Military Retirement

Joining the military has its advantages, especially when it comes time for retirement. Those in the military enjoy a number of benefits that civilians are simply not entitled to. Going into military…

When you are enlisted in the military, you are entitled to many special benefits both during and after service. One of these benefits includes potential access to military medical retirement pay,…

If you have served in the military, the United States government rewards your sacrifice with retirement benefits. If you became disabled while serving in the military, the Department of Veterans…

The Survivor Benefits Plan is an insurance plan that allows retired military wives to receive their deceased husband’s pay. At retirement, the husband's automatic enrollment in the Survivor…

When deciding on a retirement home, career members of the military often take into account the way a particular state taxes retired military pensions. Oklahoma offers a state tax break for retired…

There are many scholarships available to the children of retired military parents, and the majority of them are available to students pursuing an undergraduate degree -- in fact, the majority of them…

Veterans with disabilities qualify for a number of benefits from the government. The veteran has options as to which type of benefits he wishes to collect. Ex-spouses of disabled veterans and any…

The federal government looks after the welfare of retirees and their surviving spouses. In fact, the Social Security Administration has published policies and guidelines that surviving spouses can…

Children of deceased veterans are entitled to benefits under the provisions of the old Montgomery GI Bill. However, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a newer version of this bill;…

Being the widow of a veteran is challenging enough without having to consider whether or not you will receive benefits from your husband's term of service and what those benefits may be. The U.S.…

When a person has an outstanding claim on an insurance policy at the time of his death, the claim will generally still be processed. Similarly, if a person has an insurance policy at the time of his…

When a military reservist with at least 20 years of service reaches the age of 60, he can begin collecting retirement pay for his years served in the armed forces. According to "Military Benefits,"…

Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability benefits are payable to you if you're disabled and can't work. This may also effectively force you into disability retirement. This type of…

As Social Security benefits operate within federally funded and federally administered programs, the process for filing for Social Security disability benefits in Louisiana works in much the same way…

An activities assistant in a retirement home organizes and promotes activities intended to enhance the lives of residents. Activities might include games, social events, arts and crafts, hobbies and…

When you inherit a retirement plan from your spouse, one of the issues you contend with is how those assets are distributed. Distribution of assets from a retirement account favors spouses at the…

As a general rule, the beneficiary you name when you buy life insurance is the only person with rights to the money paid off under the policy. If an ex-spouse is not the beneficiary, she has no right…

If you are divorced and you and your ex-spouse are both disabled, both of you may qualify to receive various public benefits. If you are already receiving disability benefits, you may also qualify to…

Your postal annuity is either part of the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) or the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). Both retirement plans are open to government employees and provide…

Thousands of U.S. Armed Forces draftees and volunteers have served to protect the United States of America. In return for the sacrifices they have made, the U.S. is committed to taking care of the…

Although working in the military carries with it some inherent danger, the benefits packages military personnel receive are significant. The disability benefits you can receive from the Department of…

Dividing tangible assets in a divorce is never easy, and many divorcees can attest to the struggles to develop an equitable divorce settlement when divvying up personal property. When intangible…

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a guaranty service for home loans. An active military member or veteran who has been honorably discharged may be eligible for benefits including low…

The U.S. Military does not provide direct benefits for you as a spouse if your husband is disabled as a result of his military service -- even if he's 70 percent disabled. You do benefit indirectly…

As of May 2011, the federal government is the largest employer in the nation. Federal employees work in many positions in federal government agencies, including Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs,…

Children in a Navy family are eligible for several benefits. Extensive recreation options, medical and dental care, and on-base primary and high school round out the major benefits dependent children…

Working as a server to the public can be a difficult job, but it can be financially rewarding if you provide good service for which people provide tips. The government wants to share in your good…

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administers benefit programs for surviving family members of those serving in every branch of the military. As with other government programs, surviving…

Retiring after 20 plus years of serving your country in the military brings about feelings of excitement and probably some nervousness as well. In most cases, your life after the service will change…

