Deployment and Finance Entitlement presentation slides

1. 74th MRBC FRG

2. 74th MRBC FRG AGENDA Welcome Company Commander’s Comments Battalion Commander’s Comment FRG Leader Comments Upcoming Events Next FRG meeting- 24 March 1800 Sign up for Childcare Pre-deployment Information Fair- 7 April 1800 FRG BBQ @ BLORA FREE Stakes & Sport Activity ACS Financial Readiness- Mr. Casey Jackson Command Financial Specialist- SFC Jamie Baker Benitez S1 briefs Finance- 1LT Brittney Barnhart Legal- SFC Shirley Evans Baked Good Auctions

3. FRG CONTACT INFO FRG CONTACT INFORMATION Phone: 254-319-3481 Email: riverratsfrg@yahoo.com Facebook: 74th MRBC River Rats FRG

4. Financial Planning for Deployment Financial Readiness Branch, Army Community Service, Fort Hood, Texas 76544

5. “To Do” List Financial Planning for Deployment Checklist” Handout Legal Considerations Financial Planning Paying Bills Using Credit Housing Vehicles Taxes Communication Financial Emergencies

7. SpecificWills DEERS and ID Cards Insurance: Car, Renter/Home Owners, SGLI Warranties: Car, Appliances, Computers, etc. Tax Information

11. Deployment Planning Increases Spending Power Eliminates Stress Prepares You for the Future

12. Financial Goals Short Term: Deployment & up to two years Mid Term: Two to five years Long Term: More than five years

13. Managing Finances - Tools Create a easy to follow Spending Plan Factor in Pay Changes & Entitlements Be Realistic (It’s ok to have fun!) Plan for the Unexpected, establish savings Consider separate accounts for Deployment Combat Overspending

14. Financial Management Tools Allotments The Star Card Online Banking Budgets

16. Taxes Need IRS Form 2848 and POA to File Joint Tax Return Automatic 60-Day Extension File IRS Form 4868 for Four-Month Extension 180-Day Automatic Extension if in a Combat Zone

18. Make payment arrangements

19. If subletting, run credit check on potential tenants

20. Arrange routine maintenance and lawn care

22. Deployment Entitlements Temporary Duty (Per Diem) Family Separation Allowance (FSA II) Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) Hardship Duty Pay - Location (HDP-L) Hostile Fire Pay (HFP) / Imminent Danger Pay (IDP) Combat Zone Tax Exclusion (CZTE) Savings Deposit Program (SDP) Special Leave Accrual (SLA)

23. Temporary Duty (Per Diem) The current specified incidental expense rate for all overseas locations is $3.50 per day. In general, deployed Soldiers only receive the incidental portion of per diem as military lodging and meals are available throughout the theater. Soldiers do not receive per diem/incidental expense during rest and recuperation leaves, bad conduct status (such as AWOL), or while in an in-patient status in a medical treatment facility (MTF) or a passenger on a government vessel. Per diem is paid upon redeployment and submission of final travel settlement voucher.

24. Family Separation Allowance (FSA Type II) FSA Type II is payable to Soldiers with dependents who are deployed for more than 30 consecutive days. Entitlement stops if the Soldier returns to PDS for more than 30 days during the period. Married service members with no dependents are entitled to FSA if residing together before being separated. FSA Type II is payable at $250 per month ($8.33 per day) and begins the day of departure from home station and ends the day prior to arrival at home station.

25. Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) BAS is payable to all Soldiers. Soldiers on meal cards will have their meal deductions stopped during deployment. Integrity - Service - Innovation 3/11/2011 20

26. Hardship Duty Pay-Location (HDP-L) HDP-L is payable to all Soldiers who are performing official duties for more than 30 days in a designated hardship duty location. HDP-L rates vary by location. Specified amounts are monthly amounts paid on a daily basis. Currently, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait receive $100.00 per month which is equivalent to $3.33 a day. HDP-L begins the day of arrival in the designated location and ends the day of departure.

27. Hostile Fire Pay/Imminent Danger Pay (HFP/IDP) HFP/IDP is a special pay intended to compensate Soldiers serving in locations where they are subjected to imminent danger and/or hostile fire. It is payable to all Soldiers performing official duties in a designated HFP/IDP area. The normal specified rate for HFP/IDP is $225 per month. One day spent in a designated HFP/IDP area qualifies the member for the entire monthly amount.

28. Combat Zone Tax Exclusion (CZTE) CZTE exempts Soldiers who serve in designated hostile fire pay areas from withholding of income taxes. All federal and in general most state income tax withholdings are exempted. Officers’ pay up to the base pay of the Sergeant Major of the Army plus HFP is tax exempt; Income earned beyond this amount is fully taxable. For enlisted members, all pay is tax exempt. Leave earned while in a CZTE area is called CZTE-Leave CZTE-L. CZTE-L can be tax exempt when taken in a month not already classified as a CZTE month. Each day of leave taken will have that days pay tax exempt. For tax purposes, leave earned in the CZTE area is the first leave used after leaving the CZTE area.

29. Savings Deposit Program Available to those serving in designated combat zones Deposit un-allotted pay into DOD savings account Up to $10,000 during a single deployment Interest compounds quarterly at 10% Interest accrued is taxable www.dfas.mil

30. Special Leave Accrual (SLA) SLA is the authority to exceed a 75-day leave balance at fiscal year end. It is not an additional form of leave. SLA is intended to provide relief to Soldiers not allowed leave during lengthy deployments or periods of hostility. SLA is authorized for Soldiers serving in an area in which they were entitled to HFP for at least 120 continuous days. SLA approval is automatic. SLA is also authorized for Soldiers who deployed for at least 60 days and less than 120 days to meet a contingency operation of the U.S. or to enforce national policy or an international agreement based on a national security threat and were prevented from using leave through the FY because of deployment or mission requirements. Soldiers who earned SLA while in a HFP area have 3 fiscal years to take the leave.

31. Sources of Help Unit Command Financial Specialist Army Community Service Army Emergency Relief, Financial Readiness Branch, ACS The American Red Cross Consumer Credit Counseling Service Legal Services Offices State Attorney General or State Office of Consumer Affairs The Better Business Bureau

32. Good Luck! Have a safe and prosperous deployment! Should you need any further information or assistance, please contact the Financial Readiness Branch at either 287-8979 or 287-8982.

33. Command Financial Specialist (CFS) Services I Provide: AER Loans Budgets Food Vouchers Santa’s Workshop application Festival of Giving information SFC Bakerbenitez, Jaime 62nd EN BN Command Financial Specialist Office 288-3885 Cell 449-5354 BLDG 10018 RM A10

34. S1 / Finance Office 1LT Brittney Barnhart brittney.n.barnhart@us.army.mil Bldg 10016, Rm A005

37. Savings Deposit Program will be taken care of when you get overseas. Your pay has to reflect that you are deployed, and then they can establish your SDP. It will be prorated.

39. You only receive family sep for those you provide 50% or more care for, such as a spouse, child, or parent who has been added as your dependent in DEERS. If you don’t have custody of a dependent, you will not receive FSA for them.

40. Geographical bachelors will receive family separation allowance during deployment.

41. You have to be deployed for 30 days before you are authorized FSA; therefore, you will not see it until after 30 days into the deployment.

42. What if my family moves for the time I am deployed?

43. BAH: You will continue to receive BAH based on where you are stationed, not where your Family resides.

44. You will not receive any assistance from the Army! Moving your family will not be authorized on your orders, so it comes completely out of your own pocket.

45. Always keep your records updated with your family’s current, physical address. The Army needs to be able to reach them in the event of an emergency.

46. My Soldier isn’t sending me money. What do I do?

47. Talk to your Soldier’s chain of command. Do not wait until your utilities are shut off.

50. Limited amount per month

51. Affects Soldier’s payBank Debit Card

52. SFC Shirley Evans36th EN BDE Legal(254) 288-7845Legal Assistance(254) 287-7901/3199

53. Power of Attorney A power of attorney is a document that allows another person or institution to act as your legal agent.

54. Two Types of POAs General Allows your agent to do almost anything you could do by signing your name. Special Lists a particular act or acts that your agents is authorized to do and limits the agent to those acts.

55. Durable POA Means that the POA would remain effective even if you, the Principle, become legally incompetent.

56. Durable POA Requirements: Duration Must contain durability language and must be signed before a notary republic. Some states (Not Texas) require it be recorded in the county clerk’s office allowing any member of the public to view or copy the document. Can continue to be effective until it’s revoked, you or your agent die, a time specified, or a guardian of your estate is appointed. You may prefer to provide that the agent cannot act in your place unless you are incapacitated or disabled.

57. Preventing POA Abuse Carefully consider who you wish to name as your agent for you are held liable for your agent’s actions with the POA. Never have a POA unless needed. If you feel you need a POA, have one prepared but don’t sign it until needed. Always put an expiration date on your POA. Make sure the expiration date is a fairly short period of time. Never use a General POA when a special one will do.

58. Limitations: A POA may not work at every location; so find out in advance whether those places require a specific form or signature card.

59. Termination and Revocation Your POA will be terminated upon your death, your agent’s death, expiration of the term on the POA, destruction of the original POA or when a Revocation of POA is documented. When a Revocation of POA is executed: It must be signed and notarized. You must notify, via certified mail, your agent. Also give copy to major creditors, agencies and businesses the POA was used or suspect agent may try to use it.

60. Durable POA for Health Care Also called a health care proxy is a formal writing that gives your agent the ability to make health care decisions for you if you become unable to make them yourself.

61. Durable POA for Health Care Authority of your agent Allows your agent to consent, withdraw consent, or refuse to consent to procedures for diagnosing and treating your physical and mental condition. Restrictions on authority Your agent cannot consent to abortion, convulsive treatment or psychosurgery. DHCPOA and living wills Your agent must follow instructions that you have provided to your doctors in a living will or advance medical directive if given any.

62. Questions?