Financial Assistance

Financial assistance

Accredited financial counselors and educators provide financial counseling to personnel experiencing money management difficulties and to those who wish to be in control of their finances.

Appointments can be made through the member's command financial specialist or by contacting the Fleet and Family Support Center directly. Information and assistance are also available through one-on-one counseling in areas such as budgeting, military pay and allowances, insurance, car buying, home buying and credit card management. 

The following financial readiness classes and workshops are periodically offered throughout the year:

• Million Dollar Sailor class
• Military pay issues
• Banking and financial services
• Blended retirement system
• Developing a spending plan
• Credit management
• Car-buying strategies
• Introduction to saving and investing
• Consumer awareness (includes predatory lending)
• Insurance and risk management
• Legal issues
• Home buying and selling
• Financial planning for deployment
• Money and the Move
• Saving, investing and the Thrift Savings Plan
• The basics of retirement planning
• Paying for college
• Renting
• Gambling awareness
• How to survive the holidays financially
• Vacation planning
• Marriage planning
• Survivor Benefit Plan
• Raising financially fit kids

Plan a permanent change of station budget

The cost of living in Jacksonville is considered moderate so there is no cost-of-living allowance. Most personnel arriving on permanent change of station orders are authorized a Temporary Lodging Expense allowance, which helps reimburse up to 10 days of temporary lodging expenses, incurred at their old and/or new duty station. Be sure to obtain an itemized lodging receipt to submit with your TLE claim. Temporary lodging costs $35-$80 per night.

The average cost of renting an apartment or house ranges $1,295-$1,522. Home purchases can run from $250,000 for a townhouse to $350,000 for a four-bedroom home. Average monthly utility bills are $140-$220. The minimum car insurance coverage requirements are $10,000 Property Damage Liability and Personal Injury Protection, with no greater than a $2,000 deductible.

Should you encounter a situation where you need emergency financial assistance while in transit and near a military installation, contact the servicing relief agency (i.e. Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Air Force Aid Society). Additional sources of assistance include the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Advance pay

While it is not a good idea to take an advance on your basic pay since you are liable for repayment of this advance, you do want to take advantage of your opportunity to take advance travel pay. This would normally include Mileage Allowance in Lieu of Transportation when driving to your new duty assignment, plus a per diem (a dollar amount times the authorized number of travel days) and a Dislocation Allowance, provided you will not become a permanent resident in bachelor quarters. Check with your pay office for details.

Command Financial Specialist Program

The Naval Station Mayport Fleet and Family Support Center is the training site for the Command Financial Specialist Program. This quarterly training is open to service members in pay grades E-5 (with six or more years of service) and above, during which they are trained to assist service members and the families of their commands. This program emphasizes personal financial responsibility and accountability by providing basic principles and practices of sound money management, counseling tools and referral services.

There are two additional military installations adjacent to Jacksonville, Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia. They provide the same classes and services as Mayport on their own rotating schedule. Contact your command financial specialist or command career counselor for information and orders approval.

For more information or to make an appointment at the FFSC at NS Mayport, call 904-270-6600.