Pay & Benefits

Your 2023 Military Times Pay and Benefits Guide

Service members should know how their pay and benefits have changed in 2023, whether its for health care, retirement, education, housing or something else.

Military pay, benefits may be better than you think, report says

An analysis from the Congressional Budget Office says that troops and the public may be underestimating all of the compensation troops receive.

2 days ago

Troops’ corrected leave balances will show up in October, DFAS says

Incorrect leave balances were posted due to a DFAS system change to implement a law that reduces the special leave accrual cap.

5 days ago

Mil Money

Child care fees plunge for many military families

The cost of child care is going down for many military families. In some cases they will be paying 30% to 40% less.

Navy cites improved pay, DD-214 retirement paperwork processing times

In the past year, Navy officials say they have gotten well within the Defense Department's 30-day window for processing pay changes and travel allowances.

7 days ago

What will it take to fix so many lousy barracks? lawmakers ask

"It will take years to address the chronic neglect and underfunding we uncovered" in barracks, GAO says.

7 days ago

Dominique Hunter, the Military Breastfeeding Network active duty director, explains doula and breastfeeding options to new moms at a Womack Army Medical Center maternity fair at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, in 2018.

Expectant service members lack support. Doulas could help.

Members of the military who are pregnant lack options when it comes to giving birth. That might be changing, but challenges persist.

11 days ago

The new system for moving troops’ belongings is creating some angst

Are concerns about moving companies' new payment rates causing "unfounded angst," as USTRANSCOM contends?

12 days ago

Congress eyes protecting military pay ahead of government shutdown

Paychecks to troops could be delayed next month unless lawmakers pass measures to guarantee military pay.

12 days ago

Medical care, child care: How shutdown could affect military families

Inpatient care and acute and emergency outpatient care in DoD medical facilities would be immune from a shutdown.

14 days ago

Tips for stretching dollars, saving money during a government shutdown

Senate Democratic leaders and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., face a looming Oct. 1 deadline to avoid a government shutdown

3 weeks ago

Military pay could be a casualty of looming government shutdown

Lawmakers are warning that a political budget fight could have severe financial consequences for troops and their dependents.

4 weeks ago

New tool helps military parents with firearm storage, safety issues

'We really need to be focused on access to firearms' by young children.

4 weeks ago