Same-sex spouses of Soldiers now receiving benefits
September 4, 2013
By ASA M&RA/Army G-1 Public Affairs Office
WASHINGTON (Sept. 4, 2013)--Same-sex spouses of Service members are eligible to receive identification cards and all associated benefits effective Tuesday, according to a Department of Defense memorandum.
For same-sex military couples married before or on June 26, 2013, the effective date of benefits and entitlements is June 26. However, for same-sex couples married after June 26, their effective date of benefits and entitlements is the actual date of marriage.
All Army spouses whether in a same-sex or opposite-sex marriage are eligible for benefits. Soldiers are responsible for updating their personnel records with the appropriate spouse information.
The same procedures used for adding an opposite-sex spouse to the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) and acquiring identification cards are used for adding same-sex spouses. A valid marriage certificate is the required document that must be presented for proof of eligibility for Real-Time Automated Personnel Identification System (RAPIDS) and DEERS benefits/entitlements.
Soldiers assigned to duty stations within the continental United States will be afforded up to seven days of non-chargeable leave to travel to a state where marriage is legal, while those outside the United States may receive up to 10 day of leave.
As the Army continues to simplify the non-chargeable leave policy, commanders through their G-1/S-1 are required to contact the Plans and Resources Division within Headquarters, Army G-1 at the Pentagon before approving individual Soldier's request for non-chargeable leave.
The Department of the Army will issue additional guidance clarifying the policy in the coming weeks.
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