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Which Benefits Are Available to LGB Military Families?

Gay soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines have been able to serve openly since September 20th, 2011, when the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy was officially revoked. However, due to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the federal government is barred from recognizing same sex marriages – even if a couple...
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Proposed Defense Budget May Leave Behind Some Military Families

“Personnel cuts aren’t the only cuts in store for military families. Service members also will face increased health care fees, deductibles and co-payments phased in over several years, although the Pentagon didn’t offer specifics. Military-age retirees who make more than $45,179 annually – a pension usually reserved for officers –...
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Proposed Changes in Tricare Prescription Coverage

The following is a guest post provided by Matt Puettmann, content manager at Veterans United Home Loans, the nation’s leading dedicated provider of military family home loans. *** Service for military members is tough regardless of which branch they serve in, and many come back from service with various physical...
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Veteran’s Guide to Final Arrangements, Part 4: Cemetery Options

You can read Part 1 of the Veterans Guide to Final Arrangements here, Part 2 here, and Part 3 here. National Cemeteries Any veteran who meets the eligibility criteria may be buried in a National Cemetery. The Department of Veterans Affairs maintains 131 National Cemeteries in thirty-nine states (and Puerto...
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SBP Payments Don’t Go On Forever

Military Family recently received a question from a reader about the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP). The question involved the duration of SBP payments. The reader wanted to know how long her husband, an Air Force Retiree, would pay SBP premiums. Her husband is 78 years old and retired from the...
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Veteran’s Guide to Final Arrangements, Part 3: Grave Markers

Read Part 1 of the Final Arrangements series here, and Part 2 here. Marker Types and Materials The VA will provide each deceased veteran with an upright grave marker in granite or marble, or a flat grave marker in granite, marble, or bronze. Upright grave markers are two-to-three-inch thick slabs...
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Veteran’s Guide to Final Arrangements, Part 2: Memorial Items

In addition to burial allowances, grave markers, and veterans’ cemetery interments, the families of deceased veterans are also eligible for a couple of memorial keepsake items: a burial flag and a memorial certificate signed by the President of the United States. (Read part 1 of the Final Arrangements series here)...
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Major Defense Budget Cuts A Possibility…or Are They?

As you may be aware, the Congressional “Super Committee” recently failed to meet their deadline to come up with a plan to cut the Federal budget. Congress has until the end of December to come up with and pass the committee’s plan, otherwise $1.2 trillion in automatic cuts (“sequestration cuts”)...
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Military Tax Break: Roll-over of SGLI and Death Gratuity to Roth IRA

Nobody likes to think about, or for that matter talk about, their own mortality. But, if something were to happen to you, you certainly would want your spouse to know about special tax benefits available to beneficiaries of Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and the military Death Gratuity. Also, if...
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Veteran’s Guide to Final Arrangements, Part 1: Burial Allowances

Death is a subject most people prefer to avoid, but talking about it can help you ease the strain on your family when the time comes. By discussing your wishes ahead of time, you can avoid leaving your loved ones unsure what you would have wanted, and you can ensure...
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