Posted on Nov 4, 2015
My BAH was lowered while I'm in AIT and my wife resides in another state, help!
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Hey Soldiers,
So I'm currently at Ft Gordon, GA for AIT on my 3rd week. I'm here for 25b IT Specialist(22 weeks), I'm married, no children and my spouse is currently in CA. The VHA zip code on my LES changed from CA(where my wife currently resides, working, with a 1-year lease) to here in Augusta, GA. I met with the NG Liaison and he said there was a policy that came out a few months ago that states if a Soldier in training's MOS is 20 weeks or longer, the zip code changes to where the soldier is currently at. Doesn't make any sense to me since it won't cover my rent alone. From LA to Augusta, the rate difference is huge. He said all I can do is file a complaint. He told me to google NGB and read up on it but I haven't seen anything about it. As far as I know speaking to other NCOs here that it shouldn't be like that. I should be receiving the rate based on where my spouse is residing. Is the liaison just jerking my chain?
I'm making an appt with my S1(Finance) to see if he can help. Should I go to JAG?
WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?
Thank you
So I'm currently at Ft Gordon, GA for AIT on my 3rd week. I'm here for 25b IT Specialist(22 weeks), I'm married, no children and my spouse is currently in CA. The VHA zip code on my LES changed from CA(where my wife currently resides, working, with a 1-year lease) to here in Augusta, GA. I met with the NG Liaison and he said there was a policy that came out a few months ago that states if a Soldier in training's MOS is 20 weeks or longer, the zip code changes to where the soldier is currently at. Doesn't make any sense to me since it won't cover my rent alone. From LA to Augusta, the rate difference is huge. He said all I can do is file a complaint. He told me to google NGB and read up on it but I haven't seen anything about it. As far as I know speaking to other NCOs here that it shouldn't be like that. I should be receiving the rate based on where my spouse is residing. Is the liaison just jerking my chain?
I'm making an appt with my S1(Finance) to see if he can help. Should I go to JAG?
WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?
Thank you
Army National Guard
BAH
Fort Eisenhower
Military Pay
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 85
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On the BAH form DA5960, there is a block you can check which states you are asking to receive VHA based on your spouse's location. Look at Block 12. Expenses, If Authorized, I am Requesting VHA Based On: My permanent duty station: My dependent's location: Both my permanent duty station and dependent's location.
You should be able to justify requesting VHA based on your spouse's location, especially since the cost of living is exorbitantly higher in California than it is in Georgia. If an exception to NG policy is required for this request, I would definitely go the route of showing undue hardship upon the Soldier (e.g. your rent is $1700, but your housing allowance in GA is only $700). Attending required training should not cause an undue hardship to the Soldier and their family.
You should be able to justify requesting VHA based on your spouse's location, especially since the cost of living is exorbitantly higher in California than it is in Georgia. If an exception to NG policy is required for this request, I would definitely go the route of showing undue hardship upon the Soldier (e.g. your rent is $1700, but your housing allowance in GA is only $700). Attending required training should not cause an undue hardship to the Soldier and their family.
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SPC (Join to see)
Can I do this if I’m a non IET soldier in AIT and my spouse is going to be staying somewhere other than my current duty station?
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CW4 (Join to see)
SPC (Join to see) I would recommend that you discuss with your leadership, full out the 5960 requesting housing allowance based on your spouse's location. I say to discuss with your leadership first because your commander will be required to "certify" (sign) the 5960 before it can be submitted to finance for processing. It's not a guarantee you will receive the allowance for your spouse's location, but at least it is worth the try. If it it's denied, I would take a copy of the lease (or mortgage) from where your spouse lives and show your leadership just exactly how much hardship it causes you and your family when the housing allowance is reduced based on your training location. Again, no guarantee... But the answer will always be no if you don't at least ask the question.
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I am finance, and if it's the policy then you can request a waiver thru the COC.
