PCS time is a hectic time fraught with timelines and decisions to be made. Before departing the old duty station, there is often more to consider and do than time to do it. It does not slow down after arriving at the new place either with finding new quarters, learning your way around, getting to know your new coworkers and neighbors, and getting the children settled into new schools and daycare can be stressful.

One of the concerns many have at the new installation is childcare. What happens when you arrive and find there are no openings at the Child Development Center? How do you provide for someone to care for your child so you can begin your new duties? A new provision in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act launched a new program offering reimbursement for moving someone to your new station to care for your child. The new pilot program started 1 Oct 2024 and will run through 30 Sep 2027 and will reimburse travel expenses of up to $500 for an in CONUS move and up to $1,500 for an OCONUS move. The provider may be a family member (but not a dependent), a friend, or even an au pair.

How does the program work?

Upon arrival at the new duty station, the military member visits the military child care website to apply for care. If there are no openings within 30 days of arrival, the member will be entitled to bring a care provider to the new duty station. The website has instructions that the member must follow to obtain the needed information to arrange for transportation with the installation travel office. Reimbursement is limited to the cost of commercial airfare, transportation to/from the airport, and enroute and departure rental car. While mileage for privately owned vehicles is not payable, reimbursement for gasoline used is. Only one reimbursement is authorized per military family even if both members are active duty.

This program is designed to help members provide adequate child care and ease the expense in doing so.

Find Out More with MyMilitarySavings.com!

Did you know that military members can save on their taxes by participating in the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA)?  Military members are eligible to set a portion of their paycheck aside in the FSA to pay dependent care expenses like day care, preschool, before and/or after school care, summer day camps for dependents under 13 or adult care for a spouse that is physically or mentally incapable of self-care and lives in your home. Members of the regular active component and reserve component performing active Guard and reserve duty under 10 USC 12301(d) are eligible to participate. Deductions to the DCFSA are deducted before taxes are computed meaning you are paying for expenses with pretax dollars, effectively reducing your out-of-pocket cost by up to 30% or more and helps you budget for known dependent care expenses.

How it works:

• Members can sign up on FSAFEDS during the open enrollment season running from mid-November to mid-December. Select an amount to be deducted from your pay and the funds will be placed in your account. You can then arrange for payments to be sent directly to your provider or reimburse yourself for expenses incurred. Your account is easily managed using the online tools.
• Members can contribute up to $5,000 per year ($2,500 if married filing separate). Deductions reduce your taxable income, so if you make $48,000 per year and contribute $5,000 to your DCFSA your taxable income will be only $43,000.
• Members participating should be cautious and make sure to carefully estimate their expenses as funds withheld but not used are lost.

Learn more about the plan on the FSAFEDS site, which is full of educational information, FAQs, savings calculators to help you determine how much you can save, and links to sign up and manage your account.

Find Out More with MyMilitarySavings.com and Finance!