What can my soldier do to prove he's paying his mother (dependent) in order to get his BAH back?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 12:57:07 -0400

Dfas wants documentation that he is paying her the money that he's getting for BAH. But he's paying her in cash only prof is bank statements showing withdrawal. What can I do as his supervisor?

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Jun 24 at 2016 12:59 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 12:59:05 -0400

Tell him to stop paying her in cash. I assume this is for "rent"
Get a signed lease agreement NOW and a signed notarized affidavit from the mother stating she has received $$$ every month since the date the agreement was reached.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2016 1:00 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 13:00:02 -0400

Open a Support-V allotment. (V=Voluntary)

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2016 1:09 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 13:09:37 -0400

Unless there is a lease agreement and receipts given to said Soldier for rent....he may very well not get BAH back and may have to pay back said BAH

Response by PO2 Robert Aitchison made Jun 24 at 2016 1:27 PM

PO2 Robert Aitchison — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 13:27:50 -0400

Your soldier is an idiot, at least in this regard. Always need a paper trail either by paying by check or by getting a receipt when he provides the cash.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2016 1:42 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 13:42:31 -0400

Make him document it.

Response by MSgt Michael Smith made Jun 24 at 2016 1:44 PM

MSgt Michael Smith — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 13:44:20 -0400

He needs a real lease. Period.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2016 2:57 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 14:57:58 -0400

Unfortunately it would be hard to prove their past payments. As going forword, I strongly go with SGM Marquez recommendation on this one.

As soliders living with their parents. I believe that is a smart financial move on their part, as the rents of other places is too high rending the solider to make ends meet and endangering their health at the long run.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2016 3:08 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 15:08:27 -0400

SGT Private RallyPoint Member , after some thought.....I have a few questions:

1) Is there not barracks space available?
2) Was this Soldier granted permission by the command to live off base?
3) If permission was given due to lack of barracks space, did you know your Soldier was going to live with parental units?
4) If yes is the answer to #3, did you provide counseling to your Soldier about living off base and with parents?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2016 4:45 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 16:45:55 -0400

If his mother is a dependent, the same way a wife or child is, then BAH should be collected by the Soldier. Is his mothers enrolled in DEERS under his claim? If not you don't have a lot of hope. If he is trying to claim her then he must show that she depends on him for whatever reason. That paper work goes to the command (COL level, I think)
Also receipts should be surrender upon cash payment, is she not getting those?

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jun 24 at 2016 5:52 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 17:52:06 -0400

Usually when an adult is carried as a dependent in DEERS, it is implied they are living with the SM. To get in DEERS they had to have been demonstrated as unable to care for themselves, requiring the SM care for them. This could be what DFAS is demanding proof over.

http://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/SecondaryDependency/SDC/secondarydependency_Army.html

http://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/SecondaryDependency/SDC.html

Army SDC Instructions

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2016 7:51 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 19:51:13 -0400

Without a paper trail, proof that that money has been being used to care for her, he's gonna lose it. They may be able to accept some written document from the person receiving the money (landlord etc.) that they are receiving X numbers of dollars every month from this person. It's unlikely but possible. The best thing to do is for him to immediately discontinue his cash method and switch to allotments. There will be a paper trail that shows every month $XX is being sent to her bank account and that should clear it all up.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2016 8:25 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 20:25:07 -0400

sign a simple lease agreement.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2016 2:26 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 02:26:26 -0400

Document everything! Cash is the wrong answer. He can do allotments or money orders. She could also provide him a receipt each month.
There is no going back; he may be out of luck for cash he paid in the past.

Response by MSgt Bruce Hutchinson made Jun 25 at 2016 9:25 AM

MSgt Bruce Hutchinson — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 09:25:23 -0400

Never pay any kind of support in cash.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2016 10:06 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 10:06:20 -0400

Have him prepared a notarized letter. Not sure if it would work, but, it should.

Other than that ask dfas what they need.

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Jun 26 at 2016 4:33 PM

SSG Trevor S. — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 16:33:10 -0400

1. He should move out of his mother's house.
2. If he won't move out, she should write a receipt for him.

Response by SSG Kristopher Rigdon made Jun 27 at 2016 10:14 AM

SSG Kristopher Rigdon — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 10:14:00 -0400

Guarantee There is no paper trail for a reason. I bet the mother is on some type of welfare And a paper trail will reduce it.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2016 12:47 PM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 12:47:15 -0400

If the Soldier's mother has been established as a dependant where is;
1- the approved DD Form 137-3 from DFAS
2- DD form 1172 ( DEERS)
3- counseling from Cdr
Immediately stop paying cash set up an allotment and get a notarized lease agreement.
Cash leaves no paper trail and is hard to prove. Unless he has an accountant who is keeping ledger recordings of assist, liabilities, cash in and cash out.

Response by Cpl Michael Hockstok made Jun 28 at 2016 4:50 PM

Cpl Michael Hockstok — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 16:50:02 -0400

Easily proved to DFAS by something as simple as setting up an allotment and not using cash.

Response by TSgt Phil Burd made Jul 5 at 2016 8:46 AM

TSgt Phil Burd — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 08:46:14 -0400

Have him write a check to start with. Also he will need copies of bills to prove what he is giving her is at least 50% of her expenses. Just giving her money isn't enough to claim her as dependent. He has to be paying at least 50% of her living expenses

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 31 at 2017 4:13 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 04:13:00 -0400

The soldier can set up a Totten Trust with her at a bank which issues to ATM cards for that account. The soldier makes the allotment from his mid month pay, and when she takes it out there is an automatic way of tracking it to her. That is absolute proof of the soldiers payment to her.