Enlisting into the US Army - paying child support in Germany. How much am I entitled to keep?
I am about to enlist into the US army, wanting to serve my country. I have been faithfully paying child support for the past 13 yrs. for my two kids living in Germany with their mother (her and her boyfriend both work). I have since remarried and have two kids with my wife. At the moment I am paying the equivalent to $850 a month and am afraid I will not be making enough the first year or two in order to pay the expected child support in full. E-3 makes roughly $1500. 1.)How much including extras (BAH...) would I be making roughly? 2.)Does the German Government cut some slack if they see you`ve faithfully been paying and still paying as much as is possible for a time period, until I start making more money? 3.)How much are they allowed to take out of my pay? 4.)How much am I entitled to live off of with my family? 5.)What part of my pay/ what amount is untouchable? Hope someone can give good and useful answers to some of my many questions. Thank you in advance and God bless you. Thanks Mustangs - for your help - good answers. Are you talking about German or American courts? Of course I thought of talking to the German courts or "Jugendamt" as they call it there. I know they would generally lower it if your living in Germany and do not earn enough to support your and your family. If after paying child support there is not enough to live off of, is there a place that offers any financial support? Governmental or Military? Thanks again.
Military - 3 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
I dont know your exact payment amount but I know it will be nearly half of your pay.
2 :
1. There aren't any "extras". BAH is paid to you if you live off-base and that is only enough to cover your trent and utilities. If you live on base, you don't receive any BAH. You will recieve about $250 in BAS which is food money 2. I highly doubt they will cut you any slack from paying your obligations. You can try going throught he courts to have your payment reduced due to your lower income due to enlistment. 3. They can take as much out of your pay as the court requires. 4. The only part of your pay that is untouchable is your BAH and BAS. They can take any portion of your base pay. You can check out the following website that pertains to Child Support enforcement and military policy and procedures http://info.dhhs.state.nc.us/olm/manuals/dss/cse/man/CSEcS-04.htm EDT: I'd definitely go through the German courts. Just take all your documentation that shows your pay so that you can prove what you can afford. I'm not sure about the Army but in the AF is not going to let them take so much that you can't support the family you have now. I would hope that the Army is the same. The AF has a place called the "Airman's Attic" where lower enlisted personnel can go to get free furniture, TV's, children's clothing, house furnishings, kitchenware and any other household neccessities. This helps ease the burden of having to furnish a household. The commissary is CHEAP. We are only a family of 3 but we spend about $300 a month on food and we only spend that much because our son is so darn picky! If you EVER have a finacial crisis, the AF and the Army both have Emergency Relief funds. They give you an intrest free loan for emergencies. You just have to apply for it. It's quick and easy. Remeber your housing is paid (free on-base housing or BAH for off-base), they give you food money (BAS,), you have free medical for your entire family.. You might have a tight budget but you can make it!!
3 :
Talk to JAG
