My name is Abel and i just separated from the Active duty Army. My wife is in the Active Coast Guard. I am currently residing in Florida where I have started working for the state and my son is registered for school. My wife is currently stationed in Va. I would like to know if my wife is entitled to BAH when:
1. She is in the barracks 2. I am not on active duty eff: 28Jul07 getting BAH 3. We are not moving to her duty station.
I will not be moving to Va because my son is in school and I have started working already. The YN2 at my wife duty location has stated that she can not get BAH because she is in the Barracks. Correct me if I am wrong but I thought BAH is for dependents not the service member. Also I have checked the Pay Manual and I think it say she is in ch3, sec E, para 1, sub para C. PLEASE HELP.
Your spouse should still be getting the BAH with dependents rate if you are no longer active and are considered a dependent. She is in a geo-bachelorette status but doesn't lose her entitlement to house her dependents if the UPH manager is willing to house her. However, the UPH manager is not required to provide her a room in the barracks. She can stay there on a space available basis. If the UPH manager needs a room for a single person, your spouse will need to vacate the UPH and seek quarters on her own.
btw... look closer at subpara b instead: "Adequate government quarters are not furnished for the member's dependents,...."
This is where I guess the army and the coast guard differ. The army has rooms or barracks specifically designated for geo bachelors. Thank-you for clarification.
The reason I am asking is because Im fixing to be in this situation, I will be in San Diego, but wife (civilian) is relocating to Las Vegas. Trying to figure out will I get BAH at the San Diego rate / Las Vegas rate. Currently reading JFTR on my mid-watch, it's not helping me much. Thanks in advance for any responses.
Normally members receive BAH at the rate for the unit location. Under certain circumstances the member can receive BAH at the rate of the dependents' location. It should be in the Pay Manual, not sure where since I am not at work. There is also a worksheet that is used to request BAH rate protection and I believe that it can also be used to request to receive BAH at your dependents' location. (Again, not exactly sure since I'm at home.)
Radio - check the Pay Manual, and then look on PSC's website for the BAH protection worksheet. I'll be back to work on Monday if you still need help finding it you can email me. I'm in the global and don't hide here.
I found the answer, I do get the BAH rate at my location. That's what I wanted to hear, since BAH is higher in San Diego, this will help my commute to Vegas on weekends.
I will post the answer I found just in case someobdy else ask the same question. Thanks for the responses.
Geographically separated families (geographic bachelors) are normally eligible for BAH based on the member’s duty station. Each Service budgets for support of a certain number of members and families at each location. If a growing number of people decide to leave their families in Washington, or Tampa while the member PCSs to Mt Home or Ft. Hood that could skew the budget and service support planning for these locations. Also, a fundamental philosophy of military service is that members, with their families, create a better work environment and esprit de corps when they can be active participants in the local base and community. In certain circumstances, with specific approval of the Secretary of the Service concerned, a member may be granted an exception to receive BAH based on the dependent's location. For example if a member has a sick child that requires medical attention only available in a certain location (say Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC), and the member receives a PCS order, the member might leave the family in Washington and request BAH eligibility for that location. Such exceptions do not ordinarily apply to spousal employment or other personal choices.
Radio777: We've been told the opposite. Where did you find this information? I would like to be able to reference it as we were told something quite different.
My husband is transferring to CA a year ahead of the family (senior stabilization issue). BAH is more in CA but we were told that the BAH would be what he is eligible for here in VA. He will have to live in the CA barracks for a year and eat out on the town at his own expense (no mess avail). The separation, although important to us as a family, is a personal choice from the Navy's viewpoint. So, even though my husband wants this assignment,... we had understood that we'd be footing the bill for the added cost of the separation.
However, if what you found is still valid, then perhaps things we were given incorrect or outdated information. Looking forward to finding this in print... Thank you. K