The Department of Veteran Affairs is the federal agency with authority to grant benefits to deceased veterans and their dependents. According to the VA, benefits apply to all service members who lost…

The death of a wife or husband can be a traumatic event. For the spouses of deceased military personnel, the federal government provides a wide range of benefits and financial assistance. Spousal…

Just because somebody works for the government doesn't mean she doesn't pay taxes. This includes people serving in the armed forces. Most of the wages received by soldiers, Marines, sailors and airmen…

As a worker, you are subject to a number of different taxes, from Federal and state income taxes to the payroll taxes used to fund Social Security and Medicare. But your tax liability does not go away…

A spouse must meet the state's requirements in order to file for divorce. Missouri Statute Title 30, Chapter 452, Section 300, requires that the filing spouse -- called the petitioner -- must be a…

The United States has a long tradition of honoring its veterans, including those who have returned home from their terms of service to live lives once again as civilians. Among the benefits the U.S.…

Military retirement is taxed by the federal government like any other income earned during a tax year. Many states however, offer full exemptions of military retirement pay for state income tax…

Family members of deceased veterans are eligible to receive some benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Eligible family members include spouses, children and any dependents the veteran had…

In 1982, Congress approved the Uniformed Services Former Spouses' Protection Act, also known as USFSPA, giving states the authority to divide military retirement compensation between spouses. The…

The Department of Defense requires sound financial management of all military members. Service members are expected to pay their debts on time without interruption. When this does not happen, service…

Nine states do not have state income taxes. These are Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming, according to the IRS, as of February 2010.…

As of 2011, more than 25 million veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces qualify for benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). To qualify for VA benefits, veterans must have received a…

There exists no real average retirement salary which is useful for all retirees. The needs of each individual depends on the lifestyle he wishes to enjoy and his daily living expenses during this…

In the Army, you have to meet several criteria if you want to be promoted. The first is a minimum amount of time in service, then a minimum amount of time in the grade (or rank) you hold now. Once…

The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is an independent federal agency that oversees the retirement and unemployment benefits programs for railroad workers and their families. Railroad retirement…

Spouses can create a living trust to benefit children and relatives as well as protect assets for future generations. Once funded with assets, a living trust is a legally recognized tax-paying entity.…

Deceased veterans and service members who serve on active duty or the selected Reserve qualify for death benefits. Military benefits depend on whether the service member completed a full enlistment…

Individuals serving in the United States military receive monetary payment in exchange for performing their duties. Additionally, people who have retired from military service also receive veterans'…

The Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act (USFSPA) addresses the concerns of divorced spouses in relation to veterans benefits. Divorce terminates most veteran benefits, but former spouses…

Tax credits require existing tax liability for a taxpayer after subtracting deductions from gross income. The total of all wages and compensation equals a taxpayer's gross income. Subtracting all…

Retirement age in the military is a major drawing point for many would-be enlistees and officers. When you reach the years of service threshold for your branch of military service, retirement is an…

If spouses decide to end their marriage amicably, they may be able to file for an uncontested divorce. In Alabama, an uncontested divorce is available if spouses agree on all outstanding issues in…

Like civilian divorces, military divorces are generally governed by the laws of the state in which it is filed. There are, however, additional federal laws that apply to a military divorce that can…

The U.S. Navy, like all branches of the Armed Forces, provides substantial benefits not only to its uniformed members, but also to family members. The Navy does not restrict benefits to spouses and…

The system for compensation of former service members was originally very simple. There was no retirement benefit for individuals separating with less than 20 years service. At 20 years service, the…

Alabama divorce law considers pension benefits marital property if certain criteria are met, meaning that either spouse may or may not be entitled to a portion of the other spouse's pension. Because…

One of the most emotionally charged issues in property division pursuant to a divorce is the disposition of a party's pension plan. After twenty or thirty years of working for the same employer,…

The U.S. Navy can't just recruit and retain sailors; it must also recruit and retain Navy families as well. Both sailors and families frequently endure the hardships of long separations, isolated duty…

