Where to go for help when you need it :

Financial help for military families is available, as are counseling services, referrals, and other forms of help.

It is essential that you reach out immediately when you need help. The following agencies work to help military families with emergency financial needs:

• The Red Cross offers many orientation sessions to inform soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors on how best to access these services.
  
• United Way
  
• Salvation Army
  
• Installation Family Support Services (Emergency Relief)
  
• Military Families, Money and Mobility A must have booklet for all military families to help with financial readiness and health. Prepared by the National Military Family Association.
  
• Defense Financial Website for Military Pay and Assistance Information

When your military member is deployed and you face financial difficulty with credit cards, you can call them and many will work with you, sometimes even placing a hold on payments and interest accrual. Military credit cards normally have this plan in place.

Whatever you do, please seek out help from these agencies and not quick cash or easy loan type of establishments. They will charge high interest rates and lead you further into debt.

Family Assistance Sites

Air Force Aid Society

Air Force Crossroads: Resource site for Air Force families

American Red Cross

Army Community Service

Army Emergency Relief

Coast Guard Mutual Assistance

Information about the Uniformed Services Former Spouses' Protection Act A summary of the law, examples of how the law breaks down with regard to benefits and links to organizations offering support.

Fisher House: A national network of comfort houses providing a "home away from home" for families of patients receiving care at major regional military and VA medical centers.

Lifelines: A Joint Military Services Partnership for QOL Support Services Delivery. This site was developed by the Navy but is designed to aid service members in all branches of the armed forces and their families.

Military Assistance Program: Services to make your life easier.

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society: The mission of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society is to provide, in partnership with the Navy and Marine Corps, financial, educational, and other assistance to members of the Naval Services of the United States, eligible family members, and survivors when in need; and to receive and manage funds to administer these programs.