a rich mix of urban, suburban, and natural areas, Lake County offers something for everyone from bustling shopping districts to tranquil forest preserves and beaches along the lakefront.
Housing
Home sale and rental prices in Lake County vary depending on your preferences such as number of bedrooms, square footage, proximity to Naval Station Great Lakes, Chicago access, schools, and amenities. Rental costs can be comparable to home mortgages, with prices generally ranging from $1,300–$1,600 for a one-bedroom apartment and $1,800–$2,400 for a three-bedroom.
Costs will depend on location (Waukegan vs. Libertyville), building age, and included amenities. Don’t forget to factor in application and processing fees, first/last month’s rent, pet fees, and utilities if not included in the rental price.
Tip: Check for military clauses in leases that allow flexibility if you receive PCS orders. In Illinois, leases typically run for 12 months but shorter terms may be available.
Need help? The Navy Legal Services Office at Naval Station Great Lakes can review rental contracts before you commit.
You can view your Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates for Lake County at the Defense Travel Management Office website.
Utilities
When setting up utilities (electric, gas, water, internet, etc.), ask about military discounts or deposit waivers. Utility providers often waive deposits with a letter of credit or past billing history from your previous utility company. Local credit unions may also offer utility deposit assistance or discounts for members.
Consider signing up for budget billing, which evens out your monthly payments based on your usage average, helping you avoid seasonal spikes (especially with heating during Illinois winters).
Common utility providers in the Lake County area include:
Car Insurance
As of 2025, Illinois car insurance minimums remain:
However, be sure to check your coverage levels and shop around for military discounts, especially if you're maintaining registration in another state due to PCS status.
Note: Your insurance must at least meet the minimum coverage requirements of the state your vehicle is registered in, not necessarily where you are currently stationed.
Vehicle Registration
If your vehicle is registered in Illinois, it must be titled in the service member’s name or their legal dependent’s name. If the vehicle is co-titled with a spouse (especially if the spouse is an Illinois resident), you may be subject to Illinois vehicle registration fees and property taxes.
In Illinois, there is no annual vehicle property tax, unlike in Virginia. You will need to:
Exemption for Active-Duty Military: Active duty service members who are nonresidents of Illinois and stationed in the state may be eligible for registration fee waivers or benefits. You must provide proof of non-residency and active-duty status.
Drawing Advance Pay is not an advised practice for people doing a permanent change of station move. If you have any questions, contact our Personal Financial Specialist.
Call the FFSC, located on 525 Farragut Ave., Suite 300, Bldg. 26, at 847-688-3603 ext. 100.
Basic Entitlements and Allowances
Advance Travel Pay
Service members on permanent change of station orders or separating from the military are entitled to personal travel and transportation allowances for themselves and their families.
Upon receipt of your orders, you may request an advance on allowable travel allowances. Ensure your NAVPERS 1070/602 (Page 2) and SGLI are current and accurate before requesting travel advances.
Advance travel is normally not payable in cases of service members traveling overseas or in the same geographical location. All advance travel (MALT, Per Diem, and DLA) is paid no earlier than two days before transfer.
Mileage Allowance
Service members receive a monetary allowance in lieu of transportation when they drive their own vehicle to a new assignment. The MALT portion of the allowance is paid on a per mile basis for the official distance. Your commanding officer at your last duty station must grant approval prior to your travel if you wish to be reimbursed for driving two privately owned vehicles.
MALT rates payable for each authorized vehicle are $0.235 per mile.
Per Diem Allowance
Service members entitled to MALT will also receive a flat per diem for each day of the authorized travel time. Families traveling by private vehicle are allowed one day travel time for each 350 miles of the official distance between duty stations.
Per Diem for each travel time is payable as follows:
Dislocation Allowance
Dislocation allowance is designed to partially reimburse a service member, with or without dependents, for the expenses incurred in relocating his or her household in connection with permanent change of station moves. Advance payment requires documented evidence that household goods are scheduled for shipment.
Please note that residing in government quarters (BOQ/BEQ) longer than 60 days after arrival or acceptance of family type government quarters will invalidate your eligibility. DLA payment may be paid three to 10 days in advance of transfer.
Basic Allowance for Housing
Basic Allowance for Housing replaces basic allowance for quarters and variable housing allowance. Documented evidence for housing costs must be presented for payment like a lease agreement or mortgage document. The Basic Allowance for Housing is a supplemental monthly allowance based on the average cost of housing for your pay grade and the location of your duty station.
Advance Pay
The purpose of advance pay is to help the service member meet extraordinary expenses related to relocation during PCS moves. Advance pay is not authorized for the specific out of pocket expenses covered by advances of other pays and entitlements.
Advance pay (basic pay minus taxes and required deductions) of up to three months is authorized upon receipt of permanent change of station orders. The service member must provide written justification clearly showing that accrued or anticipated out-of-pocket PCS expenses are equal to or exceed the amount of advance pay requested.
The Commanding Officer must approve a repayment period that is no longer than the normal one-to-12-month repayment schedule for payments made to pay grades E-1 to E-3. This pay may be collected no earlier than 30 days prior to departure or as late as 60 days after reporting.
Temporary Lodging Expense
You and your family can receive TLE to help defray meals and temporary housing costs incurred during a permanent change of station move within the continental United States. TLE is available for a maximum of 10 days, which equals lodging in the vicinity of either your old or new duty stations. Payment is made through the settlement of your travel claim. For entitlement questions, contact your local PSD travel section.
Entitlements Associated with Reassignments to/from Overseas
Temporary Lodging Allowance
TLA is payable when the service member and family are required to occupy temporary lodging at personal expense outside the continental United States in connection with a PCS move. Payment is made in 10-day increments and not more than 60 days after arrival or more than 10 days preceding departure from an overseas location.
Overseas Housing and Cost of Living Allowances
OHA and COLA are authorized to assist service members in bearing the excess costs resulting from assignment to a duty station outside the continental United States. OHA takes the place of BAH and reimburses a service member for higher day-to-day living expenses. COLA is readjusted frequently as exchange rates and inflation rates change.
Service members assigned to many overseas locations can receive a one-time lump-sum allowance to help defray expenses for security fees, major appliances, non-refundable deposits and related taxes or fees. You must be eligible for OHA to receive the move-in allowance.