Although military pay at one time lagged behind civilian pay scales for similar skills and experience, the pay rates in the armed forces have gradually improved. Nevertheless, members of the military…

State laws and legal precedents are confusing or nonexistent with regard to ex-spouses receiving alimony after entering into a domestic partnership. It is entirely possible for an ex-spouse in a…

If you happen to be a veteran of the military, you can acquire an insurance called the Survivor Benefit Plan that enables your surviving spouse to acquire your retirement benefits after you die.…

When you owe money to someone else, the creditor can take many assets away from you to satisfy the debt. However, many, but not all, types of retirement accounts are protected from seizure. You should…

Navy widows are entitled to a variety of benefits. These benefits are intended to offset some of the financial hardship a spouse endures while following her husband from post to post as well as the…

Congress has provided a number of tax benefits as a thank-you to members of the armed forces of the United States and provides for a number of special deductions in recognition of the frequent travel…

The Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) is a pension plan available to federal civil service employees. The CSRS plan replaces the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS), and the benefits you…

If you provide services for the United States Air Force (USAF) for more than 20 years, you are eligible for military pension benefits. There are several online calculators available to help you…

The U.S. government offers educational benefits not only for enlisted personnel, but also for their spouses, whether pursuing a college degree, professional licensing or other credentials. Different…

Professionals looking to get a leg up in the business world often earn Master's in Business Administration (MBA) degrees while they build their careers. These programs expose them to a range of…

Military retirement differs from traditional civilian retirement because of the way funds are earned and distributed. Technically, military retirement is paid under the agreement that the retired…

Unlike regular pensions, retirement for military service members is based on a points system earned over the course of service. With a pension, the retiree has a chunk of money sitting in an account.…

When a service member involuntarily leaves the military with an honorable discharge, he may be eligible for military severance pay. This one-time payout was instituted to better enable military…

In 2009, two of the largest companies in the United States---General Electric and Bank of America---paid no taxes, but still received money back due to tax credits. Individual taxpayers can receive…

The Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs provide widows of Army service members and veterans with certain benefits. The Department of Defense provides a Casualty Assistance…

The Uniformed Services Former Spouses Protection Act gives individual states the power to classify and divide military retirement in divorce cases. Although retirees give much attention to questions…

With the passage of the Uniformed Services Former Spouses Protection Act in 1982, individual states gained the freedom to classify military retirement as marital property and divide it in the context…

When you receive your retirement, you may have to pay taxes. Whether you do or not depends entirely on the type of retirement account you have. Paying taxes dramatically changes certain retirement…

The military retirement system is different from most civilian plans. Members of the armed forces may retire after just 20 years of service, meaning it's possible to retire as early as 37 years old. A…

If you are planning a vacation, or want to make sure you will have adequate time off should you become sick, you can figure out your leave allowance so far or plan ahead based on anticipated hours.…

One of the advantages of a career in the military is that you can begin collecting retirement pay immediately after you retire despite your age. As stated on Military.com, you could begin receiving…

The U.S. military boasts an excellent retirement program for all branches. There are three main retirement plans available. Final Pay is the plan for those who entered the service before September 8,…

Due to recent changes in retirement options, the military now offers an especially desirable retirement pay program. Your date of entry into service determines which of the three non-disability…

All branches of the military reserve receive one of two types of retirement benefits. These types are called Final Pay and High-3, and the benefit that applies to you depends on your date of entry…

At first glance, the military retirement system may seem confusing. There are three main non-disability retirement programs, and the plan that pertains to you depends on the nature of your service and…

Changes in the military retirement system mean that young people may retire with a competitive pension. For all branches of the military there are three main retirement plans, and the one you qualify…

Military retirement planning is important as your years of service accumulate. However, many aspects of the military's retirement policies are complex and can confuse personnel who are nearing…

The U.S. military has a retirement system for those who spent their careers in one of the service branches and a disability pension system for those who suffer from service-related disabilities. These…

Retirement benefits are one of the most important reasons to complete a career in the military. It is vitally important for each reservist to understand the eligibility process for retirement pay at…

