September 28, 2012
From Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs
MILLINGTON, Tenn (NNS) — Low-income service members with dependents may benefit from the Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance (FSSA) Program, according to a Navy message released Sept. 24.
FSSA is an additional food allowance some military families may qualify for based on a member’s household size and household income.
According to NAVADMIN 292/12, the program is designed to bring eligible service member’s gross household income to 130 percent of the federal poverty line as established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program is available for Sailors stationed in the United States and overseas. Members may be eligible for up to $1,100 per month.
Active component and Reserve Sailors on active duty meeting dependent and income-eligibility requirements on the Defense Manpower Data Center website may participate in the FSSA program.
To apply, Sailors must submit a signed application and associated documents through their chain of command to OPNAV N130 for final certification and approval. OPNAV will forward approved applications to Defense Finance and Accounting Service for posting to the Sailors pay account.
During participation in the FSSA Program, any increases in household income of $100 or more per month, or any decrease in the size of that household, must be reported within 30 days to the certifying official. Sailors receiving FSSA are responsible to report changes, and failure to do so may result in termination of eligibility for the FSSA Program and command action.
The FSSA income may affect participation of the household in certain programs for which eligibility is based on income, such as subsidized school lunch programs, the Women, Infant, and Children Program, day care programs, and earned income tax credit.
To learn more about FSSA, read NAVADMIN 292/12 and visit https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/fssa/ to determine eligibility and review application procedures.