Naval Station Norfolk  Military and Family Support Center

The Fleet and Family Support Center's Personal Financial Management Program goals are to:

•    Assist Navy personnel in establishing and maintaining sound money management practices
•    Empower service members and their families to better manage financial resources and meet financial goals by developing their skills and increasing their knowledge
•    Provide a continuum of training, information and counseling services

The Fleet and Family Support Center provides individual financial counseling sessions to all service members and their families. To assist you and your family in being financially prepared, the FFSC offers workshops on topics including basic money management, investing, home buying, credit card management, car buying, consumer awareness, Thrift Savings Plan and much more.

Protect your financial health. It is important to you and your career. Need help with your finances? How to seek help:

•    Talk to your command financial specialist; they have tools to help and will respect your privacy.
•    Visit one of six FFSCs in Hampton Roads for valuable and confidential advice and assistance.
•    Navy Marine Corps Relief Society-Shipmates provides support for shipmates in financial trouble. 
•    Banks and credit unions are tasked to help you. Let them work for you!

Watch your money carefully while in transit; many unexpected expenditures can deplete your resources quickly! To help prepare for the move, stop by your local Personnel Support Detachment and ask about the following entitlements: Per Diem, Temporary Lodging Allowance for outside the continental U.S., Temporary Lodging Expense for CONUS, Mileage in Lieu of Transportation, Advance Pay and most importantly Dislocation Allowance. Remember when taking Advanced Pay, repayment starts immediately reducing your monthly income, in some cases, drastically. Also, don't forget the loss of your spouse's income until you are settled in your new area.

If you will be staying in temporary lodging upon arrival, expect to pay at least $88 per night at local hotels, but take into account prices will vary based on location and season. When asking for rates, be sure to ask for a military discount! There are Navy Lodges at Naval Station Norfolk, Naval Station Oceana-Dam Neck Annex, and Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek located near/on bases.

Hampton Roads, Virginia consists of the "Southside" and the "Peninsula."  This area is home to more than 20% of the entire United States Navy!  Other services also call Hampton Roads home – Marine Command Camp Allen, Langley Air Force Base, Fort Monroe, Fort Eustis and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The culturally-diverse region is consistently growing and offers something for everyone.

Hampton Roads has many options for your housing needs. There are a lot of parts to the "where to live" decision. Do you have kids and want to check out the schools? Do you want to live near the water or be near your job? Do you want an apartment or house? Rent or own?

Housing

Homes for sale are plentiful in Hampton Roads and prices vary depending on your needs. Apartments, townhouses, duplexes and condos for rent are plentiful. Rents vary greatly depending on what you're looking for. Average apartment rentals can range from $900 for a one-bedroom to $1,800 for a three-bedroom depending on the location. Some places allow pets, but keep in mind most rentals require a pet deposit. Inquire about a military clause before signing a rental agreement. Standard leases in Virginia are for one year but shorter terms are available. Generally, the cost of living in Hampton Roads is high. Housing costs may be lower on the Peninsula and in North Carolina.

The basic living allowance for Hampton Roads and the Peninsula currently ranges from $1,100 to $2,200.

Need a second opinion? Before you sign on the dotted line, have the Navy Legal Service Office look over your contract.

Utilities

Utility companies (telephone, water and gas) require deposits, but these can be waived with a letter of credit from your current utility company. Credit unions have programs for members featuring utility deposits. Ask about military waivers and policies when shopping for service. Prices vary, depending on your needs.

Budget billing when setting up new accounts for utilities, be sure to ask about budget billing as a way to manage your bills to avoid seasonal fluctuations. The monthly budget bill amount is based on an average of the usage at your address and is assessed every six months.

Car Insurance

Virginia law requires the following minimum insurance coverage for all registered vehicles:

• Bodily injury/death of one person – $25,000
• Bodily injury/death of two or more persons – $50,000
• Property damage – $20,000

Note: Lesser amounts of insurance are acceptable if they meet the minimum requirements for the state the vehicle is registered in.

Vehicle Registration

Vehicles of armed forces personnel must be registered in their own names or in the name of their legal dependents. If the vehicle is titled in both the service member and spouse's names, or spouse's name only, there will be a property tax assessment. Taxes are approximately 3% of the assessed value of the vehicle annually. This can be quite an expense, especially on a new or late model car.

NOTE: The titled owner of the vehicle must be an active duty nonresident to qualify for an exemption of annual personal property tax.  

Things To Keep In Mind While Transferring

Resources to assist you with travel emergencies:

• American Red Cross (regional emergency center): 877-272-7337
• Navy-Marine Corp Relief Society
• Military OneSource: 800-342-9647
• Virginia local information operator: dial 211 
• Hampton Roads installations’ base operator: 757-444-0000
• Navy Inn (Worldwide Reservations): 800-628-9466
• Ombudsman Careline: 757-444-6288
• Contact your new command for advice if needed

TRICARE Prime and Transferring

If you are enrolled in TRICARE Prime and there is a medical emergency, go to the nearest hospital and remember to call your TRICARE Prime office within 24 hours after the emergency for authorization to avoid costly co-pays. For other medical care, call your TRICARE Prime office before seeking medical assistance, again to avoid costly co-pays. TRICARE will be able to assist you in locating a provider in the area. Virginia is located in the TRICARE North Region.

• TRICARE North (HealthNet): 800-839-2172 
• TRICARE East (Humana): 800-444-5445
• TRICARE West (TriWest): 888-874-9378
• TRICARE Overseas (Country specific)