What services are available to me as a disabled spouse?

Question

Due to a bilateral alkali burn (burns in both eyes), I am temporarily (we hope) visually impaired. I have my good days when I can see up to 7 feet away before the blur is too bad to be of any use, and I have days when my eyes are so swollen I can't see at all without extreme pain.

My husband is currently deployed to Iraq, returning in December/January. I am living in Hampton, Virginia, and will be moving back down to Fort Bragg (to an apartment in Spring Lake, NC) in mid-October.

Wat sort of services are available to me via the military for the move, and for helping me live independently until my husband returns from Iraq?

Will they move me from Hampton to Spring Lake? Do they provide assistance in the home or to get me to the hospital for doctor's appointments? That's the sort of thing I need, as well as some way to get involved with the community.

For the services that are available, how do I go about getting them? Any advice on this is great...I was a military brat, so the military isn't new to me, but being a military spouse is so different, and I've never dealt with any of the disability stuff. Help!

Answer 1

none.  your move is unauthorized so it will not be paid for.  also if you move away form the command, they cannot help you.  

any of that other stuff you have to work out with the local command.   for instance,I do not drive( medical reasons) and my spouse is about to deploy.  I am completely on my own when it comes to getting to the doctor's an hour away and making sure I get my prescriptions monthly as well as little things like grocery shopping..  I have to either take a cab, or ask for a duty driver..and they will not always be able to get me one.  

basically, if you move, all the resources the Command can offer you will be gone, as even if you moved to a location where there was a military installation, you cannot  guarantee being able to use their resources as your spouse is not stationed there.  this is especially true for medical.  

Answer 2

I agree with Bailie28 it all depends on if you are on orders or if you moved away on your own when he went to Iraq. If you were married and live in the same place you are now before he went to Iraq and his follow on duty station includes you/family on his orders they should move you. Try giving  the Soldier Support Center a call 910-643-6653(fort brag). They can answer questions or direct you where you need to go.

Here is a link to the newcomers site at fort brag:

http://www.bragg.army.mil/18ABN/welcome....

As for care that all depends on the size of your base and the surrounding area. Some smaller bases only offer family practice or urgent care type clinics.

Meaning you would have to use local doctors and hospitals.

  Good luck and Get well soon.

Answer 3

depends is he being stationed at fort bragg when he gets back or where you living there when he left...if the first is true they will move you..if the second is true you are on your own...you are going to have to get a hold of the little van that helps disabled people get to appointments..i know in harnett county its called something like colts or it could be for lee county..i have seen them on the road in both counties..we just moved from nc in jan.....good luck

Answer 4

Doubt you will get much help. The move will be your problem unless where you are now is base housing. You can probably get medical help and maybe transportation to and from the doctor. I think home assistance will also be up to you.

Answer 5

the first thing you need to do is get in enrolled in EFMP(exceptional family member program)...once you get enrolled they can actually help you out alot..esp if you need assistance getting to and from doc appts and simple things like that...you might also be able to get a nurse to come in and help  you but that all depends on what the doctors say and the severity and prognosis of your disability...just make sure you keep all documentation...i'm currently considered disabled so i've had some pretty first hand experience with the army docs and "misplacing" paperwork and records...

if you moved to va while your husband was deployed and his duty station is bragg then no the army will not pay to have your stuff moved back that will be on you to get that taken care of...

good luck

Answer 6

Wow.  first off, I am actually living in Spring Lake, NC currently. in the LakeHurst Apts.  Anyway, as far as the move, I am sorry to say but you will not get much help there.  You will have to move the stuff back on your own and at your own expense.  If you have questions though, contact the EFMP office here in Bragg. I am sure they can direct you from there.  Good luck