By Christine Cioppa

Your family received the orders. It’s time for a Permanent Change of Station (PCS). If you’re like Kathy Broniarczyk, Director of Family Support at the Military Family Research Institute, and Army spouse, this responsibility falls on you more times than not. You’re holding the family together, packing and unpacking. You’re doing it all! 

Broniarczyk has moved 14 times in her 20 years of marriage to her husband, who was in the Army on active duty and with the National Guard (now retired after 23 years). Of those 27 packs and unpacks, Broniarczyk says her husband was only there for five of them, leaving the remaining 22 packs and unpacks hers to manage. Fortunately, the packers never lost a pet or shipped a garbage can full of trash. But, these things have happened during the chaos of a move and only add to the stress of an already trying time.  

Fortunately, there are things you can do to make the transition easier and less stressful for you and your family. Before your move, add the following to your checklist of things to do:  

Research your installation’s climate. First thing to do is find out about your new installation. Go online. When Broniarczyk moved, there was no Internet. She says it’s a wonderful resource to make things easier. Find out about the climate. Find out as much as you can. Broniarczyk says you don’t want to pack Arizona desert clothes for a move to Washington, where it rains all the time and necessitates sweatshirts, jackets and umbrellas. If you’re prepared, Broniarczyk says you don’t have the stress of buying new things when you move.  

Take advantage of the sponsorship program. “Investigate if your new unit has a sponsor program. A lot of the units in a lot of the branches have them,” says Broniarczyk. If you participate, you’ll be assigned a sponsor. Broniarczyk says that having someone who is already on the ground is a tremendous help. That person can answer a lot of questions you have and get information you need in advance, she adds.  

Be proactive if pregnant. If pregnant and within a month of delivery, Broniarczyk says planning is important. “Have a plan A and a plan B and a plan C.” She says women should find out if their medical records are going to transfer and if all the admission paperwork is at the particular hospital. Having moved several times in the States and twice overseas, Broniarczyk says that she hand-carries all her important papers in a carry-on bag. She advises carrying your maternity records with you as you travel.  “If your family is in transit and you go in labor, you’ll need everything right there with you,” she says.  If delivering in a military hospital, the OBGYN may be the one on duty, and may not be your same OBGYN, says Broniarczyk. Having a plan and knowing what hospital or installation you will deliver at is important. Also, having a phone conversation with the new OBGYN taking over your care can be beneficial, she says.  

Help children cope. “Whatever children are feeling is okay,” Broniarczyk says. Acknowledging to your children that moving is hard is important, she says. It’s important to accept feelings, whether they are sad they are moving, fearful of making friends or anxious about unknowns. She urges not to downplay those emotions by saying, “Don’t worry. You’ll be okay.”  “Be real honest about what you know and don’t know, because kids are going to know if you are faking it,” says Broniarczyk. She says it is okay to say, “I’m not sure. I don’t know what it is going to be like.” Or you could say, “We know A, we know B, we know C, we know D. You know what? I don’t know about E and that is going to be a surprise for us.” Another helpful approach is helping them work through some of those fears and anxieties in their minds. If, for example, they are worried about making new friends, you can talk about that and reinforce positive past experiences. You could say, “Remember when you moved here? You didn’t know anybody either. So what did you do to make friends?” Broniarczyk adds, “Chances are if they made friends where they are currently at, they are going to be able to make friends where they are going.”  Bridging the activities enjoyed from one community to next can also help. Broniarczyk says that if they enjoyed going to the library or playing soccer, for example, you could say to them, “You know what, where we are going there are libraries too!” or  “Let’s explore and check out what soccer teams are in the new community. Maybe we can belong to the YMCA.”  