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA, offers pension benefits for widowed spouses and dependent children who had a retired military family member pass away. The claimant can file to…

Military retirement comes with many benefits from continued health insurance to a regular paycheck every month. Apart from simply living out your service contract, there are several strategies you may…

The U.S. Department of Labor notes that garnishment occurs when an individual fails to pay a debt and, as a result, his creditor sues him for the debt, wins and requests a writ of garnishment from the…

The taxation of your retirement pay depends upon whether it is based upon length of service, or disability. Understanding how your pay is taxed will aid you in determining how much, if any, tax should…

The term "qualified retirement plan" applies to plans covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or ERISA. The law does not cover public sector pensions, however, including federal…

Members of the military reserve serve the country part time, usually training for one weekend each month and two entire weeks out of the year. Though they serve part time, reservists are eligible for…

When you serve as a member of military services in the U.S. Army, Navy, National Guard or Army Reserves, you are entitled to a certain level of retirement benefits based on your years of service. The…

Retirement pay for military retirees stops when they die. To ensure that surviving spouses still receive this benefit, military retirees must sign up for the Survivor Benefit Plan. The Survivor…

Military veterans are wise to retire to a community with a nearby veterans' medical facility. If you are a veteran with medical benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a number of…

Retirement pay for the U.S. Military Reserves is based on accrued points. The more points you have, the more you will be paid in your retirement. Points are calculated in accordance with the amount of…

Retiring from the military will cause a lot of changes. You will have to consider your total retirement savings, the scope of your pension plan, your benefit eligibility and whether you will need to…

If you are receiving military retirement, but still need extra income to survive, there are ways you can supplement your retirement. One way is to seek part-time work in your neighborhood that offers…

The Civil Service Retirement System is a contributory retirement system for those employed by the federal government. Through this retirement system, employees share the costs of their entitled…

One of the benefits of serving in the Reserve or National Guard for any branch of the U.S. military is the ability to access retirement funds. However, there are some qualifications that must be met…

Although military members traditionally earn lower incomes than their civilian counterparts, it doesn't exclude them from opportunities to save for the future. The military does not offer a 401k.…

The military presents harsh demands to both the member and the member's family, especially a spouse. A military spouse often sacrifices as much as the military member to this difficult lifestyle. For…

Military retirement can be a time-consuming affair when a service member tries to prepare for civilian life while finishing up his current requirements. However, there are a number of leave options…

There are many different reasons you may need to apply for medical or disability retirement from the military. In general, there isn't a long application process, but you will need to be evaluated by…

Military retirement pay is generally taxable; however, disability retirement pay is not taxable to the extent that it is based on the percentage of disability. Additionally, veterans benefits, such as…

Whether you're active-duty military, active reserves or a National Guardsman, you are eligible for some form of retirement benefits when you reach 20 years of service. This benefit is based on your…

When deciding whether or not to join the military reserve many potential recruits see it only as a way to pay for college or supplement their current income. However, the military reserve helps it…

Tricare is comprehensive medical insurance that is provided for active duty military members as well as military veterans. It is meant to benefit members of the military, their families and…

The following retirement benefit sources are taxable and must be reported as income: Non-disability retirement pay, unless received from the VA Retainer pay for transfers to Reserve units…

Although retiring from the military can be an exciting thought while enduring a long deployment, it takes careful planning to prepare for this life change. Retirement presents many challenges,…

When a member of the military retires, they are granted retirement pay. Calculating this pay requires knowledge of the retirement category the individual falls into and the number of years she served.…

Military spouses experience life in ways that civilian spouses can't fathom. Military families are provided with exceptional health care and the ability to travel to exotic destinations. After the…

When divorce occurs, one of the first things decided is the division of any financial benefits. The government provides members of the military and their spouses many benefits. Thanks to the Uniformed…

Retiring from the military is a bit different from finishing your service in a civilian setting. It's easy to retire from military service, but staying on a few extra years can increase your benefits.