Laws Protect Military Personnel From Financial Hardship
SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Sept. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- National Guard members and military reservists who are called up for active duty can face uncertainty about such home front issues as keeping their jobs, credit obligations, taxes, and other financial matters.
The Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) has compiled information about state and federal laws that protect military service people from financial hardship. The information is available at the ISBA Web site -- www.isba.org -- and is also being published in a print brochure entitled ``Called to Duty.'' Brochures are being provided to the American Red Cross and to individual Guard and Reserve units.
Included is information about the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act (SSCRA), a federal law providing relief in the areas of loan rate reduction, ending a lease, eviction, mortgage foreclosure prevention, installment credit, contract fines and penalties, advance court protection, property taxes, income taxes, and life insurance. There also are provisions that can help if service personnel are involved in a lawsuit or other court action.
The information also spells out Guard and Reserve members' rights to return to their civilian jobs after service.
``Many of the protections available must be requested by service people -- they don't automatically apply,'' said Tim Eaton of Chicago, president of the Illinois State Bar Association. ``We think it is important that our service people, who are being asked to make personal sacrifices, know their legal rights.''
The 35,000-member ISBA, with offices in Springfield and Chicago, provides professional services to Illinois lawyers, and education and services to the public.
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