Prevent move mishaps. After 22 packs and unpacks by herself, Broniarczyk has a routine that helps things go smoothly. All in all, it comes down to being organized and “getting a system that works for you,” she says. Broniarczyk makes sure she takes everything she doesn’t want packed and locks it in her car or in a bathroom with a big sign that says, “Don’t pack this room.” Making sure movers know what to pack and not to pack — or what rooms to access —  is really important. Broniarczyk said she has heard stories of packers packing garbage cans filled with garbage or a backpack filled with library books from the place they were moving from. If a mover opens a door that has the cat inside, the cat can run out. “Make sure you take animals to the kennel when you are packing,” advises Broniarczyk.  If you have children, the packing process is even more complex and depends on what your children can handle. “You don’t want a three-year-old to leave in the morning with all the stuff in the house and come back and there is nothing left,” says Broniarczyk. She suggests letting them stay a little bit and see what the packers are doing. Then, you can take them to childcare to keep them occupied.  When Broniarczyk gets to the new location, she puts numbers on each of the rooms. As the boxes come off the truck, she reads the label (e.g., daughter’s room, kitchen) and puts a number on the box so the movers place it in the correct room. She also makes sure boxes are labeled “first unload” or “first unpack” so children can get their rooms set up first and have a place for their stuff.  

Make it fun. “It’s very important to have an open mind,” says Broniarczyk. She urges avoiding the mentality of “I don’t want to leave here. I don’t want to move,” because it can result in missing a lot of the benefits of the new place. Instead, look for all the great things or “gems” of the new location. “Every place is going to be different and every place is going to have things that are absolutely wonderful about the new location. It’s important to find those things.” Broniarczyk and her family look at each move as an adventure. “We’ve always made sure that when we go to a new place, we try one new local food we have never had before and they get to choose.” Having this tradition gives each of them something fun to look forward to. She’ll say, “Okay, when we go to Texas, we are going to try something we’ve never had before. We’ve never had brisket. What is that? They’ll find that kind of food and try it.” She says this helps start the acclimation process.  

Other resources for relocating 

Looking for more information about child care at your new installation and other resources to help your family transition? Broniarczyk recommends the following websites for more info: 

http://www.naccrra.org/military-providers/what-programs-are-available (Child Care Programs)  

http://www.militarychild.org/  (Military Child Education Coalition) 

http://apps.militaryonesource.mil/MOS/f?p=123:23:0 (Military Youth on the Move) 

http://www.militaryonesource.mil/ (Military OneSource) - See more at: http://www.salute2spouses.com/articles/blog/staying-stress-free-during-pcs-season#sthash.DLnLXqrD.dpuf

Were you caught off-guard when you carefully documented every expense and deduction on your tax return, only to find out that you owed the government money?

Now is the perfect time to recalculate, reassess and regroup to try and avoid any surprises the next time April 15 rolls around.

Things the average taxpayer might not think of, like self-employment income or the profit from selling personal property, are what often lead to owing taxes.

“The ones that have out of the ordinary items that cause them to owe are the ones that get caught off guard,” said Kathryn Morgan, a tax specialist and Air Force retiree in Louisiana.

Statistics from the Internal Revenue Service show that about 75 percent of taxpayers got a refund in 2014. But for the remaining 25 percent that find themselves having to pay, tax experts have several tips:

- Keep track of all “extra” income throughout the year and pay taxes as you go, if necessary. Morgan said one of the biggest reasons military members find themselves owing money is that they have a self-employed spouse who did not pay taxes on income. Payments can be submitted quarterly to the IRS.

- Unexpected tax payments may also come up in relation to selling a house or inheriting money, according to Morgan. Generally, any income throughout the year not included on your Leave and Earnings statement or pay stub could be taxable come filing time.

- The online tax-filing system Turbo Tax recommends that taxpayers check their withholding frequently to see if they are paying too little – or too much. Life changes such as marriage, divorce or having a baby all affect how much taxes should be withheld from each paycheck. The more dependents you claim, for example, the less will be withheld, and vice versa.

Some people actually use their withholding as a savings account, Morgan said, purposely claiming less exemptions and paying in too much so that they will be almost guaranteed a hefty refund. Financial advisers often recommend against this, instead advising families to put money in their own savings accounts each month where it will earn interest. They also point out that this makes each monthly paycheck smaller.

But there’s something to be said for a “surprise” refund every year.

“People need to have a realistic expectation of what they can live with,” Morgan said. “Many people use larger withholding as a forced savings account they can only tap once a year, and if they know themselves well enough to know they need that, it works.” 

