Financial Assistance

Vance AFB Community

MyBaseGuide

Resources are available to help you understand and manage your finances, including one-on-one financial counseling to assist you and your family with financial readiness. Services are designed to focus on money management issues throughout your active-duty lifecycle and into retirement. Financial readiness educational opportunities range from basic planning to long-term investing. Check out the information below to see what’s available at your installation.

Pay and Allowances

If you anticipate being short of cash for your move, please contact your local finance office to discuss the possibility of various travel advances. You may be able to request advance travel pay, advance BAH, or advance Dislocation Allowance (DLA). These advances will be offset when you receive your travel reimbursement. As a last resort, you are also eligible to request advance basic pay. Avoid this advance if possible because it will be automatically withheld from your paycheck for a period of up to 12 months.

The Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) provides small, no-interest loans to assist with miscellaneous financial problems caused by a PCS move.

Disadvantages of advanced pay:

1. You have to pay it back.
2. You might spend it on a vacation instead of PCS related expenses.
3. You have to pay it back within 12 months unless the command gives an extension to 24 months.

Advantages of taking advanced pay:

1. It is guaranteed for PCS related expenses.
2. No interest.
3. Great in time of need.

Be aware of the misuse of government credit card:

1. Unauthorized purchases.
2. Non-reimbursable expenses.

Cost of Living

For a family of two, moving to Vance and living in the Temporary Living facility for the first few days after arrival, you might expect to pay approximately $83.00 a day to include lodging, food and laundry and dry cleaning. If you are boarding a pet, of course the cost will be more.

Housing Costs

The average cost of living in the Enid Community is relatively inexpensive. However, housing costs have increased recently. Average rental cost for a three bedroom house is $1400 per month. The average price for homes in popular neighborhoods is $198,000.

Temporary Lodging Allowance

Temporary lodging facilities are available at the Cherokee Lodge located at Vance AFB. Stays are normally limited to 30 days during the non-peak periods. If there is no vacancy on base, you will need a non-availability statement from temporary lodging before you can be reimbursed for off-base lodging. If you do not get this, you may not be eligible for reimbursement. If you must stay off-base, you will be reimbursed at the perdiem lodging rate for the Oklahoma area.

Air Force Aid Society

The Air Force Aid Society is the official charity of the United States Air Force. A private, non-profit organization, the Society promotes the Air Force mission by providing worldwide emergency assistance, sponsoring education assistance programs, and offering a variety of base community enhancement programs that improve quality of life for Airmen and their families. The AFA Society assists with rent, food, shelter, vehicle repairs including parts and labor; emergency travel for death or serious illness of immediate family members.

Child Care for PCS

Sponsored by the Air Force Aid Society (AFAS), this program offers relocating families 20-hours of free child care per child within 60-days of a PCS. Childcare is authorized for both inbound and outbound families, however care must be provided by on-base licensed Family Child Care (FCC) providers.

Car Care Because we Care

A free oil change, sponsored by the AFAS, authorized for first term airmen, spouses of active duty Air Force member deployed for more than 30 days, and spouses of active duty Air Force members assigned to a remote tour.

Give Parents a Break

The Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) recognizes that Air Force families are subject to unique stresses due to the nature of military life: deployments, remote tours of duty, extended working hours, etc. In an effort to help these families, the AFAS, in cooperation with the Air Force child care community, has agreed to provide funding for child care under our “Give Parents a Break” program. The purpose of this program is to offer eligible parents a few hours break from the stresses of parenting. Active duty Air Force families may use this time to suit their personal needs. AFAS will pay the cost of having the base Child Development Center (CDC) open once a month for families referred to the program. Families will not be charged for the care.

Airman and Family Readiness Center

To help budget your move wisely, contact your local Airman and Family Readiness Center (A&FRC) and sign up for classes and counseling sessions on your PCS move. Even if you are an experienced mover, you need to know the most current and up to date allowances and benefits available. Remember, you normally incur expenses which will not be fully covered by your PCS entitlements. A good rule of thumb is to have at least enough savings to cover 90 days cost of living expenses.

At Vance AFB, the Airman and Family Readiness Center offers many programs to help you become financial fit. A budget can be the best indicator of what you need to do with your money (savings, investing, paying down consumer debt, etc.) and will help you plan accordingly!

Let your A&FRC representative help you:

Create a budget based on your lifestyle and needs
Reduce your consumer debt quickly and efficiently by providing a Power Pay assessment
Contact your creditors to arrange payment plans
Provide you with the latest financial/consumer information (car buying, consumer scams, credit bureau research, etc.)

Along with one-on-one assessments, the A&FRC also offers monthly classes and has a variety of programs.

They include but are not limited to: