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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (Jan. 9, 2019) - Resolving to become better informed and financially prepared is a common New Year’s goal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) can help George Washington Sailors accomplish this in 2019.
Kathy Nelson, the director of NMCRS in Norfolk, Virginia, advises Sailors to take advantage of all the services NMCRS has to offer so they know what they have and how to budget before an emergency loan is the only option.
“Clients are encouraged to seek assistance as early as possible,” Nelson says. “Don’t wait for the disconnect or repo notice.”
The NMCRS quick assist loans are the best-known service they provide. This program provides Sailors and Marines in need of an interest-free loan of up to $500. The conditions of the loan include budget counseling to create a repayment plan, as well as a plan to prevent the need for such relief in the future.
According to Nelson, Sailors comprise the largest group of recipients of NMCRS assistance. Support to Sailors amounted to almost $8.8 million last year, most of which was used for vehicle or travel-related expenses.
J.S. Derrow, a relief services assistant at the NMCRS office in Portsmouth for over 23 years, hopes the Sailors and Marines he counsels leave feeling better about their situation. He offers budget instruction and referrals to additional classes if necessary.
“Counseling for an emergency report is often an emotional and difficult process,” said Derrow.
According to Derrow, free, one-on-one budget counseling is available to all Sailors regardless of whether they’ve ever requested NMCRS support before, and irrespective of their financial position. They may be comfortable with relatively few financial demands, or have more varied claims, like existing debt or assistance for their dependents or parents back home.
Derrow and Nelson want Sailors to be familiar with the lesser known NMCRS services that can help preempt emergency assistance.
Derrow says NMCRS’ non-emergency programs may be particularly useful to George Washington Sailors during RCOH. The consistent shipyard schedule afforded by many GW Sailors at this time might mean that couples are in an excellent position to start a family or add to one. In addition to counseling, the “Budgeting for Baby” program includes a gift basket of necessities for parents and newborns.
“Shipyard duty offers stability,” said Derrow. “We see an increase in our ‘Budget for Baby’ program, which is a good thing.”
Furthermore, NMCRS provides service to new parents by their ‘Visiting Nurses,’ who provide weight checks for newborns and offer advice to the new parents.
Couples and families may also find that their years spent near Newport News are an excellent time to seek higher education. At-home duties may be divided more equally, which may enable a spouse to fulfill their educational goals. Tuition assistance is available for military children and spouses attending post-secondary programs at accredited institutions.
Whether in dire need now, or trying to prepare for the future, Nelson and Derrow hope Sailors are informed of how NMCRS can help them.
Assistance programs are consistently reviewed by NMCRS to ensure that Sailors’ emergency and routine needs are met. For instance, in the last few decades, budgeting for a cell phone changed from being considered a “want” to a “need” as expectations of Sailors’ accessibility outside of their homes changed, Nelson said. In recent years NMCRS has also accommodated Sailors who have experienced non-payment of pay or entitlements, and has reported occurrences to the Navy to try and remedy them.
Visits are confidential except for rare specific instances, and NMCRS staff members do not work for the Navy. In fact, most of the workers at NMCRS are volunteers.
Additional assistance may be provided under another program even if a Sailor already sought a quick assist loan recently.
“Even if you have an ongoing loan with NMCRS, you can always make a request for assistance with your financial emergency,” says Nelson. “So if you already owe NMCRS for an existing loan, don’t hesitate to seek further help from them.”
Also, Sailors shouldn’t discount NMCRS if their needs are greater than the $500 limit of a quick assist loan.
“The quick assist loan is a very specific program, but it certainly doesn’t cover all emergencies,” says Nelson. “The average amount of assistance provided outside the quick assist loan is more than $1200.”
Financial health and stability is an attainable goal in 2019. Seeking budget counseling or an interest-free loan from NMCRS is a great opportunity to help Sailors achieve that goal.
| Date Taken: | 01.09.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 01.14.2019 11:24 |
| Story ID: | 306779 |
| Location: | NEWPORT NEWS, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 57 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Financial Help from Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society, by PO2 Elizabeth Cohen, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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