Morgan said the best advice is setting clear goals for yourself when it comes to taxes and income.

“The trick to this is knowing what you want at the outset,” Morgan said. “Withholding works like a see-saw. One end is your paycheck and the other is your tax return. Some folks want that see-saw to be level, some want the tax return side to go up and some want the paycheck to go up … Unfortunately the see-saw doesn't bend in the middle.”

Need help?

- Financial advisers and tax consultants can explain your situation and help devise a year-round plan for managing your income and taxes. Many offer military discounts, too.

- The Internal Revenue Service has an extensive website detailing everything you ever wanted to know about taxes. Get started at www.irs.gov.

- The IRS has a detailed withholding calculator. http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/IRS-Withholding-Calculator

- Online banks, financial advisers and tax services also have several calculators, including this one at bankrate.com that helps estimate self- employment taxes.

http://www.bankrate.com/calculators/tax-planning/self-employed-business-tax-calculator.aspx

It can be tough for spouses who are PCSing to be at a job interview in their new location before they have packed up at their current duty station. Especially if the two bases are across country, or even overseas.

Luckily, technology is making it easier for employers to conduct interviews with potential hires via internet and video cameras. No traveling. No sitting nervously in the lobby. The weather outside won’t touch that perfect hair and makeup after you’ve left the mirror. And, no heels to wear!

But, before you get too excited about not having to get dressed and leave home, consider this scenario:

You sit down in front of your computer, thinking everything is in place to make your best impression. But, as soon as the interviewer asks the first question, you notice that your notecards are not within reach. Fortunately, the interviewer seems pretty laid back and she has no problem with your stepping away to grab them. Unfortunately, however, as soon as you hear her gasp, you realize that wearing your pajama bottoms with your suit jacket wasn't such a great idea after all.

Before you get embarrassed by a mishap you could have prevented, use these quick tips to nail your next online video job interview.

1. Get completely and appropriately dressed just as you would for an in-person interview. Wearing business attire will make you feel more professional and come across as more confident.

2. Keep hair and make up simple. Wear solid dark colors or shades of blue to look your best on camera. With the high-quality technology we have today, you don’t want to create visual distractions or look unflattering on screen.

3. Prior to the interview turn on your camera and record a few minutes of footage. Play it back to examine the surroundings your interviewer will see. Make sure your lighting isn’t causing glares or shadows. Remove clutter and items not related to work. Straighten crooked mirrors, photos and certificates on the wall.

4. Make sure everything you need is within reach and organized so you won’t have to search for your resume, cover letter, notecards, pen, etc. And keep the number of items to a minimum.

5. Eliminate audio distractions. This includes people (who may also photo bomb your session), pets, cell phones, house phones, computer notifications, televisions and radios.

6. Practice with a relative or friend and record the session so you will have feedback and see for yourself, how you really look and sound on camera. Take note:  you will look more natural by looking at the camera and not at the interviewer.

7. Set up the equipment a day or two in advance. Download any software you will need. Plug in your computer and fully charge your battery. Purchase a microphone instead of using your computer’s mic. Invite a tech-savvy friend to be on standby to help if you need it. This won’t look like you are not proficient in technology; it will show that you plan ahead for success.

8. Have a professional username and email address, preferably your first and last name. If your name appears on the screen during the interview, it will help the person remember your name during and after the session.

9. While waiting for the interview to begin, mute the sound and place a post-it note over the camera. Once the interview ends make sure all equipment is turned completely off. In both cases, you don't want comments or movements to be unintentionally heard or seen.

10. Be engaging. Smile and focus on the conversation. It's okay to nod a bit and move your hands slightly. You want to look natural, not as if you are flailing around and definitely not too stiff.

You are the producer, actor and director, so take charge of your video interview and create a masterpiece!

Once upon a time, a pretty princess really liked to read and write. She liked to write so much that she took every reading and writing college course in the kingdom. In return for all her hard work, the princess was given a degree in English. And she was happy.

That is, she was happy until she remembered that she lives in the Washington, D.C. Metro area, and a degree in English made her about as marketable as a muddy puppy in an Ikea showroom.

