Posted on Nov 18, 2013
Have you ever used the Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act?
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Many service members are unaware of the SSCRA until they get into financial problems, and even then don't use this valuable protection. However, it can also by used preemptively, too. The SM can write creditors prior to deployment to inform them that payments may be delayed and that actions against their credit rating while are illegal under SSCRA. The same applies to military families deployed in remote regions. Often it helps just to inform creditors when stateside that your file is subject to SSCRA so they can tag it for special handling in the event of computerized "robo" actions on their part in the event of interest raises, legal action, or foreclosures which are forbidden by SSCRA and just an unnecessary pain for ALCON.
Benefits
Military Pay
Law
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 10
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I have it helped lower my interest rates while I was deployed. This gave us the ability to make larger payments and knock out some pills a lot faster.
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MAJ Joseph Parker
Yes! The law can cap interest rates on credit cards and other loans at 6%. Nice to have that protection when the SM is going to have the additional financial costs of deployment and the credit card company is pinging for 24%.
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Sir, it's a good deal. Our battalion was good enough to give us a small briefing on it, as well as sample letters to cell phone companies, credit card companies, etc. Overall, I think it'll save me a little over $1500 during the time I anticipate being deployed; a nice extra chunk of change.
Also useful (especially for us USAR/ARNG types) is USERRA. I've had to threaten using USERRA a couple of times prior to deployment, since one of my employers was making interesting statements regarding how often I had to have time off to leave for MOS-specific schools, battalion training, etc. Thankfully, I haven't had to use it yet, but the knowledge of it is a great thing for any servicemember to keep in their back pocket.
Also useful (especially for us USAR/ARNG types) is USERRA. I've had to threaten using USERRA a couple of times prior to deployment, since one of my employers was making interesting statements regarding how often I had to have time off to leave for MOS-specific schools, battalion training, etc. Thankfully, I haven't had to use it yet, but the knowledge of it is a great thing for any servicemember to keep in their back pocket.
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MAJ Joseph Parker
SPC(P) Bradley: Kudos to your unit and chain of command for doing that prior to deployment. That isn't CYA. It's good Leadership! First, it's taking care of soldiers. Second, soldier's that have fewer problems at home are able to better concentrate at the task at hand, and that keeps them alive and in one piece, getting the mission done.
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CSM (Join to see)
I just called my credit card companies to ensure they were aware I was a service member and follow the SSCRA. They said send them all my deployment info. In two weeks I received a lower interest rate and 300 credit to my account. It spread like wild fire in my unit. Some guys were getting 2000 credits because the credit card company was unaware of their service.
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SGT William B.
1SG, do those companies backdate those credits? Would that also happen to count for reservists leaving for IET, as well as TDY orders (schools, AT, etc.)? That's awesome if so; I don't remember getting anything back, but I'm sure as heck going to double check now. Thanks for the info!
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MAJ Joseph Parker
1SG(P) Brock: I hope SMs are reading your post and getting the word out! Frankly, it's why I even started this thread. Officers and NCOs should read it and make sure their soldiers (sailors/airmen/marines) are using it, and all SMs should use it.
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Sir, I returned to my employer after one year of a state-side duty after 9/11. They treated me very well when I was mobilized even extending my benefits beyond the norm. When I returned to work,I even got my same job at my same desk. However, my manager was not aware of the USERRA/SSCRA rules, so my annual review had some issues. I informed my new manager of the rules and he worked with our HR folks to get it right. I nominated Hewitt Associates via the ESGR program because I didn't expect them to know everything, but once I made them aware, they responded exceptionally.
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MAJ Joseph Parker
Bravo, SSG Marshall! Yes, SSCRA extends to NG and Reservist civilian job pay/benefit protection during call-up periods as well. If called up, the employer must keep that job available to the SM for a year and when the SM returns no funny business like loss of benefits because of military service, no "dings" on reviews, no relegation to broom closets, etc. in order to push the SM out of the company. As you experienced, most decent employers, once aware of the provisions of SSCRA, will do their best to live up to the letter and spirit of the law.
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SSgt (Join to see)
Yes I did and it was concerning my car registration and insurance. I contacted the Legal Office and they told me you are covered by this act and do not worry. If Mr. Lassiter of NC has any questions, to call my lawyer.
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MAJ Joseph Parker
Another great example of the breadth of this law: car registration and insurance. Once again, SSG Olson did what SMs should always do, calmly get legal involved and refer them to the law. It gets sorted very quickly!
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