EXAM - CERTIFIED MILITARY HOME SPECIALIST COURSE

50 questions, 76% to pass

TRUE OR FALSE and MULTIPLE CHOICE

  1. The original Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act of 1940 was updated and and strengthened and became the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act in 2003.
  1. True
  2. False
  1. The ServicemembersCivil Relief Act (50 USC App. 501) is federal law. Among other things, it requires verification of whether an individual is on active military service before proceeding with court judgments, collections action, repossession, and foreclosure.
  1. True
  2. False
  1. Does the Coast Guard fall under the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security?
  1. Department of Defense
  2. Department of Homeland Security
  1. Military Legal Assistance Office Locator is where you find the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Office.
  1. True
  2. False
  1. Knowing the exact termination date from active duty military service is important, since SCRA provides protection only to persons who are still on active duty status.
  1. True
  2. False
  1. To receive protection under some parts of the SCRA, the Servicemember must be prepared to show that military service has had a “material effect” on the legal or financial matter involved.
  1. True
  2. False
  1. When invoking the SCRA’s “Six Percent Rule,” a servicemember continues to make payments at the new interest rate, and creditor cannot report adverse credit to credit reporting agencies.
  1. True
  2. False
  1. An important new part of SCRA protection clarifies that military income taxes can’t be paid to more than one state, and this applies to spouses as well.
  1. True
  2. False
  1. Title 32 Orders refer to a Federal mission.
  1. True
  2. False
  1. PTSD and TBI are “unseen” injuries.
  1. True
  2. False
  1. Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) allows certain military retirees to receive both their VA Disability Compensation and their military retirement pay.
  1. True
  2. False
  1. Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) will probably change with a PCS.
  1. True
  2. False
  1. Per the DEC 2012 VA Disability Compensation Rates for veterans, a rating of 50% or more is required in order to receive extra benefits like Vocational Rehab.
  1. True
  2. False
  1. On the LES, you will find a “compensating factor,” Thrift Savings Plan, in Field 9.
  1. True
  2. False
  1. YTD earnings can be found in Field 1 of the LES.
  1. True
  2. False
  1. Pay & Allowance Continuation (PAC) authorizes the continuation of all pay and allowances (including any bonuses, incentive pay or similar benefit) that were being paid to the member at the time the member incurred a wound, injury or illness in the line of duty.
  1. True
  2. False
  1. Enlistment and Re-enlistment bonuses are lump sums on the LES.
  1. True
  2. False
  1. CIP, TDRL/PDRL and SGLI/TSGLI all provide an “extra cushion of pay”in the event of an injury to a Servicemember.
  1. True
  2. False
  1. No types of military pay are exempt from taxes.
  1. True
  2. False
  1. Members of the TDRL and PDRL are retired members of the armed forces.
  1. True
  2. False
  1. To accurately figure a Servicemember’s income, you will need to use Fields 9, 11 and 29.
  1. True
  2. False
  1. USERRA prohibits wage discrimination against members of the Armed Forces.
  1. True
  2. False

23. In many situations, the SCRA protections are not automatic, but require some action to invoke the Act:

  1. Servicemember should send written request to lender/creditor along with copy of mobilization orders
  2. Servicemember must designate a Power of Attorney to handle these matters while they are deployed
  3. SCRA matters don’t require action until return from deployment

24. What is the best course of action if a Servicemember believes their SCRA protections have been violated?

  1. Request SM’s last three Leave & Earning Statements for clarification
  2. SM should submit letter of concern & copy of deployment orders to creditor & await their decision
  3. SM should contact their nearest legal assistance office for advice
  1. SCRA protections may apply to:
  1. Termination of leases and eviction
  2. Foreclosure and default judgment protection
  3. Both of the above
  1. There are three categories of Rank (the Navy uses Rate):
  1. Warrant Officer, Commissioned Officer, Enlisted personnel
  2. Line Officer, Warrant Officer, Enlisted personnel
  3. Commissioned officer, General officer, Enlisted personnel
  1. The LES is:
  1. For tax purposes: Leave Estimate Statement
  2. The military pay statement: Leave and Earning Statement
  3. For a refinance: Loan Estimated Savings
  1. Fields 1 through 9 on the LES denote:
  1. Special pay
  2. Tax information
  3. Identification
  1. Most PTSD and TBIs are caused by:
  1. ADAs
  2. IEDs
  3. C2Os