So if you haven’t figured it out, I’m changing my major.

Every time I’ve heard someone talk about how they changed their major, they talk about it in a way that makes it sound like a super-smooth transition, like it’s something you can do right after eating your hammy sammy on a lunch break.

But no one ever told me what a gigantic pain it is to transition from the arts to the sciences. So, because I spent a significant amount of time tossing and turning and slamming my head against my keyboard in frustration, I’m going to give you the quick and dirty list of the truths of changing majors halfway through a Bachelor’s degree:

Passion vs. Functionality: 

Deciding to change my major came from a simple, cold truth: I have no idea what I’d do in the arts, but I knew exactly what I would (and could) do in the sciences. I knew that I could read and write as a hobby, and that a degree in the sciences was much more applicable (and lucrative) in the local job market.                                                               

Do the research:

And I mean ALL of the research. Research the job market you want to be in, that is available in your geographic area, what degree plans are available at your school (and if you are an online student, make sure that the program you want is available online). If there are any issues with availability of programs, you’ll have to decide if you want to pick another major or if you’ll need to switch schools (which we will tackle in another post).

Classes (Core, PreReqs, and Electives):

Go through your unofficial transcripts, and see how they line up with the requirements for the major you want to switch to. Often, the core courses are the same (English, math, a few science and lab combos).

Prepare for some extra requirements:

 I’ve found that my work for my AA completed the majority of the requirements to enter my chosen BS program, and that was a huge relief. If you need a few more classes to qualify for entering the program, it is helpful to ask your academic advisor how to proceed. Sometimes there are course equivalent exceptions that can be made, and sometimes you just have to suck it up and take an extra class or classes during your first semester or two in order to catch up.

Don’t get discouraged:

If you’ve really thought it through and changing your major is the best option to accomplish your goals, the information can be incredibly overwhelming. And it’s okay to be overwhelmed. But it’s important to remember that you kick some tail, and that the commitment to do something important (no matter how scary) is an achievement all by itself!

Yes.

Strong communication skills are a must for every professional. Regardless of your career field or what stage you are in, don’t overlook the value of the written or spoken word. Here’s what employers say about communication skills with regard to getting the job, being successful on the job and advancing in your career.

Getting the Job

You have four chances to communicate your value to potential employers during your job search in any career field: while networking; on your resume and cover letter; during your interview; and on the thank you note. Your ability to convince employers you are the right person for the job hinges heavily on what you say and how well you say it, in writing and verbally.

The Association of American Colleges and Universities released a January 2015 report: Falling Short? College Learning and Career Success, in which a key finding of its National Survey of Business and Nonprofit Leaders revealed:

“When hiring recent college graduates, employers place the greatest priority on a demonstrated proficiency … in written and oral communication, teamwork skills, ethical decision-making, critical thinking, and the ability to apply knowledge in real-world settings.”

In fact, 91 percent of them reported that, “a demonstrated capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems is more important than [a candidate’s] undergraduate major.”

Being Successful on the Job

Once you get the job, there's no time to rest on your laurels. You'll have to hit the ground running to build new accomplishments. Managers across all professions agree that communication skills go a long way in determining one’s success on every job.

Many of us mistakenly think that great job performance depends solely on technical skills, yet when we are on the receiving end of service, we want excellent communication. For instance, we want doctors and nurses who have strong medical knowledge yet have a good bedside manner and who will answer all our questions.

We want mechanics who can identify the problems with our cars, but who can also explain our options in language we understand. We want market researchers who can tell us why the data matters to us, and what we should do with it.

In essence, as customers we want professionals who are willing to build a rapport, talk openly, explain clearly and really listen to our concerns and that is how we evaluate their effectiveness. As professionals, those are the standards we also need to set for ourselves.

Advancing in Your Career

"In a recent survey of recruiters from companies with more than 50,000 employees, communication skills were cited as the single most important decisive factor in choosing managers. The survey, conducted by the University of Pittsburgh's Katz Business school, points out that communication skills, including written and oral presentations, as well as an ability to work with others, are the main factors contributing to job success."

