Do Dual Military Couples Both Get BAH?

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) provides a non-taxable allowance for military members to help offset housing costs. This benefit allows service members to secure off-base residences. The allowance amount is determined by the service member’s duty station, pay grade, and dependent status. Understanding how BAH applies to different situations is important for military personnel managing their finances.

Basic Allowance for Housing Overview

Basic Allowance for Housing is a monthly payment provided to military members who do not reside in government-owned housing. This allowance covers a portion of their off-base housing expenses, including rent and utilities. BAH is not considered taxable income. The specific amount an individual receives depends on their geographic duty station, pay grade or rank, and dependent status. BAH rates are established annually by surveying local housing markets to reflect current rental costs and average utility expenses.

BAH Entitlement for Married Service Members

When a service member is married, their Basic Allowance for Housing entitlement generally reflects the presence of dependents. A married service member living off-base typically receives BAH at the “with dependents” rate, which is higher than the “without dependents” rate. This applies whether the spouse is a civilian or also serves in the military, provided they reside together. BAH aims to cover housing costs for a single household.

If both spouses are service members and live together, only one receives BAH at the “with dependents” rate. The other service member receives BAH at the “without dependents” rate. This prevents duplicating benefits for the same household. The higher-ranking individual often receives the “with dependents” rate, or spouses can mutually agree.

Addressing Dual Military BAH Eligibility

Dual military couples, where both spouses are active-duty service members, have specific Basic Allowance for Housing eligibility rules. If a dual military couple is married and lives together, generally only one service member receives BAH at the “with dependents” rate. The other spouse typically receives BAH at the “without dependents” rate, even if they share the same residence. This supports a single household’s housing costs.

However, both members of a dual military couple can receive BAH if they are geographically separated due to military orders. This includes different permanent change of station (PCS) locations, deployments, or temporary duty (TDY) for more than 30 days. Each service member typically receives BAH based on their individual duty station and dependent status. This also applies if dependents reside solely with one service member due to unaccompanied orders.

When dual military members are geographically separated, they generally receive BAH at the “without dependents” rate for their locations. An exception occurs if one service member is supporting dependents at their location. In that circumstance, the service member with dependents receives the “with dependents” rate for that location. Military policy aims to provide housing support commensurate with actual housing needs and family arrangements.

Calculating BAH for Dual Military Couples

The calculation of Basic Allowance for Housing for dual military couples depends on their living arrangements and dependent status. BAH rates are determined by the duty station’s geographic location, the service member’s pay grade, and dependent status. These factors influence the specific monthly allowance. The Department of Defense provides an online BAH calculator that allows service members to estimate their potential housing allowance based on these criteria.

For dual military couples living together with dependents, the service member designated to receive the “with dependents” rate will have their BAH calculated based on their pay grade and duty station’s location. The other spouse will receive BAH at the “without dependents” rate, corresponding to their own pay grade and duty station. If no dependents are in the household, both service members typically receive BAH at the “without dependents” rate for their individual pay grade and duty station.

When dual military spouses are geographically separated by military orders and both are eligible for BAH, each service member’s allowance is calculated independently. Each spouse receives BAH based on their own pay grade and the housing costs associated with their respective duty station. Unless one spouse is supporting dependents at their location, both separated members usually receive the “without dependents” rate.