Transitional Compensation (TC) Program for Abused Dependents in the U.S. Army

The Transitional Compensation (TC) Program is a congressionally mandated program designed to provide temporary support, services, and benefits to family members who have experienced reported spouse or child abuse. It encourages victims to report abuse without fearing the loss of the sponsor’s financial and other support, such as medical care coverage, when a Soldier is separated for a family member-related abuse offense (Army Family Web Portal, n.d.; Army MWR, n.d.).

Key Facts

  1. Eligibility: Transitional Compensation is authorized for dependents of Soldiers who have been on active duty for more than 30 days and who have been separated from active duty under certain circumstances.
    • Separation under a court-martial sentence that convicted the Soldier of a dependent abuse offense.
    • Administrative separation from active duty if the basis for separation includes a dependent-abuse offense.
    • Sentenced to forfeiture of all pay and allowances by a court-martial which convicted the Soldier of a dependent-abuse offense.
  2. Purpose: The TC Program aims to encourage victims to report abuse without fear of losing the sponsor’s financial and other support, such as medical care coverage, when a Soldier is separated for a family member-related abuse offense.
  3. Services and Support: The TC Program provides intervention tools for families to prevent further harm, establish safety and well-being, and disrupt the cycle of violence. It offers support to victims as they transition to safe environments free of abuse and maltreatment.
  4. Application Process: A dependent victim of abuse or their legal representative can request entry into the TC Program by applying at the installation where the identified offense(s) occurred. There are two types of TC applications: Traditional and Exceptional Eligibility (EE).
    • Traditional: When the dependent abuse offense is specifically cited as a reason for the Soldier’s separation.
    • Exceptional Eligibility (EE): When the Soldier separates for reasons other than dependent abuse, but there is documented evidence that dependent abuse occurred.

Eligibility

Transitional Compensation is authorized for dependents of Soldiers who have been on active duty for more than 30 days and who have been separated from active duty under the following circumstances (Army Family Web Portal, n.d.):

  1. Separation under a court-martial sentence that convicted the Soldier of a dependent abuse offense.
  2. Administrative separation from active duty if the basis for separation includes a dependent-abuse offense.
  3. Sentenced to forfeiture of all pay and allowances by a court-martial which convicted the Soldier of a dependent-abuse offense.

Purpose of the TC Program

The TC Program aims to encourage victims to report abuse without fear of losing the sponsor’s financial and other support, such as medical care coverage, when a Soldier is separated for a family member-related abuse offense (Army Family Web Portal, n.d.).

Services and Support Provided

The TC Program provides intervention tools for families to prevent further harm, establish safety and well-being, and disrupt the cycle of violence. It offers support to victims as they transition to safe environments free of abuse and maltreatment (Army Family Web Portal, n.d.).

Application Process

A dependent victim of abuse or their legal representative can request entry into the TC Program by applying at the installation where the identified offense(s) occurred. There are two types of TC applications: Traditional and Exceptional Eligibility (EE) (Army Family Web Portal, n.d.):

  1. TraditionalWhen the dependent abuse offense is specifically cited as a reason for the Soldier’s separation.
  2. Exceptional Eligibility (EE)When the Soldier separates for reasons other than dependent abuse, but there is documented evidence that dependent abuse occurred.

Conclusion

The Transitional Compensation (TC) Program is a valuable resource for dependents of Soldiers who have experienced abuse. It provides financial and other support to help victims transition to safe environments free of abuse and maltreatment. The program also offers tools and resources to help victims become survivors.

References

  1. Army Family Web Portal. (n.d.). About Transitional Compensation (TC). https://www.armyfamilywebportal.com/content/about-transitional-compensation-tc
  2. Army MWR. (n.d.). Transitional Compensation (TC) Program for Abused Dependents. https://www.armymwr.com/programs-and-services/personal-assistance/family-advocacy/tc

FAQs

What is the Army TC Program?

The Army TC Program is a congressionally mandated program that provides temporary support, services, and benefits to family members who have experienced reported spouse or child abuse.

Who is eligible for the Army TC Program?

Dependents of Soldiers who have been on active duty for more than 30 days and who have been separated from active duty under certain circumstances, such as a court-martial conviction for dependent abuse, are eligible for the TC Program.

What are the benefits of the Army TC Program?

The TC Program provides financial assistance, housing assistance, medical care, counseling, and other support services to eligible dependents.

How do I apply for the Army TC Program?

A dependent victim of abuse or their legal representative can request entry into the TC Program by applying at the installation where the identified offense(s) occurred.

What are the two types of TC applications?

There are two types of TC applications: Traditional and Exceptional Eligibility (EE). Traditional applications are for cases where the dependent abuse offense is specifically cited as a reason for the Soldier’s separation. EE applications are for cases where the Soldier separates for reasons other than dependent abuse, but there is documented evidence that dependent abuse occurred.

What is the purpose of the Army TC Program?

The purpose of the TC Program is to encourage victims to report abuse without fear of losing the sponsor’s financial and other support, such as medical care coverage, when a Soldier is separated for a family member-related abuse offense.

What services does the Army TC Program provide?

The TC Program provides a range of services to eligible dependents, including financial assistance, housing assistance, medical care, counseling, and other support services.

How long can I receive benefits from the Army TC Program?

Benefits from the TC Program are typically provided for up to 24 months, but this can be extended in certain cases.