Types of military benefits one might have
- Education: Tuition and fees, monthly housing stipends, and a yearly books/supplies stipend are available. Benefits can also be used to pay for independent study programs, required continuing education, licensing, certification, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training.
- Insurance: SGLI program provides low-cost group life insurance maximum of $400,000 to their members. Traumatic Injury protection is also available to provide financial assistance, anywhere from $25,000 to $100,000, to members during recovery from injuries.
- Home Loans: A service member can get up to $417,000 toward the purchase of a home and can lock in low interest rates. He/she can buy a home with no down payment, refinance to lower monthly payments, and get cash for purchases and remodeling.
- Health Care: Members of the military are entitled to comprehensive health care coverage. In 1996, veterans became eligible for preventive and primary health care. Also, combat veterans returning from active duty may be eligible to receive free health care for up to two years.
- Legal Assistance: Service members or veterans have many legal rights, entitlements, restrictions, and benefits. Included are financial and legal protection for when they are deployed, and assistance with personal legal matters.
Theses military benefits are extremely beneficial to service members and their families. If you are worried about losing any of these benefits reach out to our team at Simonetti & Associates, a Hicksville divorce lawyer who will help you answer any questions you may have.
The scenarios in which some of the benefits would be split with your ex
When an individual who is not a service member divorces his or her military spouse, that individual may be in danger of losing his or her benefits in the divorce. For individuals who have come to rely on these benefits, the prospect of being without them can be life-changing. Luckily, the military realizes this and gives ex-spouses of military members the option to carry on with the benefits they enjoyed during the marriage. To determine how individuals will receive these benefits, though, the military has a marriage ranking system.
The first rank is 20/20/20. This means that the service member served at least 20 years in the armed forces was married to a non-service member for at least 20 years, and the individual’s service and marriage overlapped for at least 20 years.
Non-military ex-spouses who were in 20/20/20 marriages qualify for lifetime benefits at no charge. Non-military ex-spouses who were in 20/20/15 marriages, which are the same except for that the marriage and service only overlapped 15 years, qualify for one year of full benefits for free.
All other individuals will not receive their military benefits for free, but they can enroll in a temporary program that allows them to carry on with the health care and other services they were accustomed to for up to 60 months for a nominal fee.
If you have any other questions regarding military benefits after divorcing contact Simonetti & Associates to speak with a Hicksville divorce Lawyer.
