What Are the Financial Options for Veterans?

Several new developments could affect the work of military service members and their households and employers' compliance obligations in 2026. Modifications range from proposals to increase incentives for working with military partners to improved work protections for service members while on responsibility. Military partner employment opportunities and support stay a focus for pending legislation.

, presented previously in 2025.

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Regular Movings Frequent relocations continue to strain military families and can make it more challenging for companies to work with and retain military partners. Broadening the WOTC could develop brand-new rewards for employers to work with military spouses and tap into this underutilized skill swimming pool.

Unlocking Specialized Veteran Aid Resources

The U.S. Congress has not yet taken up the STAY Act this year, but if it is eventually enacted, it could lead to decreased PCS relocations that might affect recruiting, retention, and remote-work policies for military partners. Military Re-Employment Protections Federal law already supplies civilian employment leave securities for veterans and service members who are involuntarily or voluntarily deployed for military service.

In January 2025, Congress enacted the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Enhancement Act (Dole Act), that included arrangements impacting USERRA enforcement and solutions. The Dole Act reinforced anti-retaliation protections and permitted plaintiffs alleging USERRA infractions to seek minimum liquidated damages of $50,000 and attorneys' charges. Agencies and courts may continue to interpret and use the Dole Act's USERRA-related arrangements.

New Employer Resources In January 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Work and Training Service (DOL/VETS) released a program for companies to look for guidance for making sure compliance. The Support and Help for Leaders in USERRA Training and Employment (SALUTE) program is an opportunity for companies to demand technical guidance on USERRA-related concerns or specific concerns in their workforce before the start of a DOL/VETS grievance or suit.

Priority actions include reviewing USERRA compliance programs and training, updating military leave and reemployment policies, validating health-benefit extension procedures, and lining up hiring and tax-credit screening procedures to rapidly catch brand-new incentives for military partners. Ogletree Deakins' brand-new Armed force Workforce Practice Group unites a team of legal representatives, a number of whom are veterans or presently serving in the Reserves or National Guard, who frequently advise on USERRA compliance, policy development, multistate implementation, and examinations and litigation.

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The Modern Outlook to VA Debt

Tax day is. Have you submitted with MilTax yet? Whether you're just getting your documents together, struck a snag or require to declare an extension, we have actually got your back with free filing software and tax pros ready to assist.

For 10 years, Employing Our Heroes has actually promoted military partner work, developing pathways to opportunity and driving systemic change. As we celebrate this milestone, the 10th Yearly Armed Force Spouse Work Top will honor the legacy of progress while charting a strong course for the future. This year's summit focuses on Management & Tradition as we recognize the partners, companies, and advocates who have changed the work landscape and prepared the next generation to prosper in a progressing labor force.

Together, we will develop on a decade of service and success to produce a future where military partners lead with strength, vision, and function.

Military partners face one of the most consistent employment spaces in the American workforce. According to data from the US Department of Labor, military partner joblessness has hovered around 20% or greater recently. This far goes beyond the nationwide average, which normally falls listed below 5%. An interview with Sarah Roder, Director of Partnerships & Member Engagement at Army Mutual and a military partner herself, shows how those obstacles play out in practice and how partners can navigate them more efficiently.