How can I determine if I will receive BAH if my spouse and I are stationed apart?

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 17:24:30 -0500

INFO:
My situation is a little interesting, and I've been having trouble finding the right answer. I've been married since July of this year by Dual Proxy. I met my wife in Korea, but at the time she was my girlfriend. I PCSd to the States, and we decided to get married using Dual Proxy so that she didn't have to make the expensive trip to the States. I have been trying to get BAH rolling in and have the paperwork necessary to get it submitted. We are both currently in barracks at appropriate duty stations. She will be going to OCS in a couple months TDY, so we will not be able to live at the same duty station until she is completed with schooling then PCSs. I am a little familiar with the term Geo-baching, but I don't know if my wife and I would fall into that category due to the fact that we have not lived together, married, in the same duty station.

QUESTION:
My question is will I and/or my spouse be able to receive BAH even though we are currently not stationed together?

Any information from Army doctrine and/or personal experience would be greatly appreciated!

Response by SP5 Peter Keane made Dec 6 at 2022 6:11 PM

SP5 Peter Keane — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 18:11:54 -0500

From the Defense pay webpage : A member with permanent duty within the 50 United States, who is not furnished government housing,

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2022 6:44 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 18:44:27 -0500

Contact one of these three gentlemen... they are very knowledgeable in Military related questions/issues.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2022 8:10 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 20:10:06 -0500

You should be able to receive BAH of some sort. However, the issue is even though you are married....are you currently living in the barracks? Check this website out for further details. However, I recommend you seek out your Finance Office to get better clarification

https://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Benefit-Library/Federal-Benefits/Basic-Allowance-for-Housing-(BAH)?serv=122

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) provides uniformed Service members equitable housing compensation based on housing costs in local housing markets when government quarters are not provided.

Response by COL Randall C. made Dec 6 at 2022 8:51 PM

COL Randall C. — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 20:51:13 -0500

CPL Private RallyPoint Member, not sure why you've been having trouble finding the right answer. The whole dual proxy is a bit of a red herring as it has no bearing on your status.

The good news - You're a dual-military couple who live in the barracks. As such, you're both entitled to BAH, but because you're living in government provided quarters, it's only Partial BAH.*

The bad news - Partial BAH rates are extremely low. It amounts for you to about a Starbucks a month (An E-4 gets $8.10/month ... and it only goes up a bit from there - even an E-9 only gets $18.60 a month)*
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* Joint Travel Regulation - VOL &A, Chap 26, Section 5.3 --- Read Table 26-14
* BAH Rates - Partial BAH rates listed - https://themilitarywallet.com/non-locality-bah-rates/

2022 - 2023 Non-Locality BAH Rates: BAH Type II, Partial BAH and BAH Differential

Non-locality BAH includes Partial BAH, BAH Differential, or BAH RC/T (also referred to as BAH Reserve, BAH Transit, or BAH Type II).

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 7 at 2022 10:36 AM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 10:36:51 -0500

OCS BAH Yes
Barracks BAH negligible. The army is obligated to provide you housing or BAH.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Dec 7 at 2022 10:42 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 10:42:27 -0500

Not sure it has any impact, I will say upfront; between the dual proxy marriage and the fact that she was selected for OCs as a single Soldier may creat a few questions, or not.

Either way the Col. Laid it out very well as it relates to the money. Your bigger problem will be in the two of you trying to get dual assignments down the road based on MOS, grade and timing.