If you intend to advance in your career, you will need to understand the importance of and be able to construct clearly written communication like emails, reports and analyses. You will also need to be an excellent verbal communicator who can deliver presentations, sell your ideas, resolve conflicts, train or be trained and collaborate with others.

No matter how you slice it: learning, leading and eventually advancing up the ranks comes from building relationships with others. And in what career field would you not want to advance?

By Amanda Rebmann

April 15^th.  Tax deadline day.  Every year we account for our earnings over the past year and to ensure both the federal and state governments have collected the amounts granted them by law (thanks 16^th Amendment!) 

Remember- we are a country founded by rather wealthy men who objected to taxation.  Times have certainly changed, and I do NOT advocate going to your local IRS with a bucket of tar and a bag of feathers.  The old adage is true: death and taxes are certain.

Many people dutifully gather up receipts, interest statements, W2s or 1099s each year, head off to the accountant or online tax service, and hope for the best.  A refund is seen as a positive thing; for most people it’s certainly better than owing the government money.  I speak from experience- that is never a good feeling, especially if you hadn’t prepared for it.  So taxes get filed and you start planning what to do with that refund.  Many people use it for vacations, home improvements, an extra mortgage payment, or, like yours truly this year, helping to pay closing costs for a new home.

What may get lost in the euphoria of the money is that it’s not a bonus check for being an American taxpayer- it’s the government giving you back your own money . . . that you’ve allowed them to borrow interest-free.  Many people aren’t aware that you don’t have to.

There are ways to estimate how much you actually will owe in taxes before you pay them.  If you make a salary or know how much you will be making in a year, this can be very easy.  It does become more complicated if you’re self-employed, seasonal, or make commissions or tips.  There are online calculators, one on the IRS website, or simply fill out a sample 1040 to determine your yearly tax amount due. 

Once you determine that amount, you can adjust how much your employer withholds from your paycheck in taxes.  When you start a new job, one of the documents your employer has you fill out and sign is the W4.  It establishes how much of your paycheck is automatically sent to the government each pay period.  If you need to adjust this amount- increase it to avoid owing taxes or decrease it to avoid receiving a refund, you may do this at any time, not just when you start a job.  Altering your W4 will change the amounts taken for your “Federal Income Tax” or “Federal Withholding.”

The opposite works too.  The self-employed, or people receiving 1099 income (no taxes deducted), can be faced with a large tax bill due April 15^th.  To avoid having to deal with the IRS if you do not have the enough saved to pay, you can estimate how much in taxes you will owe, than divide that into smaller amounts you can set aside during the year- for instance, monthly or biweekly. 

Whether or not to adjust withheld tax amounts depends on the person and circumstances.  By only having the correct amount withheld, you have more personal control over your money- theoretically, more money in your paychecks.  But a lot of us like that nice direct deposit showing up in our bank accounts every year.  It’s like a free, little savings account . . . that you don’t make any interest on.  But, much like a trip to the grocery store with a garbage bag full of empty bottles for a deposit refund, it does feel like “new” money, doesn’t it?

Recently, an editing client I work with called something to my attention. He is writing his thesis for his master’s degree, and … well, really it was his terrible misuse of common words that got me thinking.

Around the fourth page of red-pen hell, I realized that it is fairly common that adults who have returned to academia have forgotten many basic rules of writing. Forgetting those things is fair, to be honest. As adults, we’ve had to make room in our brains for things that are much more important, like our Twitter password and our kids’ birthdays.

So, because my brain works in a way that allows me to remember all of those writing rules but forces me make a really dumb sound every time someone asks me one of my kids’ birthdays, I’m going to give you some quick homonym memory cheat sheet!

They’re: A contraction of they are.

                 This is correct - “They’re going to ace this test.”

                 This is wrong – “That is they’re cat.”

There:    An indication of a location.

                 This is correct - “The ice cream is right there.”

                 This is wrong – “That is there cat.”

Their:     An indication of ownership.

                 This is correct - “That is their cat.”

                 This is wrong – “The car is over their.”

Two:        A number.

                 This is correct - “There are two cats.”

                 This is wrong – “I will go two the store.”