30. Who has responsibility for watching over America’s Servicemember’s payroll matters?

A. LES, Leave & Earnings Service

B. DFAS, Defense Finance & Accounting Service

C. PAC, Payroll & Accounting Center

31. Estimated Time of Separation/Expiration Term of Service (ETS) refers to the date of discharge from military service. This is important to note because:

A. Date of computation of final benefits

B. Date used to establish final LES

C. Date when regular military pay will end

32. The LES is divided into three major areas:

A. Entitlements, Leave and Benefits

B. Entitlements, Allotments and Deductions

C. Entitlements, Deductions and Insurance

33. For Servicemembers who receive tax-exempt VA disability pay, what extra step should you do to figure their maximum loan amount?

A. Nothing more is necessary

B. Remember to figure their VA disability percentage

C. “Gross up” that tax-exempt portion of pay

34. Who provides accurate, real-time financial support to service members who are medically evacuated as a result of wounds, disease or injury incurred while serving in a combat zone?

A. Med-Evac Pay Support Team

B. Wounded Warrior Pay Support Team

C. Defense Finance and Accounting Service

35. Which factors do not affect military pay and entitlements?

A. Longevity, special pays, annual pay raise, promotions

B. BAS, COLA, BAH

C. They all affect military pay and entitlements

36. When is a DD214 issued to Servicemembers?

A. Upon deployment

B. Upon enlistment into military service

C. Upon separation from military service

37. What should you do if you still need clarification on your Servicemember’s pay issues?

A. Call DFAS 411 or go to

B. Call DFAS 411 or go to

C. Contact the SM’s Commander

38. Military pay offers a plan with tax and savings benefits similar to corporate 401K plans. It is:

A. Military 401K

B. Military Corporate Pay Plan

C. Thrift Savings Plan, TSP

39. Sergeant Spangler will ETS in three months. Will his pay change?

A. Yes

B. No

C. It depends on his next duty station.

40. In what field of the LES will you find the YTD entitlements?

A. Field 77

B. Field 78

C. Field 58

41. Duringtimesof war,theMerchant Marineisclassified aspartoftheuniformedservices andmembersobtainveteranstatus.

A. True

B. False

42. You must havesuitable credit, sufficient income, and a valid Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to be eligible for a VA-guaranteed home loan.

A. True

B. False

43. To obtain a COE, you must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable and meet the service requirements as defined at

A. True

B. False

C. As long as you meet the service requirements, discharge condition doesn’t matter.

44. If you do not meet the minimum service requirements, you may still be eligible if you were discharged due to:

  1. Hardship, certain medical conditions or a service-connected disability
  2. The convenience of the government or reduction-in-force
  3. Both of the above

45. The spouse of a Veteran can also apply for home loan eligibility under certain conditions.

A. True

B. False

46. TheVAFundingFeecanaddsubstantial cost to aVApurchase mortgageUNLESStheveteranhasaservice-relateddisability,inwhichcasethefeecan bewaived initsentirety.

A. True

B. False

47. The guarantee VA provides to lenders allows them to provide you with more favorable terms, including:

  1. No down payment as long as the sales price doesn't exceed the appraised value, and no private mortgage insurance premium requirement.
  2. VA rules limit the amount you can be charged for closing costs, and they may be paid by the seller.
  3. Both of the above

48. Regarding mortgage modifications and scams: The Mortgage Assistance Relief Services (MARS) Rule makes it illegal for companies to collect any fees until a homeowner has actually received an offer of relief from his or her lender and accepted it. That means that the company cannot collect any money until both those things have happened.

A. True

B. False

49. Servicemembers can minimize their credit risk by filing an “active duty alert” or “security freeze” on their credit before they deploy. This ensures that businesses have to verify their identity before they issue credit in the SM’s name, which should help them avoid identity theft.

A. True

B. False

50. The Savings Deposit Program, SDP, is available to those serving in designated combat zones and all overseas bases.

A. True

B. False