Surviving Spouse Corner: Resources for Surviving Spouses

Surviving Spouse Corner: Resources for Surviving Spouses

As a surviving spouse and a member of MOAA, you have access to a host of people who are there to guide you through any difficulties or questions you might have. MOAA exists to protect military benefits and to offer you resources which cannot be found elsewhere.

 

MOAA membership is 350,000 strong, of which 16% are surviving spouses. Experts in the Washington, D.C., area advocate for legislation benefiting our community; they are equally vigilant when fighting legislation that would harm our benefits.

 

You are encouraged to visit MOAA.org, where you can sign up to receive The MOAA Newsletter and choose areas of most interest to you, such health care and earned benefits, finance, and spouse and family.

 

On the homepage when you see the prompt “I AM A,” scroll down and click on "Surviving Spouse," which will lead you to the Surviving Spouse Page. This site provides information relevant to our community.

 

MOAA has a Surviving Spouse Advisory Council (SSAC) consisting of eight surviving spouses advocating for issues and concerns of interest to our community. Email SSACouncil@moaa.org with any questions or concerns you may have.

 

MOAA’s Surviving Spouse Virtual Chapter meets once a month and is open to all MOAA surviving spouses and surviving spouse liaisons. Speakers cover important information regarding issues and concerns one month and the next is an open forum meeting taking questions and hearing concerns of attendees. Learn more about the chapter, including how to join.

 

Additionally, MOAA’s Surviving Spouses and Friends Facebook group provides information, answers questions, and offers an opportunity to interact with others traveling the same course.  Although not sponsored by MOAA, another Facebook group, DIC Surviving Spouses & Friends, is open to all surviving spouses who receive or who have questions regarding Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. 

 

[RELATED AT MOAA.ORG: Dependency and Indemnity Compensation]

 

Check out your local MOAA chapter where you can meet new people and other surviving spouses. Some of our events have speakers on a variety of subjects that might interest or concern you, with some other events providing entertainment. Most chapters have a surviving spouse liaison who is there to assist you with any issues or concerns you might have or just to provide some comfort or a sounding board. 

 

Read past Surviving Spouse Corners.

 

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We’d love to hear from you. Please let us know if this article was helpful by sending an email to sscomm@moaa.org.

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About the Author

Barbara Smith
Barbara Smith

Barbara Smith is the former first vice chair of MOAA's Surviving Spouse Advisory Council.