How to Get Spousal Support From the Army

Army Regulation AR 608-99 requires for soldiers who are separated from their spouses to provide them with adequate financial compensation when there is no court order or written agreement established. A battalion commander may excuse a solider from paying spousal support under extreme cases, but generally the Army requires soldiers to offer temporary assistance to spouses they are separated from.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Determining Your Eligibility

1. Determine if your spouse is full-time Army personnel. Only spouses of full-time soldiers are eligible for spousal support.
2. Determine which branch of the Armed Services your spouse belongs to. Army Reserve and National Guard employees must be on active duty for at least 180 days before the Army has authority over their pay. The Army has no authority over retired soldiers unless a "garnishment order" is ordered by the court.
3. Decide what type of assistance you plan to seek. The Army assists spouses with spousal support, child support and other benefits such as health care and obtaining proper military identification.

Obtain Relevent Documents

4. Locate your military identification card.
5. Obtain a certified copy of a court order if you have one. This allows you to receive an involuntary allotment if your spouse does not comply.
6. Track down copy of any written agreement you and your spouse have made regarding spousal support.
7. Retrieve the bank routing number and account number for the account you want funds deposited into. Also gather any communication like written letters or emails you have had with your spouse's command concerning support payments.
8. Include your spouse's name, rank, social security number and where he is assigned if you have that information. Also include your name or the name of the person you seek support for as well as the names of any children to be included in the support allotment in all correspondence.

Contact Your Spouse's Commanding Officer by Mail

9. Contact your spouse's commander by mail. It is not recommended to contact the commanding officer by phone, as this is not as reliable as written communication and commanding officers are often difficult to find by phone.
10. Include all the information you have collected about your spouse including their name, social security number, rank, battalion, company, unit, his current or most recent assignment, your name, social security number and the names and social security numbers of the children you seek support for.
11. State clearly what you are seeking: child support, spousal support, an ID card, the amount you are entitled to, the amount you have received and the date of the last deposit.
12. Include banking information connected to the account that you want your allotment to be deposited into. Include the bank's name, name on the account, account number, routing number, mailing address and telephone number.
13. Ask to be notified by mail or email when the commander receives your request.

Send Your Request

14. Make a copy of all correspondence for your own records.
15. Mail the package with a return receipt requested so you have proof that the information was delivered to and received by the right person.
16. Address the package as specifically as possible. Use this format: Captain John Doe, Commander. Write "Official Mail" across the front of the package.
17. Wait three weeks for a reply. Commanders have 14 days before a response is required.
18. Follow up until you get the information and the support you need.