Expert: Rod Powers - 5/14/2007

Question
My husband just enlisted Army 63M. My mother has lived with us and we have supported her living conditions for at least 8 years. She works for minimal pay to barely scrape by on credit card bills and general expenses so pays no rent/food and can barely speak/write English. She's separated but not divorced from disabled / retired Marine with no contact / support financially. When my husband gets his permanent duty station US/abroad can she still live with us on base? Will they alot her a bedroom? Will she be considered a dependant if she can not find a job elsewhere? Leaving her behind is not an option as she would have no one to care for her or be able to support herself. She's been employed for 7 years but will not be very successful at finding another job due to lack of English skills and her age.

Your help is appreciated,
Linda Castro

Answer
Hi Linda,

It's possible to claim a mother or mother-in-law as a military dependent, but it's not an easy process.

Your husband will have to file a claim through his local Military Finance Office. As part of the claim, he will have to fill out (alot) of paperwork, showing that he provides more than 50 percent of her total support.

If, after review, the claim of support is approved, she could become a Military Dependent of your husband. This would mean she would receive an ID card, have access to base facilities, be able to relocate with your husband at government expense, etc. She would not, under this status be authorized Military Medical Care, but she probably already has that as a dependent of a Military retiree.

Here's the rub: I don't think she can be your husband's dependent and the dependent of a Military retiree at the same time. It's either got to be one or the other. You can't have both. As a current dependent of a Military retiree, she has access to base facilities, and access to Military Medical Care. If she becomes a dependent of your husband, she would have access to Military facilities, but not access to Military Medical Care (Parents and parents-in-laws, who are made dependents have *very* limited access to Military medical care).

So, here's what it probably boils down to: Do you want the extra room in on-base housing, or do you want her medical care to be covered?

For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit My U.S. Military Information Site at: http://usmilitary.about.com

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com