How Does Military to Military BAH Work?
Understand how Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) applies to dual-military couples. Explore the nuances of eligibility and entitlements.
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) provides service members with a non-taxable allowance to help cover housing costs when government-provided housing is not available. For military couples, where both spouses are active-duty service members, understanding how BAH applies becomes more specific, as their joint service status influences the entitlement.
Understanding Basic Allowance for Housing for Military Couples
When both members of a married couple are active-duty service members, BAH rules provide one housing entitlement for their shared household. This approach recognizes the couple as a single economic unit for housing purposes. The senior-ranking service member usually receives BAH at the “with dependents” rate for their shared duty station location. This rate is granted because their spouse is considered a dependent for BAH purposes when they reside together. The junior-ranking service member, residing in the same household, typically does not receive a separate BAH entitlement.
BAH offsets the cost of housing in the local economy, reflecting average rental costs, utility expenses, and renter’s insurance. The allowance is not designed to provide two separate housing subsidies for a single cohabiting military couple.
Factors Determining Mil-to-Mil BAH
The geographic locations of their duty stations significantly influence their entitlement. If both service members are stationed in the same area, they fall under the same BAH rate, which simplifies the calculation. Conversely, if they are assigned to different geographic locations, their BAH entitlements may be calculated separately based on their individual duty station rates.
Dependent status also plays a role in BAH calculations for military couples. While the “with dependents” rate is generally applied to the senior member when they live together, the presence of children can further influence specific scenarios, especially if dependents reside with one parent in a different location. The BAH “with dependents” rate is typically based on the senior member’s eligibility and the location where the dependents reside or where the couple is jointly stationed.
Living arrangements also impact BAH. If one or both service members choose to live in government-provided housing, such as on-base barracks or family housing, their individual BAH entitlement is typically affected or forfeited. A service member residing in government housing generally does not receive BAH, as their housing costs are already covered. If one spouse lives on-base and the other lives off-base, the off-base spouse’s BAH entitlement is determined based on their individual status and location.
The rank and pay grade of each service member are also important considerations. The higher rank often dictates the rate used for the shared household BAH entitlement when the couple resides together. This ensures that the allowance aligns with the housing costs associated with the more senior member’s pay grade.
Specific Scenarios for Military Couples
When both military spouses are stationed together and choose to live off-base without dependents, the senior-ranking member typically receives Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at the “with dependents” rate for their shared duty station location. In this scenario, the junior-ranking service member receives no separate BAH entitlement, as the allowance is provided for the household.
If both service members are stationed together and live off-base with dependents, the senior-ranking member continues to receive BAH at the “with dependents” rate for their duty station. The presence of dependents does not alter the fundamental principle that the household receives one BAH entitlement. The junior-ranking member still receives no separate BAH in this arrangement, as the allowance covers the entire family unit.
When military spouses are stationed separately and do not have dependents, each service member is generally entitled to BAH at the “without dependents” rate for their respective duty station location. This allows each individual to secure housing near their assigned post. The separation of duty stations necessitates individual housing allowances to cover costs in different geographic areas.
For military couples stationed separately with dependents, the member who has physical custody of the dependents or is designated as the primary caretaker typically receives BAH at the “with dependents” rate for the dependent’s location. The other service member receives BAH at the “without dependents” rate for their specific duty station. This ensures the dependents’ housing needs are met while also providing an allowance for the other spouse’s individual housing.
In situations where one spouse lives on-base and the other lives off-base, the service member residing in government-provided housing generally forfeits their Basic Allowance for Housing. The service member living off-base may still receive their individual BAH entitlement, determined by their pay grade, dependent status, and the location of their off-base residence. This arrangement acknowledges that only one spouse requires a housing allowance from the military for off-base living expenses.