Today's Army Spouse Panel Survey Results: Financial Vulnerability Among Army Families
Abstract
Military spouses and families sometimes struggle financially. For example, a 2022 U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) report noted that 24 percent of active-duty service members indicated some level of food insecurity in 2020, the first year of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic (Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, 2022). In 2021 and 2022, soldiers and U.S. Army spouses reported that financial issues, such as challenges with spouse employment and military pay and benefits, were among the top five problems that they experienced (Blue Star Families, undated-a; Blue Star Families, undated-b). To further explore these and other issues facing Army spouses and families, RAND Corporation researchers used the Todays Army Spouse Panel to measure financial vulnerabilities and to track financial indicators over time. Analyses of data collected from this panel offer insight into the financial vulnerabilities and strengths of Army families, including food insecurity, trouble paying various bills, experience of household financial strain, and use of and interest in financial resources.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 21, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1217221
Entities
People
- Carra S. Sims
- Thomas E Trail
Organizations
- RAND Corporation