Financial Assistance

If you anticipate being short of cash for your move, contact your local finance office to discuss the possibility of travel advances:

• Travel advances are only authorized if a member isn’t eligible for a government travel card.
• A basic allowance for housing advance comes out of your paycheck over 12 months like a base pay advance unless you request two to three months, and then with extra work/signatures, you can do a 24-month repayment.

Be aware of the misuse of a government credit card:

• Unauthorized purchases
• Non-reimbursable expenses

For a family of two, moving to Vance and living in the Temporary Living Facility for the first few days after arrival, you might expect to pay approximately $83 a day to include lodging, food, laundry and dry cleaning. If you are boarding a pet of course, the cost will be more.

Housing Costs

Average rental cost for a three-bedroom house is $1,400 per month. The average price for homes in popular neighborhoods is $198,000.

Temporary Lodging Allowance

Temporary lodging facilities are available at the Cherokee Lodge located at Vance Air Force Base. Stays are normally limited to 30 days during the non-peak periods. If there is no vacancy on base, you will need a non-availability statement from temporary lodging before you can be reimbursed for off-base lodging. If you do not get this, you may not be eligible for reimbursement. If you must stay off base, you will be reimbursed at the per diem lodging rate for the Oklahoma area.

The Air Force Aid Society is the official charity of the United States Air Force. A private, nonprofit organization, the 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. The AFAS assists with rent, food, shelter, vehicle repairs (including parts and labor) and emergency travel for death or serious illness of immediate family members.

Child Care for PCS

Sponsored by the AFAS, Child Care for PCS offers relocating families 20 hours of free child care per child within 60 days of a permanent change of station. Child care is authorized for both inbound and outbound families; however, care is provided by the base's Child Development Center on a space-available basis.

Car Care Because We Care

A free oil change, sponsored by the AFAS, is authorized for first-term airmen, spouses of active-duty Air Force members deployed for more than 30 days and spouses of active-duty Air Force members assigned to a remote tour.

Give Parents a Break

The AFAS recognizes that Air Force families are subject to unique stresses due to the nature of military life: deployments, remote tours of duty, extended working hours, etc.

In an effort to help these families, the 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 month for families referred to the program. Families will not be charged for the care.

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 move. 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 that will not be fully covered by your PCS entitlements. A good rule of thumb is to have at least enough savings to cover 90 days of cost-of-living expenses.

At Vance Air Force Base, the A&FRC offers many programs to help you become financially fit. A budget can be the best indicator of what you need to do with your money (savings, investing, paying down consumer debt, etc.) and will help you plan accordingly.

Let your A&FRC representative help you:

• Create a budget based on your lifestyle and needs
• Reduce your consumer debt quickly and efficiently by providing a Power Pay assessment
• Learn about the Thrift Savings Plan and other investment options
• Prepare for various life events

You can contact one of our Certified Personal Finance Counselors at DSN 448-6330 or 580-213-6330.