Financial Assistance

Upstate New York is an expensive place to live. However, settling in costs may not be as high as some other areas. Most utilities do not charge for deposits, but hook-up charges are common. Off-base housing varies with the town or city you desire to live in. Contact your sponsor for assistance.

Naval Support Activity Saratoga Springs, Fleet and Family Support Center offers a variety of financial services/seminars on money management skills, budgeting skills, mutual funds basics and advanced, checkbook management, car/home buying seminars and Smooth Move workshops. In addition, individual financial counseling is provided by appointment. Contact the FFSC at 518-886-0200 x146 or contact your Command Financial Specialist (CFS).

Temporary Lodging Expense

For use in the CONUS to partially reimburse Temporary Living Expenses, maximum of 10 days (for days not covered by per diem), keep receipts and discuss maximum daily allowance under TLE with your travel clerk. Currently, the maximum TLE amount for a hotel in this area is approximately $110 per day. Make sure you save all of your travel receipts.

Current TLE rates and all of your travel entitlements including your new Basic Allowance for Housing rates can be found on the following website.

Cost of Living

The average cost of housing rentals in the Saratoga area is $1900. The average cost of housing purchases in the Saratoga area is $587,000.

All temporary housing is off base. The local hotel rates vary from $90 - $250 per night. In July and August (Horse Racing season), hotel rates range from $300 to $400 per night.

The average monthly utility (electric/natural gas) bill for housing is $250. Many homes use fuel oil. The cost of fuel oil is approximately $400 per month in the winter months and is separate from your electric bill.

Requirements For Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Coverage In New York

A motor vehicle registered in New York must have liability insurance. Insurance coverage must be a minimum of $25,000/50,000 for injury, $50,000/100,000 for death and $10,000 for property damage caused by any one accident. New York is a no-fault state.

The liability coverage must remain in effect while the registration is valid, even if the vehicle is not used (except motorcycles).

• The liability coverage must be New York insurance coverage issued by a company authorized to do business in New York and licensed by the New York State Insurance Department. Out-of-state insurance coverage of any type is NEVER acceptable or valid. If your vehicle is registered in New York, the liability insurance coverage must be New York insurance coverage.
• Liability coverage must be issued in the name of the registrant and must remain in the name of the registrant at all times. A change on the insurance to a name different from the registrant causes a lapse in insurance coverage, and the driver license of the registrant and the registration is suspended.
• You must show a New York insurance ID Card when you apply for a vehicle registration. Your insurance company, agent or broker must issue two original New York insurance ID cards to you. The insurance ID card must have the same name as the registration application and must have a bar code.
• The insurance company must also file an electronic notice of insurance coverage with the Department of Motor Vehicles to verify the liability coverage. (The agent or broker cannot file this notice.) Your insurance ID card and the electronic notice of insurance coverage together verify your insurance coverage. An insurance ID card only does not prove liability coverage.
• The DMV does not accept any out-of-state insurance documents

All vehicles registered in New York must have New York liability coverage. There are no exceptions. If you replace your New York insurance coverage with out-of-state insurance, a lapse in valid insurance coverage occurs. The New York DMV suspends your registration, and the New York DMV can suspend your driver license. The New York DMV must take action against your New York registration and driver license even if you move outside of New York. This action can affect your ability to hold a valid driver license in your new state. If you register your vehicle in another state, immediately surrender your New York vehicle plates to the New York DMV by mail. The insurance company must notify the DMV if you cancel your liability insurance. Your insurance company is also required to notify DMV if your insurance coverage is reinstated or you get new insurance coverage. If the insurance company does not file an electronic notice about your new or reinstated liability insurance, the DMV sends you a letter about your insurance.

Read the insert mailed with the letter and follow the instructions in the letter. You are given 10 days from the date of the DMV letter to prove that you have insurance coverage, prove that you sold the vehicle or show other proof that insurance coverage was not required in New York. If you do have insurance coverage, also ask your insurance company (do not ask your agent or broker) to file an electronic notice of insurance coverage with the DMV. If you do not have liability insurance, you must surrender your vehicle plates to the New York DMV immediately. Make sure you get a receipt. You must respond to the letter you receive from the DMV or surrender your license plates to prevent the suspension of your registration and driver license. If your liability insurance is about to lapse and you do not plan to replace it with other insurance, surrender your vehicle plates to the DMV before your insurance coverage lapses. Here are some of the conditions that can create a lapse in insurance coverage. Any amount of time that your vehicle is registered but not insured can cause a lapse in your insurance coverage and the suspension or revocation of your registration.

A lapse in insurance coverage can occur:

• Between the date your insurance is canceled and the effective date of your new insurance
• Between the date your insurance is canceled and the date you surrender your license plates or the date your registration expires
• Between the date your insurance is canceled and the effective date of "other proof" (for example, a vehicle registered in another state or a vehicle repossessed or impounded)
• Between the date you register your vehicle and the effective date of your new insurance coverage
• Between the date the insurance is canceled and the date the same insurance company reinstates your insurance coverage

If the lapse in the insurance coverage exceeds 90 days, your driver license is also suspended.

Financial Emergency

If you are en route to your next duty station and have a financial emergency, any Red Cross can help you. If you are near a military base it is possible to receive help from the Air Force Aid Society and/or the Army Emergency Assistance Office. If you need financial assistance in the local area, contact Navy-Marine Corp Relief Society at 518-884-1842.

Advance Pay and Travel Allowances

Drawing of Advance Pay may not be the best option when you transfer. Advance Pay will automatically be withdrawn from your pay monthly reducing your income.

Ensure you talk to your travel clerk about Advance Travel Allowances. They do not have to be repaid.