Military Families Struggle as Shutdown Disrupts Paychecks

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The ongoing government shutdown has hit military families hard, with many service members reporting pay discrepancies in the midst of financial uncertainty. As the shutdown nears its fourth week, hundreds of military families are experiencing incorrect pay, leaving many unable to meet basic needs.

Out of 369 military families who contacted the National Military Family Association, 164 reported being underpaid, with amounts ranging from $148 to as much as $2,000. Raleigh Smith Duttweiler, a military spouse and chief impact officer at the association, highlighted the financial strains many families face. “A quarter of military families don’t have more than $500 in savings,” she stated. “We are not a demographic set up to absorb a missed paycheck,” Smith Duttweiler told Federal News Network.

Some affected families experienced a complete absence of pay, with about 55 families reporting no pay at all. “They still showed up at work on Oct. 15 and 16, but zero pay,” Smith Duttweiler said. In contrast, 50 families found themselves overpaid, sometimes receiving amounts far exceeding their regular paycheck.

Issues with pay stubs and bank accounts further complicated matters, with many families noting discrepancies between their leave and earnings statements and actual deposits. “When you’re trying to get the money you rightfully earned, your pay stub says you got it, but your bank says you didn’t,” Smith Duttweiler explained, emphasizing the dire financial situation.

The Defense Department has yet to respond to inquiries about the causes of these discrepancies. While they advised service members to contact their finance officer for issues, many families find themselves struggling with inadequate support. “I have not heard anybody tell me that their pay has gotten corrected,” she stated, adding that families have no choice but to seek help from aid societies.

Concern is mounting as families prepare for essential bills that continue regardless of delayed pay, such as rent and utilities. Added to the anxiety are financial burdens stemming from the recent Permanent Change of Station cycle, where families expected reimbursements that have not come due to the shutdown.

Smith Duttweiler noted that the government does not cover the high costs of credit cards during such transitions. “The government doesn’t pay you back your APR,” she remarked, showing the ongoing financial hurdles faced by military families.

With military families caught in the financial crossfire of the shutdown, there is increasing concern regarding the viability of military service. Many families are questioning whether they can recommend this lifestyle to their children when stability in pay is uncertain.

The lack of appropriate financial support has placed families in a difficult position, as they navigate the bureaucracy and financial challenges while awaiting a resolution to the ongoing shutdown.