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PO3 (Join to see)
I have a question and its mainly because i'm more or less ignorant to policy changes. I'm navy and we do what is called geo-bachelor but as far as i know that bah is registered in the geo-bachelors zip code. i could be wrong and i probably am. i love education so feel free to correct me. Why aren't there more streamlined instructions just for that sort of situation. Say i'm in training at pcola, florida. i don't need bah technically because A. I live in provided quarters during my training due to off base restrictions while in rate or mos training. B. My kids and wife are back home in my home of record. So does this policy change affect every branch? I thought that you claimed your bah based on where your dependents where physically at. This may be only an army administrative notice but i am curious to know after reading the above post. We are all one team, though our jobs differ widely we are all one fighting force. I claim anyone from any walk of life that wears the uniform as family. Who knows this may be info that i can pass down to joint commands where i am stationed. Thanks in Advance.
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You can also go to Army Emergency Relief. They may be able to give you a grant or interest free loan to make up the difference in rent while you are working this out with finance
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You should ask your unit S1, but also make sure you are talking to the right finance people. At Ft. Benning where I just left there was a different finance section for reserve component soldiers, the rules are different for us in certain circumstances.
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PFC (Join to see)
Sir, I just spoke to Finance and she told me that this has been an issue with Ft Gordon. My AIT is 19 weeks but my orders say it's 22 weeks because they include HBL. It's considered PCS when it's over 20 weeks. She also gave me a waiver. I basically have to write a letter to HQDA along with some paperwork for request to get BAH for my resident zip code.
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SGM (Join to see)
PFC James Villa, Great to hear that you received some form of resolution from Darling Hall, did you get the letter completed and submitted?
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MAJ (Join to see)
PFC Villa, did you get resolution yet? Following your school's chain of command, you could request assistance from a National Guard Liaison. Did you get your letter submitted?
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SSG Keith Cashion
Soldier is talking about a BAH Waiver, which covers specific occasions. PME over 20 weeks is one of them. But keep in mind, that training over 20 weeks is classified as a PCS. Where the Soldier decides to leave dependents is on them. The mix up, and this is a guess, but when the Soldier signed into his new duty station, he re-certified his BAH. Unless the Soldier submitted documentation (Rental Agreement, Mortgage, etc) to show where his dependents were, then finance had no choice but to put current location.
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I've been retired for 3 1/2 years and it looks like things haven't changed. I was stationed at FT Gordon and received orders to PCS to Ft Stewart in order to deploy to Iraq. Since my wife didn't know anyone at Stewart, she stayed at Gordon while I was deployed. The change in station dropped my BAH by almost $200. I found out that the BAH is for the dependents, not the Soldier, but is based of the Soldier's duty location, not the dependent's residence. So, Soldiers who have residence in Georgia, but are stationed in Cali make a killing, while the Soldiers in the reverse are being punished. Seems to me that the system is broken and well past due to be fixed.
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There is a memo that finance can create to justify why your BAH should remain at your home of record. Talk to your S1 and inquire if that can be done in your case.
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SGM (Join to see)
You can submit an exception to policy to keep your BAH at your HOR rate. Fianance should be familiar with the process. It's not that uncommon.
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Get squared away with your chain of command first..so they are trackin with whats going on..then go to finance..somethings will require your CoC help..finance can be troublesome at times
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SSG John Mitchell
Can be? Try always are. I spent a few years battling Finance trying to keep the Soldiers in my Company squared away with their pay and leave. I always had files at the ready showing that everything went through my S1 before I walked through the door. Sad part is, I almost always had to go all the way to the CSM to get anything updated.
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What does you order states? Is it PCS, TCS? All the pertinent information is there. Are you on Title 32 or 10 orders? Feel free to message me.
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This is absolutely ridiculous. Reservists and NG do not PCS unless they are AGR - period. Someone screwed up. You will likely need to produce your marriage cert and a recent rental/mortgage agreement, power bill, water bill etc and take it to finance. Also notify your local CoC and your NG CoC of the situation – provide each with each other’s contact info. Do all this ASAP, 22 weeks is over 5 months and this screwup will cost you a lot of money.
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CW3(P) (Join to see)
Sir - not 100% true. All of us at flight school are official PCS's in the guard, and many other (such as DLI - former 35M) may also be a PCS. upon completion, we will PCS "back" to our home state.
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