Can a service member who arrives at a new assignment early apply for BAH before signing in to the reception battalion?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 17:06:35 -0500

For house hunting purposes. Planning on getting our home before we sign in to our unit. Arriving a month early.

Response by CA Delete D. made Jan 5 at 2018 5:41 PM

CA Delete D. — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 17:41:30 -0500

Depends. Hpefully administrative staff is available to process the chit. In my experience, shit moves slow around and post holidays. You will want to contact your LPO for further instruction. I tranferred to Monterey in DEC2007 for training in CA and found out real quick I was on my own for lodging (I was a fleet returnee.....not a nube from basic training). Basically, I got reimbursed for some hotel stays at the cheapest rate possible and had to find housing off base (they only maintaines barracks for nubes.....not fleet returnees). Was rough.....whatever you had after transferring from VA to CA to pay rent and deposit. Hopefully, you stowed some cash.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2018 6:33 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 18:33:46 -0500

SSG Scheil you will get the previous station BAH until the date you sign in meaning when you process finance they ask for your DA-31 to see when you signed in. Let say you sign in Feb 1st you will start receiving BAH from that date onward. My recommendation would be to sign in and get you 10-day permissive TDY if the new location's BAH is higher than the other location you coming from.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Jan 5 at 2018 6:36 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 18:36:58 -0500

You have BAH from previous location?

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Jan 5 at 2018 6:39 PM

LTC Kevin B. — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 18:39:39 -0500

No. You're not "at" the new assignment until you sign in at the new assignment. I've signed in and back out on leave before, but that takes some advanced coordination with your gaining unit. That approach might help serve the same purpose.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2018 4:17 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 04:17:01 -0500

SFC Private RallyPoint Member if you are signing in to housing within the authorized early report date of your PCS orders, then finance can start your BAH at the new location rate. Coming from overseas, you will receive BAH-T (transient) rate from the day you depart the OCONUS location until your are arrived at your new duty location. There is a Secretarial waiver you can attempt to process but it can take some time and you will pay out of pocket until it is approved. If approved the BAH is back dated. Additionally, if you PCS move was for professional education and the Army school is for more than 20 weeks, then there is a different Army G1 waiver for BAH that you apply for. What your orders state also play a role. This is the general advice I can give without more details. If you would like to contact me, I might be able to further assist. I’m on the global, the only SFC Joseph Benavidez.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2018 4:54 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 04:54:29 -0500

I lost out on some serious money for doing this because I was coming back from Korea. School aged child and arrived a few days before school started. Needless to say my first paycheck was only 45 bucks. I was on leave for the entire month of September but signed for my home last day of August. Didn’t do my due diligence and Corvias took all my money. DC living sux

Response by SGM Joel Cook made Jan 8 at 2018 2:33 AM

SGM Joel Cook — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 02:33:13 -0500

Why not get house hunting permissive TDY on your DA Form 31 from your losing unit before you leave? That is what it is designed for! Use caution some hard duty stations like Fort Drum, NY have specific local regulations forcing you to sign in first before housing will allow you to sign a lease. I learned that the hard way. That Command wants you to live where it is most beneficial to that Command for on call alert status. They will force your hand in a minute if you break local housing regs. Good luck in the house hunting.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2018 2:34 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 02:34:32 -0500

Yes you can apply for housing at your old duty station before you leave