Thoroughly confused? Below is a chart that lists the location rules for various situations. The information from this chart was derived from the Department of Defense (DOD) Pay Regulation, Volume 7A (Active Duty & Reserve Pay), Chapter 26 — Basic Allowance For Housing (BAH).
| Rule | If the military member | and | then the location payable Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is for (see notes 3 and 4) |
| 1 | is assigned to a duty location within the Continental United States | dependents reside with or separately from the member | the members Permanent Duty Station unless member has a Secretarial waiver (see note 1). |
| 2 | is assigned to an unaccompanied tour at a Permanent Duty Station outside the Continental United States | dependents retain their permanent residence in the United States | the area within the United States where the dependents reside beginning on the date the member reports to the new Permanent Duty Station (note 2). |
| 3 | dependents relocate their permanent residence in the United States | the area within the United States where the dependents reside beginning when one or more dependents arrive at the location of the new residence, or when the member reports to the new Permanent Duty Station in connection with the transfer, whenever is later (BAH rate based on old Permanent Duty Station continues through the day before the day the rate applicable for the location of the new permanent residence begins) (note 2). | |
| 4 | dependents relocate their residence while the member is serving an unaccompanied tour | the area within the United States where the dependents reside for the location of the old permanent residence through the day before the day one permanent residence. Entitlement to BAH at the rate applicable to the location of the new permanent residence will begin on the day one armoire dependents arrive at that location. (note 2) | |
| 5 | is assigned to an unaccompanied tour at a Permanent Duty Station outside the Continental United States (does not include Hawaii or Alaska) and the member is required to perform a TDY inside or outside the Continental United States, incident to a transfer to another unaccompanied tour | dependents reside inside the United States | the location of the permanent residence of the dependents (note 2). |
| 6 | is assigned to an unaccompanied tour at a Permanent Duty Station outside the Continental United States (does not include Hawaii or Alaska) and the member is required to perform a TDY incident to a transfer in the United States | the location of the permanent residence of the dependents through the day before the day the member reports to the new Permanent Duty Station. Entitlement to BAH at the rate for the new Permanent Duty Station will begin on the day the member reports at that duty station (note 2). | |
| 7 | is assigned to an unaccompanied tour at a Permanent Duty Station outside the Continental United States (does not include Hawaii or Alaska) | dependents establish a residence in the United States incident to the member’s transfer from a accompanied tour at a Permanent Duty Station outside the United States to an unaccompanied tour | the location where the dependents establish a permanent residence beginning when one or more dependents arrive at the location of the new residence provided all dependents have departed the overseas location (note 2). |
| 8 | is assigned in Alaska | dependents reside in, or during which all dependents return to, one of the other states or the District of Columbia to establish a permanent residence | the location of the permanent residence of the dependents, provided the member is entitled to FSH for during the assignment or following departure of dependents (in such case, the member is entitled to an FSH equal to BAH at the without dependent rate for the Permanent Duty Station, if government quarters are not assigned to the member, and BAH at the with dependent rate for the location of the dependents’ permanent residence). If the member is not entitled to FSH, and not assigned to government quarters the member is entitled to only BAH at the with dependent rate for the Permanent Duty Station. |
| 9 | dependents visit for more than 30 dependents visit for more than 30 continuous days (unless visit is extended because of illness, emergency, or member is entitled to a BAH on behalf of the remaining dependents who are not visiting the member) member’s Permanent Duty Station. | member’s Permanent Duty Station. | |
| 10 | dependents reside in, or return to a designated place as authorized in the JFTR, para U5222 D1, to establish a permanent residence other than in the United States | ||
| 11 | is assigned in Hawaii | dependents reside in, or during which all dependents return to, one of the other states or the District of Columbia to establish a permanent residence | the location of the permanent residence of the dependents, provided the member is entitled to FSH during the assignment or following departure of dependents (in such case, the member is entitled to an FSH equal to BAH at the without dependents rate for the Permanent Duty Station, if government quarters are not assigned to the member, and BAH at the with dependent rate for the location of the dependents’ permanent residence). If the member is not entitled to FSH, and not assigned to government quarters the member is entitled to only BAH at the with dependent rate for the Permanent Duty Station. |
| 12 | dependents visit for more than 30 continuous days (unless visit is extended because of illness, emergency, or member is entitled to a BAH on behalf of the remaining dependents who are not visiting the dependents who are not visiting the member). | member’s Permanent Duty Station. | |
| 13 | dependents reside in, or return to a designated place as authorized in the JFTR, para U5222 D1, to establish a permanent residence other than in the United States | ||
| 14 | is assigned to a ship or afloat unit | the homeport of ship or other afloat unit to which a member is assigned (note 1). | |
| 15 | is in leave status away from Permanent Duty Station awaiting final discharge | incident to a PCS in the United States | old Permanent Duty Station. |
| 16 | is processing for seperation or retirement |
old Permanent Duty Station unless the last Permanent Duty Station was outside the United States, in which case location for the processing station will be used. | |
| 17 | is participating in the Educational Leave Program Relating to Continuing Public and Community Services | the designated unit of assignment during scheduled school breaks or periods of leave (only when member is entitled to BAH). | |
| 18 | was not paid BAH at the old Permanent Duty Station because government quarters were assigned | the old Permanent Duty Station beginning the day the member becomes entitled to BAH and the new Permanent Duty Station the day the member reports to the new Permanent Duty Station (provided the member is entitled to BAH at the new Permanent Duty Station). | |
| 19 | was assigned to a duty location outside the United States | the new Permanent Duty Station on the date the member reports to the new Permanent Duty Station or the date the member reports at the TDY location if member reports there first; or the date the member reports to the TDY location if a new Permanent Duty Station is not named in the orders (provided the member is entitled to BAH at the new Permanent Duty Station). | |
