Deployment is hard enough without financial chaos at home. This 2026 guide covers the specific financial steps Hampton Roads service members should take 60-90 days before deployment to make sure bills are paid, family is supported, and your money keeps working while you're away.
Key takeaways at a glance
- Power of attorney — set up general or special POA so your spouse / trusted person can handle finances.
- Auto-pay everything — bills, mortgage, insurance, utilities, subscriptions.
- Use SDP (Savings Deposit Program) — earn 10% guaranteed on up to $10,000 deposited during deployment.
- Combat zone tax exclusion — federal income tax exempt on combat pay.
- Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) — caps interest at 6% on pre-deployment debts.
| Program | What It Does | Who Qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| Savings Deposit Program (SDP) | 10% guaranteed APY on $10,000 | Most combat-zone deployments |
| Combat Zone Tax Exclusion | Federal tax-free combat pay | Service in eligible combat zones |
| SCRA Interest Rate Cap | Caps interest at 6% on pre-service debt | All active duty |
| Servicemembers Civil Relief Act | Protections from default + foreclosure | All active duty |
| TRICARE | Continues for family during deployment | Service members + dependents |
In this guide
Power of attorney
A General POA gives your spouse or trusted person full authority to handle finances. A Special POA limits authority to specific transactions (sell a car, refinance the mortgage, sign tax returns). Get this set up at the base legal office BEFORE deployment - free for active duty.
Automate everything
Mortgage, car payments, insurance, utilities, subscriptions, credit card minimums. Set everything to autopay 60+ days before deployment. Keep at least 2 months of expenses in checking to absorb timing.
Savings Deposit Program (SDP)
Available to most service members deployed to combat zones. Earn 10% guaranteed annual interest on up to $10,000 deposited. The interest accrues during deployment and continues for 90 days after. One of the best risk-free returns available anywhere.
SCRA protections
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act caps interest at 6% on pre-deployment debts (mortgages, car loans, credit cards, student loans). Apply by sending your orders to each lender. Lender refunds excess interest. Many lenders auto-apply if they know.
Combat zone tax exclusion
Federal income tax is excluded on combat pay for enlisted personnel (and partially for officers). Talk to a military tax counselor about specific dates of deployment that qualify.
Allotments
Set up allotments through MyPay - a portion of your pay sent to specific accounts (joint checking for spouse, savings, etc.). Limited to 6 active allotments at a time.
Emergency fund
Aim for 3-6 months of expenses in liquid savings before deployment. Things break at home, vehicles fail, kids get sick. Don't let your spouse handle a crisis with no money.
Family budget while deployed
Walk through the household budget with your spouse. Document logins, account numbers, contact info for every financial account. Make sure your spouse knows where bills come from and where the emergency fund lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Savings Deposit Program?
A military program offering 10% guaranteed annual interest on up to $10,000 deposited during deployment to a combat zone. One of the best risk-free returns anywhere. Set up through finance.
Should I set up power of attorney before deployment?
Yes. Get a General or Special POA from the base legal office (free for active duty). Without it, your spouse/family can't sign for you on most financial transactions.
What does SCRA do for me during deployment?
Caps interest at 6% on pre-deployment debts (mortgage, auto, credit card, student loans), provides lease termination rights, protects against default judgments. Apply by sending orders to each creditor.
Is combat pay tax-free?
For enlisted, all combat pay is federal-tax-exempt. For officers, exempt up to the highest enlisted base pay rate plus imminent danger pay. State tax treatment varies.
How much should I have in an emergency fund before deployment?
3-6 months of household expenses in liquid savings. More if you have kids or own a home.
Can I auto-pay my mortgage during deployment?
Yes - and you should. Set it up 60+ days before deployment. Keep enough buffer in checking to absorb timing.
What should I do about my house if deploying?
Most service members keep their primary residence. If deploying without family, ensure mortgage and HOA are auto-paid, lawn care arranged, mail forwarded or held, security system armed.
Does my spouse get military benefits while I'm deployed?
Yes. TRICARE coverage continues, BAH continues at the same rate (assuming dependents remain in same ZIP), commissary access continues. PCS moves and other normal benefits also continue.
Have a question about your home purchase?
Talk to a Hampton Roads buyer's agent or loan officer who can walk through your specific situation - no pressure, no obligation.
Sources & further reading
- DOJ — Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
- DFAS — Savings Deposit Program
- Military OneSource
- IRS — Information for Members of the Military
Information reflects 2025-2026 conditions and rules. Always confirm current details with the relevant agency, lender, or licensed professional before relying on any specific figure or rule.
About the Author
The VaHome Team is dedicated to providing expert real estate insights for Hampton Roads, Virginia. Contact us at (757) 777-7577 or tom@vahomes.com.
About the Hampton Roads Real Estate Market
Hampton Roads is one of the most dynamic real estate markets on the East Coast, anchored by the largest naval complex in the world at Naval Station Norfolk and home to roughly 120,000 active-duty, reserve, and civilian Department of Defense personnel. The region spans seven cities — Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, and Newport News — plus the Peninsula communities of Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Poquoson, with each market carrying its own personality, school district, and price profile.
Buying or selling here means thinking about more than just a house. Tidewater geography means flood zones, hurricane preparation, and waterfront premiums matter. Military presence means BAH affordability, PCS season inventory crunches (May through August), and VA loan eligibility are top of mind for a meaningful share of every neighborhood. School quality varies block by block, especially across the seven independent city school divisions, and is often the deciding factor for relocating families.
Why Buyers and Sellers Choose VaHome
The VaHome Team — Tom and Dariya Milan with LPT Realty — focuses on the Hampton Roads region with deep expertise in military relocation, VA financing, and the trade-offs that local buyers actually face. From listing strategy that gets your home in front of the right relocating buyer to buyer representation that respects your BAH cap and PCS timeline, the team treats every transaction as a long-term relationship. The site is built to make decisions clearer: BAH-aware search, drive-time mapping to every major installation, neighborhood guides written by people who live here, and a calculator that shows real monthly cost — taxes, insurance, HOA, and PMI included — instead of a teaser headline number.
Plan Your Next Move
Whether you are buying your first home with a VA loan, moving up while your kids transition between school districts, or selling a Hampton Roads property to relocate to your next duty station, the resources on this site are organized around the questions you are actually asking. Browse listings filtered by base proximity, paygrade-aware BAH cap, and commute time. Read neighborhood guides for Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton, Newport News, Williamsburg, and the Peninsula communities. Use the mortgage calculator to compare conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, and jumbo loan scenarios side by side. When you are ready to talk, the contact form goes directly to a specialist who knows the area, the lenders, and the timing.