Ok, this is really a question for Dave or Retired CC as they know pretty much everything and I really am looking for facts and not feelings.

That being said, I saw a post on facebook by the IAVA that stated that a vet could not collect a housing allowance if he/she was married to an AD member and that member was collecting BAH. I looked high and low on the net to find an answer to this, but everyone had a different opinion.

I am currently recieving the full living stipend (completed 7 honorable years post 9/11), but will be marrying my girlfriend of 4 years next week. In 6 months she will be getting her comission into the medical corps of the air force, and there lies the problem.

According to the vast knowledge of the internet one of three things could happen.
1)No "BAH" for me because it would be double dipping.
2) She would only be able to get single BAH as I would be recieving "dependent BAH"
3) The programs are unrelated and I will get my "BAH" and she will get dependent BAH.

But the VA doesn't say one way or another. This "BAH" is a big deal to me, it will make up $52,000 or so.

Thanks, and if you are not Dave or RCC, but know what you are taking about, your help would be good to hear too.

The programs are unrelated. You are not a member of the Armed Forces on Active Duty. It is not BAH. It is a VA housing allowance that uses E-5 BAH for the area, so that the VA did not have to set their own housing allowance scale. Unlike several other discussion here, I do not see it as double dipping. You are not being paid twice for the same thing. The rule that precludes AD members from receiving the housing allowance, is that the military is paying them for housing already.

I hope that RCC and Ken will chime in, saying if I am right or wrong.

Whether the Active Duty service member is collecting BAH or not has nothing to do with anything Because VA does not pay BAH - VA pays a Housing Allowance based on the E5 with dependent rate. I just luv the confusion and rumors floating around about this and had one veteran ask if he could turn down the monthly Housing Allowance and take on-post housing instead. lol

The spouse of an Active Duty service member WHO is using benefit tranfered under the Post 9/11 GI Bill receives the exact same benefits as if the Active Duty soldier was using the benefit themselves. Active Duty soldiers - whether they are using the Post 9/11 GI Bill or the Montgomery GI Bill are only authorized tuition and fees charges by the school and nothing else - no book stipend - no housing allowance.

The spouse of an Active Duty service member who is also a veteran and using benefits they earned by their service in the military will receive (if otherwise eligible) the monthly Housing Allowance.

Please inform everyone on that other site that ONLY the branches of Department of Defense pay BAH - VA is not a branch of Dept. of Defense and does not pay BAH.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave_M:
The programs are unrelated. You are not a member of the Armed Forces on Active Duty. It is not BAH. It is a VA housing allowance that uses E-5 BAH for the area, so that the VA did not have to set their own housing allowance scale. Unlike several other discussion here, I do not see it as double dipping. You are not being paid twice for the same thing. The rule that precludes AD members from receiving the housing allowance, is that the military is paying them for housing already.

I hope that RCC and Ken will chime in, saying if I am right or wrong.

ding dong - is that a good chime sound, lol.

The AD members are only authorized the payment of tution and fees - same as they get under MGIB or if they use TA - it's the way the law is written and has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not they are drawing or eligible to draw BAH of any kind. Hell, if Post 9/11 paid the book stipend and housing allowance to AD - no one would use TA until they had used up their Post 9/11 GI benefits - I think that is why both TA, MGIB and Post 9/11 only pay the exact amount of the tution/fees charged.

Cool, thanks Dave and RCC. You guys again put me at ease about the unclear. If my AD CCC's would have been as helpful and genuine as you are I might have made the .mil a career.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: phx223,

Well now, Dave and RCC once again beat me to the punch...you guys never let me have any fun.

I am a Navy retiree spouse. If I use my husbands GI bill, do I get BAH, or just the tuition and book coverage?

If your husband is on Active Duty and your using his GI Bill - you only get the Book Stipend and Tuition paid to the school.

And as was said above - VA DOES NOT PAY BAH!!!!

Did you read the above two year old post that you replied to?