If you are in the military in Virginia, you may be aware that if you marry, you will see an increase in pay. According to Today, you could increase your annual pay by more than $10,000 just by getting married. However, getting married just for the benefits is a risky proposition.
The military assumes your marriage is legally entered into and valid. This means you have the documentation to back it up. They do not investigate marriages to ensure you are really in love. This means that some people will take advantage. Some military personnel get married simply for the benefits, entering into a business arrangement instead of a loving union. This is an illegal act. If caught, you could face a court martial and serious ramifications.
If you do get married, you can get some nice benefits. To begin with, your new spouse gets free medical coverage, which in today's health insurance climate is a great perk. You also get additional pay and more base allowance for subsistence.
However, keep in mind that while your income increases, so will your expenses. Having an additional person to care for means more going out each month. In the end, you may only see a slight additional income once everything balances out. So, while it can be nice to get the perks from the military for becoming a married service member, you should only get married if you really want to marry that person. Getting married just for the pay increase does not usually pay off and is a huge risk. This information is for education and is not legal advice.
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