Military pay is easy to spot on a leave and earnings statement. Other benefits are buried inside service portals, application windows and programs known mainly by acronyms. The Pentagon launched a yearlong compensation education campaign in June after acknowledging that many service members do not fully understand the pay, tax advantages, education programs and family support included with military service. That lack of awareness can leave money and assistance unused. The Defense Department does not publish a single ranking of its least-used benefits. The programs below were selected because they are relatively new, require an application or include deadlines that can make them easy to miss. Eligibility varies by service, component and individual circumstances.
1. Basic Needs Allowance
Military families with lower household incomes may qualify for an additional monthly payment through the Basic Needs Allowance. Eligibility depends on household income, family size and duty location. A service member may qualify when the household’s gross income from the previous calendar year falls below 200% of the applicable federal poverty guideline. The military services screen members and notify those who may be eligible, but members should also contact their installation’s military and family support center or personal financial counselor if their household income has changed.
