OK HERE IS MY QUESTION, BAH DIFF IS FOR THOSE OF US WITH COURT ORDERED CHILD SUPPORT ACCORDING TO THE MANUALS. WITH THAT BEING SAID IF YOU GET REMARRIED AND LIVE IN GOV HOUSING YOU SHOULD STILL GET BAH DIFF(THE AMOUNT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WITH AND WITHOUT) SOLEY FOR COURT ORDERED CHILD SUPPORT????? ALL THE MANUALS I DUG UP STATED NOTHING ABOUT GETTING REMARRIED DISQUALIFIES YOU FOR DIFF. THE REASON I'M ASKING IS A SHIPMATE OF MINE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF DIFF AND COME TO FIND OUT THE CG SHOULD OWE HIM DIFF FOR THE PAST 6 YEARS
($30,000)anD SOMEONE IN THE ERROR CHAIN SAID BECAUSE HE IS MARRIED HE DOESN'T GET IT? UNLESS IT IS IN A MANUAL SOMEWHERE MAYBE SOMEONE IS MAKING POLICIES UP OUT OF THIN AIR.

Wow - that's a tough one. Don't knwo the policy, but happy to make a common sense remark.

As a single person, they would not be in family housing. They would be getting PART of their BAH 'in kind' and the rest of it in cash (DIFF). When they move in to familiy housing, they are now getting all of their BAH 'in kind.' Doesn't seem reasonable that they would still get it. Supporting a child is what you get base pay for in any other case. If the member CHOOSE to complicate their dependency situation, then that is would seem to be a financial decision they made....

Would be interesting to see what the actual policy is for sure........

From Defense Link http://www.defenselink.mil/militarypay/pay/bah/02_types.html


"BAH-DIFF is the housing allowance amount for a member who is assigned to single-type quarters and who is authorized a basic allowance for housing solely by reason of the member's payment of child support. A member is not entitled to BAH-DIFF if the monthly rate of that child support is less than the BAH-DIFF. "

Based on that definition I would say that someone in family quarters would NOT be authorized BAH-Diff

I am in that same situation and the answer is no. We are not authorized BAH Diff.
Larry

THANX TO ALL WHO REPLIED, EVEN SOME YEOMANS COULDN'T GIVE ME A STRAIGHT ANSWER. SO AFTER SOME MORE RESEARCH HERE IS THE SKINNY ON BAH-DIFF............
BAH Differential (BAH-DIFF) – BAH-DIFF is the housing allowance amount for a member
who is authorized a basic allowance for housing solely by reason of the member’s payment of
child support. A member is not entitled to BAH-DIFF if the monthly rate of that child
support is less than the BAH-DIFF amount for their respective pay grade. See figure 3-9.
CH-3 3-54
b. BAH may not be paid on behalf of a child to both the step-parent and the natural parent at the
same time. The natural parent has priority to BAH on behalf of that child if providing
adequate support.
8. Child Living With Former Spouse-Member Remarries.
a. Section 3-E-1 does not apply in the case of a member who is required to support a child in the
custody of a former spouse when the member remarries and is assigned to or occupies
government family quarters. The member is not entitled to BAH on behalf of the child living
with the former spouse. This rule also applies when, upon remarriage, the member marries a
member.
b. If a member is required to support a child in the custody of a former spouse and the noncustodial
parent marries another member and children are born of this marriage, and the
member paying child support vacates government family quarters on PCS assignment with
quarters being reassigned to the new spouse, the member reassigned PCS is entitled to BAH
on behalf of the child(ren) of the former marriage.
9. Child(ren) Living With Former Spouse or Estranged Spouse Who Is Member Assigned Family
Quarters. When the member parent having custody of the child(ren) is assigned to, or occupies,
adequate family-type quarters with the child(ren) while receiving child support, the member parent
paying child support is not entitled to BAH on behalf of the child(ren).
10. Child Living With Former or Estranged Spouse in Family Quarters Visits Member. When a
child(ren) who normally resides in government family quarters with a member’s former or
estranged spouse (custodial parent) visits the member in private quarters for more than 90 days,
the visit is considered non-temporary and the member is entitled to BAH on behalf of the
child(ren) from the first day of the visit. If the visit is 90 days or less, BAH on behalf of the
child(ren) is not payable for any part of the visit.
11. Adopted, Illegitimate, and Step-Children. Adopted children, illegitimate children, and stepchild(
ren) are primary dependents. In fact dependency is no longer required for these dependents.
a. Proof of Parentage. A member who claims BAH on behalf of an adopted child, step-child, or
a child born out of wedlock (parents are not married to each other at the time of the child’s
birth) must provide proof of parentage as follows:
(1) for an adopted child, document showing the member is the child’s legal parent.
(2) for a step-child, a marriage license showing the member is married to the child’s legal
parent and documentation showing that the member’s spouse is the parent of the child.
(3) For a child born out of wedlock, a birth certificate with the member’s name cited is
required. If the member’s name is not stated on the birth certificate, or a court-order,
obtain a signed statement of parentage from the member. If the illegitimate child(ren) is
(are) not in the custody of the member parent, the case is treated in accordance with the
rules for BAH-DIFF. The same rules apply when applicable to a member-mother not
having custody.
CH-3-55 3
(4) Support Requirements. A member-parent may claim a dependent child(ren) adopted
children, illegitimate children, and step-child(ren) for BAH purposes. Proof of support for
dependents is generally not required. The provisions of section 3-F-5.a. will be applied.
The member is entitled to BAH if the member contributes to the support of the dependent(s)
and that support is not less than the BAH-DIFF. This includes members entitled to
BAH-DIFF and members assigned to single type quarters when the child(ren) is in the
physical custody of another person.