E5 new to the unit without dependent approved BAH, E3 with dependent disapproved. Can they do that?

NCOs do not live in the barracks therefore they receive bah regardless of dependent status or marital status. That being said stay in your lane pfc

New question why should that e3 make more than the e5 when I left the Marines as an e4 I had a boot private in my unit making more than . It's about country not money are at least it should be

Sgt Major ..last choice !! Man up Butter Cup !! Earn Your Right !!

I'm sure it's not as simple as you say. Do you have your dependent living with you full-time?
Is your command housing 95% of more occupied? Does your command have a standing order that E-3's and below cannot receive BAH unless married or court-ordered to pay child support? Maybe that E-5 has a dependent he doesn't acknowledge (dead beat dad) but the baby momma got a court order?
See all the possibilities and how vague your post is?
I would resubmit your request with any documents supporting your claim such as birth certificate , a lease &/or a court order to pay support

Bro you should go to ipac is your son enrolled in deers if so you rate some kinda bah if he lives with you you should rate bah with depend and if he don't you should rate bah diff but if he isn't enrolled in deers then that's why you don't rate bah I'm pretty sure your nco's failed you but that may not be the case

If you are paying child support and do not have physical custody you rate partial BAH. If you have full custody you rate BAH with dependents. If you are somewhere in between it depends on how much visitation time you have. A couple weeks in the summer is not going to get you BAH but there is a certain point where they will have to give it to you as you cannot keep a child in the barracks and a hotel every other weekend for visitation is not conducive to good parenting.
If there is not a court order you will be hard pressed to get anything to support your child as that is what the BAH is supposed to assist with.
The E5 that received BAH has nothing to do with your case. Why he received it may have to do with just his rank rating BAH on-rite at that command and not about him having dependents.

First and foremost, Did you use your Chain of Command?
if not why?, Didn't you get brief by your recruiters or your administrative personnel as a Single-Parent.
To me the law's governing basic housing allowance has changed over the years since I've been retired. But the bottom line to your main question that you posted is you didn't quality for BHA, but a Sergeant did? Come on Soldier, I know you have some intelligence and I also know that if you had gone to your Platoon Sergeant or Platoon Commander this question that you're asking this forum for answers is, in this Chief Warrant Officers opinion is out of line and disrespectful to your Chain of Command. Starting with your Platoon Level.
CWO3 J.K. Kaupe, Jr. USMC, ( Ret ) 1972-1994

You can always inquire just be nice and do it on the qt

As a finance soldier, you have no clue what his status is. This causes soldiers problems. I'm not sure why you were denied BAH. If you give me more details I can try to help explain this to you. The E5 might have custody of a child during the summer, or is taking care of a parent. Needless to say pay for civilian is private in the work place, and so should in the military. Nothing is the same across the board. It is all situational. Are your dependents living with you off post? Are you in housing? Do you eat at the dfac?

BAH is to help provide housing for your family, regardless what rank you are. If you are single without family members, you are not authorized BAH unless there is no room in n the barracks for an NCO. The proper paperwork that you need is: Marriage Licenses, Birth Certificates and Copies of your Orders stating that you have accompanied family members!