Since the new BAH rates came out I have had a question that no one seems to know the "for sure" answer on. Here it is...

I'm on recruiting and live in an area where the BAH rate unfortunately went down. I'm also a newly promoted Chief and will not start getting paid until next calander year.

According to the press release by Susan Brumbaugh, director of Defense Department BAH Program, "all service members have BAH rate protection. As long as a service member isn’t demoted or doesn’t change dependency status, his or her rate will stay unchanged on Jan. 1 if the new BAH rate for that location declines (www.navytimes.com)." It states if someone is demoted, but doesn't say if someone is promoted.

My concern is that I am not getting paid for Chief yet and will not be until the next calendar year. When my pay officially kicks in what is going to happen to my BAH at that time? Will it stay at the current rate for 2008 under this "protection" or go to the rate for 2009? I should still fall under that protection regardless of change in my rank status. Correct?

Any help on this one would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

hmm.. I DO know that if you change duty stations( even if you do not actually move) you WILL receive the lower BAH rate. I would assume you would get the new E7 BAH rate under that logic. But Logic plus Military don't always make for pleasant bedfellows...so who knows.

First off Chief Select, let me congradulate you on your promotion.
Let's assume that your BAH right now (2008) as an E-6 is $1233....
And E-7 BAN is $1247....
In 2009 E-6 BAH drops to $1110...
And E-7 drops to $1128.
Since the 2009 E-7 BAH is lower than the 2008 E-6 rate (what you are currently drawing now) and you can not be paid at the E-6 rate as an E-7, you will be rate protected to the 2008 E-7 rate of $1247.