Do You Get BAH in Basic Training If You’re Married?
Understand how military housing allowances apply to married service members in basic training. Gain insight into securing this vital financial support for your dependents.
Military compensation includes various allowances that provide financial support to service members and their families. These allowances supplement basic pay, helping to address specific living costs. The Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) assists service members with their housing expenses. Understanding how BAH works is important for military financial planning.
Understanding Basic Allowance for Housing
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) provides U.S. uniformed service members with housing compensation. Its purpose is to help offset housing costs in local civilian markets when government-provided housing is not available. BAH is not considered taxable pay.
The amount of BAH a service member receives is influenced by their pay grade, the geographic location of their duty station, and whether they have dependents. BAH rates are reviewed and released annually, typically in mid-December.
BAH Eligibility for Married Service Members in Basic Training
Married service members are generally eligible to receive Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) even while attending basic training. This allowance helps cover housing costs for their dependents. BAH for married recruits during basic training is typically based on the service member’s rank and the ZIP code where their dependents reside.
Service members without dependents generally do not receive BAH during basic training, as housing is provided in the barracks. To qualify for BAH with dependents, a service member must have bonafide dependents, such as a spouse, children, or sometimes parents. The dependent must not be living in government-provided housing. If a service member has dependents, they typically start receiving BAH sooner during their training compared to those without dependents.
How BAH is Determined and Paid
Once eligibility for Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is established, the specific amount is determined by the service member’s pay grade, the geographic location of their dependents, and their dependent status. Higher pay grades generally correlate with higher BAH payments, and rates are also higher in areas with a greater cost of living.
An online BAH calculator is available through the Defense Travel Management Office to look up specific rates by rank, location, and dependent status. BAH is typically paid monthly, often split between two paychecks, and is deposited directly into the service member’s account.
Essential Steps for Receiving BAH
To ensure a married recruit receives Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), specific administrative steps and documentation are necessary. A primary step involves enrolling the spouse and any children in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). This system is crucial for verifying dependent status and eligibility for various military benefits.
The service member must provide supporting documents, including a marriage certificate, the spouse’s birth certificate, and the spouse’s Social Security card to enroll them in DEERS. These documents are necessary for BAH determination. Completing these steps promptly helps ensure that BAH payments are initiated without unnecessary delays.