BAH Rates Featured Article

DIFFERENT TYPES OF BAH EXPLAINED

Non-locality BAH, or BAH II (RC/T), is one of several types of Basic Housing Allowance. Each created to satisfy a specific housing need for military members in varying situations.

BAH II RESERVE COMPONENT/TRANSIT

Non-locality BAH is BAH-II (RC/T), the housing allowance for members in particular circumstances, for example, reservists on active duty less than 30 days. It also applies when a member is in transit from selected areas where no prior BAH rate existed. It does not vary by geographic location.

BAH-II (RC/T) was set based on the old Basic Allowance for Quarters (BAQ), which was based on the national average for housing. BAH-II is published annually and is determined by increasing the previous year's table by the percentage growth of housing costs.

BAH: WITH and WITHOUT DEPENDENTS

Generally, BAH depends on location, pay grade, and dependents. Usually you receive BAH for where you are assigned, not for where you live. Additionally, you may be entitled to BAH if you live apart from your dependents such as during unaccompanied overseas tours, or if you have a dependent child who lives with a former spouse. There are separate BAH rules addressing these two situations:

• Within the 50 United States, a service member who is not furnished government housing is eligible for Basic Allowance for Housing based on dependency status at the permanent duty ZIP Code.
• A service member stationed overseas, including U.S. protectorates, who is not furnished government housing, is eligible for Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) based on the member's dependency status.
• A service member serving an UNACCOMPANIED overseas tour is eligible for BAH at the "with dependents" rate, based on the dependent's US residence ZIP Code, plus OHA at the "without dependents" rate, if the member is not furnished government housing overseas.
• A member without dependents who is living in government quarters is entitled to a Partial BAH.

BAH-DIFF BASED ON BAH NON-LOCALITY

BAH-DIFF is the housing allowance for service members assigned to single-type quarters who are authorized for BAH because the service member pays child support. BAH-DIFF, as determined by the SECDEF, equals the difference between BAH-II with dependents and BAH-II without dependents, for the member's grade. You are not entitled to BAH-DIFF if the monthly rate of child support is less than the BAH-DIFF.

BAH-Diff is published annually and is determined by increasing the previous year's table by the percentage growth of the military pay raise.