I've been called to active duty. What do I need to know about SCRA?
The Servicemember's Civil Relief Act (SCRA) provides protections for individuals who are entering the service, called to active duty in the military or deployed servicemembers. The SCRA is intended to postpone or suspend certain civil obligations—many of them financial—so servicemembers can devote full attention to their duties while their family members experience less stress. To determine your eligibility and submit a military benefit request, visit our military benefits page.
How long do SCRA benefits and protections last? Your SCRA benefits legally expire at the end of your active duty period, except on a home loan, which will receive benefits for an additional 12 months.
Will my spouse be able to get information or make decisions about military benefits while I'm away? In order for your spouse to be able to obtain information and make any decisions on your behalf regarding military benefits, you may need to assign power of attorney to your spouse. For details about setting up power of attorney, contact your military legal service office or your private attorney.
Will the SCRA protect me from foreclosure and repossession, do I still have to make my payments? Yes. While SCRA protections generally include a prohibition on foreclosure and repossession, a foreclosure or repossession can still take place if a court deems it appropriate. In addition, the credit union continues to report delinquent payments to the credit bureau according to the Fair Credit Reporting practices. Any missed or late payments, even during a covered active duty period, can affect your credit rating.
I requested benefits, but the credit union declined my request even though I was called to duty in the state National Guard. Why? To be entitled to benefits and protections you must be called to active duty under Federal Orders by the President or the Secretary of Defense. A call to duty by the governor of the state for full time National Guard duty or training is not eligible. Certain states do provide benefits for state-ordered duty.