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WHY RETIRE IN SAN ANTONIO?

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Retiring from Military…

If you’ve been in San Antonio for any length of time, you’ve probably noticed its strong sense of cultural and patriotic pride. The Alamo City boasts a unique blend of Mexican, Spanish, Texan, and American influence. The heritage and pride of the city is strongly impacted and reinforced by its military-friendly culture. It’s no surprise that military families love their stay in San Antonio...and many of them stick around or return to retire in Bexar County. The numbers don’t lie: almost 50,000 military retirees are currently living in San Antonio!

For years, San Antonio has been nicknamed “Military City USA”. Not only is San Antonio the proud home of Joint Base San Antonio (a conglomerate of three different military installations), but it also boasts numerous military support organizations, veteran resources, and a strong sense of military community. Consequently, on nearly every list we found San Antonio was one of the top cities listed as “military friendly”. The military installations combine to form Joint Base San Antonio, which is made up of Fort Sam Houston, Randolph AFB, and Lackland AFB. The full base employs over 80,000 people, making it one of the largest in the country.

One of the huge perks of military retirement in San Antonio is the widespread availability of military resources. Both on and off-base, service support organizations and squadrons exist almost solely to assist military members, retirees, and their families transition to civilian life and/or take full advantage of military benefits. These perks are totally unique to San Antonio! Just a few of these services are: USAA headquarters, Brooke Army Medical Clinic’s outstanding facility, Office of Military Affairs, the largest chapter of Air Force Association, and Association of USArmy, among others.

One of the biggest reasons why military men and women love the Alamo City is its combination of quality amenities and relatively low cost of living. The level of affordability in the housing market is one big draw...and buying a home is often a priority for former military members, especially considering the high volume of moves made in the past. And to top it off, Texas requires no state income tax on retirement income (pension).

WELCOME TO THE MILITARY AND VETERANS SERVICES CENTER

Physical Address: 1422 E. Grayson St., 4Th Floor, San Antonio, TX. 78207 Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday: 8a - 5p (By Appointment Only)

The Bexar County Military and Veterans Services Center (MVSC) is an advocate agency that provides professional and tailored services to the military and veteran communities throughout the Veteran Cycle. The Bexar County Military and Veterans Services Center takes appointments for benefits counseling and referral services. Contact our office to set up an appointment at 210-335-6775 or by e-mail at Vets@ Bexar.org. For Additonal Information on VA Compensation & Pension, Education, Employment, Housing, Burial Benefits, Homeless Veteran Burial Program, County & Local Resources, State of Texas Benefits, and How to Guides please visit website: https://www.bexar.org/509/Military-andVeterans-Services-Center

VA AID AND ATTENDANCE

https://www.veteranaid.org/veteransassisted-living-san-antonio.php Veteran Senior care is expensive. Veterans benefits may help. What do you know about the VA Aid and Attendance (A&A) pension benefit? Millions of veterans have earned this benefit and it can help them and their families pay for senior care — but many people don’t know about it. When families do find out about the A&A benefit, they sometimes find the VA’s application process and eligibility requirements confusing and difficult. Some mistakenly believe the program is only for combat veterans. Others don’t realize their loved one served during a qualifying time of war, because the VA definition of wartimes extends beyond the dates of conflict. Recipients don’t need to be impoverished to qualify for A&A, either. The VA doesn’t include the value of your car, home or personal effects when it reviews assets and income for eligibility.

Are Aid and Attendance benefits worth the effort to apply?

In many cases, the answer is yes. As of December 2018, a single veteran who qualifies for A&A can receive up to $1,881 per month, a married vet can receive up to $2,230 per month and a surviving spouse can receive up to $1,209 per month to pay for needed care at home, in an assisted living community, memory care or in a nursing home. For many families paying for senior care, this income can make the difference between comfort and hardship.

RETIRING FROM CITY OF SAN ANTONIO:

When you are ready to retire from the City of San Antonio, there are a few things that you will want to do to get the process started: 1. Call the Texas Municipal Retirement

System or TMRS at 1.800.924.8677 to request your personalized retirement estimate. Remember, to be eligible to retire your TMRS account, you need to have five (5) years of service at age 60 or 20 years of service at any age. 2. Call Human Resources Customer

Service at 210.207.8705 to schedule your retirement appointment. 3. Provide your department with your retirement date. This should be done in writing, and you should plan to give at least two weeks’ notice. 4. Contact the Social Security

Administration at www.ssa.gov to find out when you are eligible to apply for Social Security retirement benefits. 5. Reach out to your Mission Square

Retirement (formerly known as ICMA-RC) or Nationwide

Retirement Solutions representative if you contribute to one of the City’s 457 (Deferred Compensation) plans.

SAN ANTONIO AREA RETIREMENT LIVING FAQ’S

Where do retirees live in San Antonio?

Popular Neighborhoods for Retirement in San Antonio • River North. Retirement can be enjoyed in one of San Antonio’s most popular and bustling districts • The Dominion • Cordillera Ranch • Hollywood Park • Olmos Park • Alamo Heights

Is San Antonio expensive to live in?

Although San Antonio isn’t a small city, it’s usually compared to its big city siblings Dallas, Houston, and Austin, which can be more expensive. Comparatively, the San Antonio cost of living is much lower—12% lower than the national average, actually.

Is San Antonio a Safe place to live?

According to statistics recently released by the FBI, San Antonio had the 38th highest Violent Crime rate in the country in 2019, 707.50 incidents per 100,000 residents. It also ranked 19th for Property Crime rate in the country, 4,844.84 per 100,000 residents.

Why are houses in San Antonio so cheap?

This thriving job market allows more renters to become homeowners, further fueling growth in the San Antonio real estate market. Though San Antonio is a metropolitan area, the cost of living is extremely affordable. ... Low cost of living and a rising economy make San Antonio a very attractive place to buy a home.

Is it worth moving to San Antonio?

San Antonio has an unemployment rate below the national average and the state average. This thriving city saw job growth of about 3% from 2016 to 2017 (approximately 30,000 more jobs added), which is higher than other Texas cities. For Millennials looking for a job and affordable housing, San Antonio is a great option.

How much do you need to make a comfortable living in San Antonio?

The median household income in a city certainly helps gauge the cost of living. The median household income in San Antonio is $52,455, which is 15% less than that of the state. The median income for an individual is $30,031, which is 10% less than that of the state.

Is San Antonio Dry or Humid?

In San Antonio Texas, the wet season is overcast, the dry season is partly cloudy, and it is warm year round. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 44°F to 89°F and is rarely below 38°F or above 94°F.

What is the hottest month in San Antonio?

August! The hottest month of the year in San Antonio is August, with an average high of 95°F and low of 75°F. The cool season lasts for 2.8 months, from November 27 to February 20, with an average daily high temperature below 70°F.

What is San Antonio like in the winter?

Winter in San Antonio is generally short and very mild, with average temperatures in January reaching 63° for a high and 41° for a low. January is typically the coldest month of the year. December temperatures are similar, with an average high of 64° and a low of 42°.

Does San Antonio get Hurricanes?

Hurricanes can hit the gulf coast but San Antonio is well inland, 120 miles or so. Any hurricanes would only affect San Antonio in terms of rain but obviously no storm surge or heavy winds that far inland.

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