What it is
FSA pays members with dependents who are separated from their family for more than 30 days because of military orders: a deployment, an unaccompanied tour, or extended TDY. It exists to offset the extra costs of running two households.
2026 rate
$250 per month, prorated for partial months after the first 30 days.
What goes wrong
FSA routinely starts late because it requires a form (DD 1561) after day 30. If you deployed more than a month ago, have dependents, and there is no FSA line, chase it. It back-pays to day one of the separation once approved.