| 20 | was assigned in Alaska or Hawaii | the old Permanent Duty Station until the day before the day the member reports to the new Permanent Duty Station (provided the member is entitled to BAH at the new Permanent Duty Station). | |
| 21 | was assigned in the United States | incident to a PCS in the United States, with a TDY en route to a location to which the member commutes from the permanent quarters that will be occupied at the new Permanent Duty Station | the new Permanent Duty Station on the day per diem has been stopped under the circumstances in the JFTR U5120-D. |
| 22 | in receipt of appropriate orders associated with a prolonged hospitalization determination | member was transferred from a Permanent Duty Station outside or inside the United States to a hospital in the United States for observation or treatment | the location of the hospital to which the member has been transferred. |
| 23 | dies in the line of duty while assigned to a Permanent Duty Station in the United States . | the deceased member’s Permanent Duty Station regardless of where dependents choose to reside (unless dependent’s are in receipt of a Secretarial Waiver) | |
| 24 | dies in the line of duty while assigned to a Permanent Duty Station outside the United States | location where the dependents reside or choose to reside in the United States (if dependents stay overseas their housing allowance will be based on the OHA rate for the location the dependents reside and then revert to BAH at the location where the dependents later decide to reside in the United States, on the date one or more dependents arrive at the location where they choose to reside or the date all dependents have departed the Permanent Duty Station location, whichever is later) (entitlement exists for 180 days after member’s death). | |
| 25 | dies | dependents reside in government quarters | dependents location the day the housing facilities were vacated and continue for 180 days less the number of days the housing facilities were occupied following the date of the member’s death. |
| 26 | is assigned to a duty location within the Continental United States | dependents are evacuated | the member’s Permanent Duty Station (while member’s Permanent Duty Station remains unchanged), if early return of the dependents to the vicinity of the member’s Permanent Duty Station is anticipated; the member continue to maintain family type quarters at personal expense during the absence of the dependents; and the period for which such payment is made does not exceed 6 months (note 5). |
| 27 | member is assigned to a duty location at a Permanent Duty Station outside the Continental United States | command sponsored dependents are residing at a designated place in the 50 United States or the District of Columbia incident to an evacuation | location the dependents name as their designated place beginning on the day after the day on which per diem at the designated place terminates. |
| 28 | is assigned in Alaska or Hawaii and resides in government quarters | dependents reside separately from the member outside Alaska or Hawaii in one of the other states or the District of Columbia | the location of the dependents (note 1). |
| 29 | is newly inducted, enlisted, re-enlisted, , or an officer candidate, attending initial entry training (basic training and technical school). | location of the dependents. |
Oh Yes, there is more.
Notes:
Note 1. A member assigned to a Permanent Duty Station in the United States is entitled to BAH at the rate applicable to the location where their dependents maintain a permanent residence if the Service Secretary, or a designated representative, determines it is necessary for dependents to reside in a military housing area other than the one in which the PSD is located when member is:
(1) assigned to a Permanent Duty Station in an area where sufficient quantities of housing do not exist;
(2) assigned to unusually arduous sea duty and the dependents reside at or relocate to a designated place in the United States;
(3) assigned or is in receipt of PCS orders to a ship entering overhaul involving a homeport change and dependents are not relocated incident to the homeport change;
(4) in receipt of PCS orders to a unit with a promulgated change of homeport and dependents relocate to the announced homeport before the effective date of the homeport (or designated place in the United States if appropriate) before the effective date of the homeport change;
(5) disadvantaged as a result of reassignment for reasons of improving mission capability and readiness of the unit,receipt of PCS orders between duty stations located in the same proximity, and disallowed movement of household goods (see JFTR U5355). (The Secretary concerned or the Secretary’s designated representative must issue a determination that a decision to implement this policy is in the interest of correcting an inequity incurred due to movement of the individual for purposes of improving mission capability and unit readiness), or
(6) assigned to indeterminate temporary duty, or temporary duty pending further orders. In addition to these cases, the Secretary or designated representative may issue a determination if circumstances or conditions at the new Permanent Duty Station require the dependents to reside at a separate location. This determination is made only in cases where the necessity to reside separately is caused by conditions at the duty station. This does not cover a personal election of either a member or dependents as the reason for residing separately.
Note 2. Applicable when dependents reside in, or during which all dependents return to, the United States to establish a permanent residence. None of these conditions are applicable when the dependents’ residence and the member’s new Permanent Duty Station are both in Alaska and Hawaii and the member is not entitled to FSH.
Note 3. A member assigned to a Permanent Duty Station outside the Continental United States and authorized BAH on behalf of dependents residing separately from the member in the United States, is entitled to that allowance through the day before the day one or more command or noncommand sponsored dependents arrive at the member’s overseas location to establish a residence. This does not apply when dependents establish a residence in the vicinity of the member’s Permanent Duty Station outside the Continental United States if the primary residence of the remaining dependents is in the United States and the member is entitled to BAH on behalf of those dependents.
Note 4. In instances of multiple dependent location, the member will designated the primary residence of dependents. Rate for BAH will be based on this primary residence.
Note 5. Commanding officers will review each case on its own merits; they will encourage members to terminate their family-type quarters when it becomes apparent that dependents will not return.
It gets even more complicated. The DOD calculates the BAH based on location so the rate is different in different locations. Click Here for BAH calculation by location.
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