Are dual military both entitled to Family Separation Allowance (FSA)?

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 18:00:54 -0500

I am currently TDY (retraining to a different career field, will be here a total of 52 days) and my husband deployed a day after I left. Are we both entitled to Family Separation Allowance? I've heard a few different things (e.g. only the higher-ranking will get FSA, both members will get FSA, etc) and would just like some clarification or hear about cases people have gone through that are similar.
Side note: I will also PCS to a new base while he is still deployed, and he will have to return to the same duty location he departed from to out-process and then join me.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Jan 12 at 2016 6:03 PM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 18:03:23 -0500

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member I would check with your personnel unit branch or JAG to ensure of said benefit.

Response by SSgt Mike Hogan made Jan 12 at 2016 6:13 PM

SSgt Mike Hogan — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 18:13:39 -0500

Don't have any info for you. Just wanted to say thank you to both you and your husband. My son deploys Thursday leaving behind wife and kid. Be strong and you two will be together again soon.

Response by TSgt Gwen Walcott made Jan 12 at 2016 6:38 PM

TSgt Gwen Walcott — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 18:38:50 -0500

Dunno if this provides any initial clarity or not, but FWIW:

http://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/payentitlements/fsa.html

... You are on temporary duty (TDY) (or temporary additional duty) away from the permanent station continuously for more than 30 days, and your dependents are not residing at or near the TDY station. ...

Family Separation Allowance

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Jan 12 at 2016 6:57 PM

LTC Yinon Weiss — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 18:57:25 -0500

The answer is yes, you are both entitled to FSA if you have other dependents like children. If you are only married to each other then only one may receive FSA even if both deployed. This is outlined in DoD Directive 1340.24 section 2.2.f: http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/134024p.pdf

Also, more common language offered on one of the Army sites, which doesn't seem to outline a requirement for additional dependents:

"Effective October 1, 2008, FSA is also payable to both members of dual military couples (both are military servicemembers) when they reside together immediately before both being assigned to duty assignments that meet any of the conditions described below. The dual allowance continues as long as both members are in those assignments. When one of the members is no longer assigned to the FSA-qualified duty assignment, the other member continues to receive a single allowance until that member is also no longer in that qualifying assignment."
Source: http://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Home/Benefit_Library/Federal_Benefits_Page/Family_Separation_Allowance_(FSA)_.html?serv=149

Response by SSgt Jamie Ritter LeBlanc made Jan 12 at 2016 7:30 PM

SSgt Jamie Ritter LeBlanc — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 19:30:40 -0500

Hope this helps but eons ago in 2004 both my husband and I both received FSA, he was deployed and I was TDY for six weeks.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2016 9:41 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 09:41:54 -0500

Nope. Once one of you is gone, you are both separated. I asked the same question when I was early in my career. My ex-wife is in and my wife was. Dual family separation would have been nice though.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2016 9:17 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 09:17:47 -0500

You both get FSA but only if you are not at your home of station and have other dependents.

Otherwise if you have not additional dependents it will work like this:

If both away from home station only higher ranking with get
If only one away from home station they will get regardless of rank.

Least that's how it worked with me and my wife. (She did not get FSA because I was deployed and she was home......but when were both gone TDY she got it cause she was higher rank)

Also how it works for my son and his wife......they each get FSA if they both away from home station but only the one deployed gets FSA if the other is at home station...they have no dependents

Anyway

Best answer is to check with finance.

Hope this helps.

Response by Maj Marty Hogan made Jan 19 at 2016 7:50 AM

Maj Marty Hogan — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 07:50:43 -0500

Just call your pay office. I have been out of mil pay for 3 years and can't quote the reg. Never ask someone that does not do the job. You get bad advice that way. That is what we pay FM for.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2016 2:00 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 14:00:55 -0500

These forums are great! But I also urge to take some time to do the research on your own. Google is yoru friend now a days, it's pretty easy to find the AFI or the direvtive that pertains to your question, not matter what the question is. Especially when it comes to ones paycheck or entitlement! What the Maj is stating below seems to be the most current, but again you are relying on someone else's knowledge. You will grow yourself and possibly be able to help another airmen more if you do the research yourself.

Like some have mentioned down below, you both are entiled but only if you have children, if it's just you and your spouse you only recieve it once. Also because it's a TDY not a PCS you will recieve FSA II. You can look that up too.