To:            An indication of physical or implied direction (usually).

                 This is correct - “I walked to school.”

                 This is wrong – “There are to wheels on that bicycle.”

Too:         An addition to something, or an indication of something excessive.

                 This is correct - “There are too many cooks."

                 This is wrong – “I want too scoops of ice cream.”

You’re:    A contraction of you are.

                 This is correct - “You’re an awesome golfer.”

                 This is wrong – “You’re feet smell bad.”

Your:      An indication of ownership

                 This is correct - “That is your car.”

                 This is wrong – “Your always bugging me.”

Yore:       A really, really long time ago.

                 This is correct - “Those are from the days of yore.”

                 This is wrong – “Yore burning that toast.”

Now, any time you have a question about which word to use (or if you want to punk people for using your the wrong way in their Facebook post), you have a handy reference!  Hooray! 

Now stop judging my nerd-excitement.

A few blogs back, we talked about the types of legitimate resources to use when writing for research. It occurred to me, however, that finding those legitimate resources could be a huge task all by its itty-bitty self. So, in the interest of working smarter rather than harder, I’ve compiled a list of steps that will make things easier, and online places that are basically academic-writing gold mines! 

Research writing is the bread and butter of most kinds of science-based work. Although the term itself can be a bit intimidating, all it really means is that the information you are trying to get across is legitimate, and has been reviewed and positively received by other people in that field.

I stress the word positively because not everyone who publishes a paper is correct. Remember Andrew Wakefield? He was that doctor who said that autism is linked to vaccines. Well, he published a study, and it turned out that not only was he super wrong, but that had he faked a bunch of the findings and has since been banned from practicing medicine.

Now, it is not likely that you will find and use a study that is as wacky as Wakefield’s was. However, it is important to pay attention to the author(s) of the study. It is always a good idea to look for works with more than three contributing authors, and those authors should have lots of fancy letters behind their names (MD, PhD, etc.). Those letters should also have a connection to the information that is discussed in that study.

For example, if you’re doing research about cutting edge missile technology, you probably don’t need a paper written by an emergency room physician. Likewise, if you’re doing research for a paper on emergency medicine, maybe don’t use a study written by a rocket scientist. So, where are some good places to look legitimate research?

1. Google Scholar (https://scholar.google.com) is a great place to start, and many of the article results are free. The site is easy to navigate (thanks, Google!), and you can save them to a citation sheet if you want to use them later.
2. EBSCOHOST (http://www.ebscohost.com) is a fantastic site to find a huge amount of legitimate research material. Although it typically is a subscription-style service, it is likely that your school’s library offers free access (which you can search on the site). They also offer free trials.
3. Directory of Open Access Journals (http://doaj.org) is an engine to access open access journals. I’ve never found anything on this site that wasn’t both legitimate and free.

It is likely that you will find enough sources for any undergrad research paper through these four sites. If not, well, at least you’ve seen some excellent examples of how scholarly research engines should look and function. Now GO! I know you must be agonizing over the wait to check out all of the amazing, legitimate, peer-reviewed articles available to you!

(Giggle.)

By Jan Wesner Childs

It’s that time of year again when all Americans, military or civilian, have one often-dreaded chore in common: Filing federal income taxes.

Active-duty military W-2 forms are due to be available Jan. 24 on myPay, the DOD’s online, automated pay system. While taxes aren’t due until April 15 (and in some cases later for those deployed or serving outside the United States), the sooner you file, the sooner you’ll get any refund coming to you – often in less than two weeks if you file electronically.

And if you think you might owe money, financial experts recommend filing as early as possible.

“At least give yourself time if you need to set up an extension or if you need to set up a payment plan,” said Kimberly Smith, a consultant for Military OneSource, the DOD’s online family service center. “You just don’t want to get to the point where it’s crunch time.”

Tax experts say there aren’t any new federal tax laws this year that specifically affect military personnel. But several benefits for service  members and families are often overlooked or underutilized.

“As tax season approaches, military families have extra things to keep in mind,” according to Kathryn Morgan, a tax specialist and Air Force retiree in Louisiana. “Special tax circumstances apply to service members, and being familiar with the tax topics can help them file accurate tax returns and not overpay their taxes.”

