💰 Financial Benefits
VA home loans, military banking, credit card fee waivers, TSP retirement tools, pay calculators, insurance, and SCRA protections for veterans and service members.
SCRA and MLA: Your Legal Financial Protections
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) caps interest rates at 6% on pre-service debts, protects against eviction, and provides lease termination rights for PCS and deployment — but requires you to notify creditors in writing with a copy of your orders. The Military Lending Act (MLA) applies automatically to credit products originated after you entered service, capping the Military Annual Percentage Rate (MAPR) at 36% and prohibiting mandatory arbitration clauses. Knowing which law applies to which debt can save thousands of dollars.
VA Home Loan: No Down Payment, No PMI
The VA home loan guaranty lets eligible veterans and active duty buy a home with no down payment, no private mortgage insurance, and competitive rates. A funding fee applies (1.25–2.15% of the loan, reduced for down payments) but is waived entirely for veterans with service-connected disabilities. Get your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) at va.gov; any VA-approved lender can process the loan from there.
Credit Card Annual Fee Waivers for Active Duty
Under SCRA and MLA, major credit card issuers waive annual fees for active duty service members. The Amex Platinum ($695/yr), Chase Sapphire Reserve ($550/yr), and Capital One Venture X ($395/yr) are all covered — making premium travel cards effectively free while on active duty. Visit our Credit Cards page for the full breakdown of which cards waive fees and how to request the waiver from each issuer.
Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)
The TSP is the federal government’s 401(k) equivalent with expense ratios as low as 0.05% — among the cheapest retirement accounts available anywhere. Under BRS (Blended Retirement System), the DoD matches up to 5% of your basic pay contributions after two years of service. If you’re under BRS and not contributing at least 5%, you’re leaving matching funds on the table.
💡 Financial Tips for Veterans
- VA Home Loan — Zero Down: VA loans require no down payment and no PMI. Available for purchase, refinance, or cash-out. Can be used multiple times throughout your life.
- SCRA 6% Interest Cap: The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act caps interest on ALL pre-service debt at 6% while on active duty. Write your lender a letter with a copy of your orders to invoke it.
- USAA & Navy Federal: These veteran-focused institutions consistently offer lower rates and fewer fees than commercial banks. Navy Federal offers $0 down mortgages at competitive rates.
- VA Disability Is Tax-Free: VA disability compensation is completely tax-free at the federal level. It does not count as income for federal tax purposes — a significant advantage over taxable retirement pay.
- State Property Tax Exemptions: Most states offer property tax exemptions for veterans — and many 100% disabled veterans pay zero property tax. Check your state's veterans affairs website.
- Max Out Your TSP Match: Under the Blended Retirement System (BRS), DoD matches up to 5% of base pay into TSP. Contribute at least 5% to get the full match — that's free money. Combat zone contributions grow tax-free forever.
- Deployed? Use the SDP: The Savings Deposit Program lets you earn a guaranteed 10% annual return on up to $10,000 while deployed to a combat zone. No investment anywhere else offers this risk-free rate.
- MilTax = Free Tax Filing: Military OneSource offers free federal and state tax filing through MilTax. It handles military-specific situations like combat zone exclusions and multi-state filing that commercial software often gets wrong.