Dependent benefits

[StarboardMD]

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MSIV HPSPer, I got married in April and now have two stepsons and a couple of questions:
1. What is necessary for them to be eligible for benefits as Army kids?
2. What are/will be the benefits available to them? I'm assuming health care, etc when I go active?
Does anyone know where I can find this info or who I should get in contact with? The HPSP office has been singularly un-helpful. Thanks in advance!

 

[Gunner1960]

The first thing you should do is get them enrolled in DEERS. You can go to any military facility (regardless of the branch) and have them added.

Bring your marriage certificate- your spouses Drivers License and Social Security Card and for the kids birth certificates and SS cards. Once they are in the system they have the same benefits as you- medical, commissary/exchange and MWR.

Even though you are still a student your DD Form 2 or CAC allows you base access and the privledge extends to your family members.

If you need to find a site to do the ID's you can Google RAPIDS (DEERS- Tricare) and punch in your zip code and it will give the closet facility that can make your ID cards.

 

[DrMetal]

The one thing theyre not covered for is dental (only you as the AD member are covered). For your dependents, you can purchase a Tricare Dental plan (~$30/month premium, for the entire family). They can then see a civilian dentist out in town, provided the dentist is in the Tricare network.

 

[sethco]

After they are enrolled in DEERS as above, stop by the Family Support/Advocacy Center on your local base, as they can help you out with a lot of benefits that most people are unaware of. This office is a great resource that has helped me out multiple times

 

[colbgw02]

Everyone seems sure that step-children are immediately eligible for benefits. Assuming that the OP didn't adopt the children, are we sure that they will automatically be full-fledged dependents?

 

[i want out]

Everyone seems sure that step-children are immediately eligible for benefits. Assuming that the OP didn't adopt the children, are we sure that they will automatically be full-fledged dependents?

dependent status has more to do with whom they are living and who is providing for 51% or greater of their upkeep (food clothing shelter).

I had an active duty member who was able to get dependent benefits for his mother in law because she lived with him, and he was able to show that he supported her. There may have been some other stipulations on whether or not she was disabled, but I never got into the nitty gritty details of it with him.

I want out (of IRR)

 

[Gastrapathy]

Everyone seems sure that step-children are immediately eligible for benefits. Assuming that the OP didn't adopt the children, are we sure that they will automatically be full-fledged dependents?

They are eligible as long as they live with the OP. However, if he and mom divorce, they are no longer eligible unless he's adopted them in the interim (seen this recently, divorce was actually held off until adoption completed).

 

[StarboardMD]

Hmmm...we take the boys every other week, so we have them pretty much the same amount of time as their mom does right now. Of course, when I leave for residency, this is going to be a problem, which we haven't figured out yet, but it may be just my husband flying back every other month to live with the boys in IL. Definitely NOT an ideal situation, I know...
Thoughts on where I can find out exactly what the criteria are for them to be eligible as dependents?