For example, she said, tax-free combat pay can still be counted toward total income for some benefits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit. Both are federal tax credits for families or individuals who fall within certain income ranges.

Morgan said the tax deduction for non-reimbursable moving expenses is among the most underutilized tax break for military families. According to the Internal Revenue Service, military personnel can claim any “reasonable” moving expenses not covered by DOD, to include the cost of transporting pets.

Morgan said these expenses do not have to be listed as itemized deductions.

All U.S. taxpayers will see a new line on their tax forms this year regarding healthcare coverage. Under the new Affordable Health Care Act, every taxpayer must have some sort of health insurance. Tricare is a qualifying healthcare plan under the act.

For example, line 61 of the standard 1040 form lists “Healthcare: individual responsibility,” followed by a box that says “Full-year coverage.” The IRS says Tricare beneficiaries simply need to check the box and they are good to go.

When it comes to state income taxes, there are varying degrees of benefits for service members. This year, Arkansas becomes the most recent state to exempt all or part of active-duty military pay for its residents. Several states also exempt retirement pay.

If all this sounds a little complicated, or if you just want to make sure you are getting the most out of your taxes, help is widely available at little or no cost to members of the U.S. armed forces worldwide.

Most bases, posts or deployed ships have a tax center, usually open around Feb. 1, manned with personnel specifically trained to file military tax returns. These services are free. Some of these also have self-service computer stations where service members can file their own taxes, but get help from one of the on-site experts if needed.

Military OneSource also offers free tax counseling and filing services, and several private tax services such as H&R Block, Turbo-Tax and others offer discounts and other special services for military personnel.

By Mandy Rebmann

Disability Compensation Benefits (disability) is a monetary consideration paid to veterans who suffered or aggravated a sickness or injury while on active military service.  The amount of benefit ranges based on severity of the injury, in 10 percent increments, from 10 to 100 percent.  This article will give a brief overview of what disability compenstation is, and how it may differ from a salary or pay.

• Who is eligible for disability?

If a veteran suffered a disability as the result of sickness or injury while on active service, he or she may be eligible for some degree of benefits.Both physical and/or mental health conditions may apply.The benefits may also extend to surviving spouses or family members of a service member who dies on active duty.Additional benefits may be given if the disability requires special circumstances, such as living assistance.The veteran must not have been dishonorably discharged.

• Is disability considered income?

Yes.Disability is a permanent and reliable source of funds, and is considered income.Disability attempts to compensate a Veteran for the loss of income he or she could have made if not for the injury suffered.

• Can a veteran receive both VA Disability and Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits?

Yes, if he or she qualifies for SSD based on time and length of full-time work.It should be noted that these are two completely different programs, so the methods for determining disability may differ.In other words, VA disability is not an automatic approval for SSD.

• Is disability taxable?

No.Disability is not subject to federal or state income tax.

• Is disability subject to garnishment?

In some cases.Garnishment of Disability funds from a creditor or debt collector is prohibited by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).While the FTC does prohibit most garnishment of federal benefits, there are some circumstances where it is allowed.

One instance may be in cases of court-ordered child support or alimony.The idea is that disability compensation is provided not only to the veteran, but also to their dependents.However, this only applies if the veteran waived all or a portion of their military retirement pay to qualify for VA Disability.Prior to 2004, a veteran could not receive concurrent retirement and disability pay without waiving the disability amount of their retirement pay.Since 2004, they may receive both, provided the disability amount is 50 percent or higher.Those who rate 40 percent and below must still waive that portion of retirement pay in order to receive disability.If the veteran waived all or a portion of his or her retirement pay to receive disability, it may be garnished to meet child support or alimony obligations.

• Is Disability subject to Communal Property Division?

No, disability is not considered communal property in cases of divorce.However, like all income sources, disability can be considered by a judge when determining the amount of support obligations.

Records indicate U.S. soldiers receiving injury compensation as far back as the Civil War.  To learn more about disability, eligibility requirements, claim types, or applying, please visit the Veterans Affairs website at benefits.va.gov.