Justice Department Releases New Resources to Protect Servicemembers’ Rights
The U.S. Department of Justice has released two fact sheets to help servicemembers, recent veterans, and their spouses understand and assert their rights under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).
The first fact sheet explains how eligible individuals can request the six percent interest rate cap on certain debts, a key benefit under the SCRA. The second sheet highlights commonly available SCRA protections, including those related to housing, lending, property, and professional license portability.
“Servicemembers make great sacrifices to protect and advance our nation’s safety,” stated Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that servicemembers are afforded their rights and benefits under the law.”
The SCRA was enacted to ensure that servicemembers can devote their full attention to the defense needs of the nation without being burdened by legal or financial concerns. According to the DOJ, when servicemembers cannot focus on their mission because they are distracted by financial issues, our national security suffers. These new fact sheets aim to empower servicemembers to actively assert their rights under the SCRA by clarifying the scope and application of key protections.
The department also emphasized that the six percent interest rate benefit will help more servicemembers, especially members of the National Guard and Reserves, helping them pursue reductions in interest rates on eligible accounts during periods of active duty.
The Servicemember and Veterans Initiative, housed in the Department’s Civil Rights Division, plays a key role in ensuring that the rights of our nation’s military members and veterans are protected from discrimination and unfair treatment.
Since 2011, the Justice Department’s enforcement of the SCRA has resulted in more than $481 million in monetary relief for over 147,000 servicemembers, underscoring its ongoing commitment to protecting the military community.
Servicemembers and their dependents who believe their rights under the SCRA have been violated are encouraged to contact their nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office, which can be located at legalassistance.law.af.mil. Additional resources are available at servicemembers.gov.
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