What’s taking so long for BAH back pay?

Alexandria Elmore — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 09:34:05 -0500

My husband is in basic for the army, it’s been almost 4 months and he had to refile for BAH they said it would be here the 15th and it hasn’t how long does it take for back pay?

Response by SGT Robert Pryor made Nov 17 at 2020 9:40 AM

SGT Robert Pryor — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 09:40:02 -0500

Contact finance where he's stationed. Don't contact anyone in his chain of command if it can be helped. I'm guessing his recruiter screwed things up.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Nov 17 at 2020 9:42 AM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 09:42:45 -0500

No one can’t tell you what’s the issue; it could be one of a thousands. What I can tell you is that once it gets fixed, back pay is retroactive to his orders (date when his ordered to report).

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2020 9:21 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 21:21:20 -0500

He needs to roll to finance to get it resolved. He will need to run it up the chain from his squad leader to platoon leader to cadre. They will take him to finance and make sure all paperwork is in the system correctly. Once that is determined if it was not correct before then they will put in for the correction. It could take months to get the back pay.

I know I had a similar issue going to DCC last year. It took multiple emails, phone calls, and finally finding the right person, and about 9 months later I got my back pay BAH type II.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2020 10:48 PM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 22:48:13 -0500

Finance is going to mess things up. It happens almost every time I PCS

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Nov 17 at 2020 11:15 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 23:15:46 -0500

His S1 needs to do a pay inquiry.
Some questions
1. Are you in DEERS as his dependent?
2. Did he submit a DA Form 5960 to Start, Stop, or Verify BAH?
3. Was a copy of your lease or mortgage documents provided?
4. Was the action rejected at Finance...because reasons....
5. Did his S1 actually submit everything on Time?

The party line is that if you get a Finance action in (to them, not his BN S1) by the 10th, it should hit for the following month, with retroactive payments. Finance doesn't do ala carte pays. It's all slaved to the monthly pay cycle.

You need to watch and track Finance carefully.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2020 11:35 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 23:35:44 -0500

If you don’t have a lease, you won’t start receiving BAH until arriving at the duty station.

When he in processed, he would have had to do a 5960 to start BAH if he could provide documents proving a lease is currently held.

The common misconception is that you just automatically get BAH while in basic. If you’re living with your parents, you aren’t going to get BAH. It’s not just free money.

If you don’t have a lease, you aren’t going to get back pay....

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Nov 18 at 2020 9:53 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 09:53:45 -0500

Welcome to the Army. it should be fixed before he retires.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2020 1:19 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 13:19:32 -0500

If he’s still in training tell him to talk to his drill sergeants. Same thing happened to me. You have to keep bothering them.

Response by 1SG John Torre made Nov 19 at 2020 12:02 PM

1SG John Torre — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 12:02:15 -0500

Because he is still in basic training. It will be done when he gets to his duty station.

Response by PVT Robert L. Zaks made Dec 26 at 2020 12:20 PM

PVT Robert L. Zaks — Sat, 26 Dec 2020 12:20:21 -0500

As tine goes on. You’ll find out that the government moves at snails pace. I hope everything turns out good for you.

What I would do is call every day. And bug the hell out of them. Explain my family needs this money. We need to eat.

Good luck & best wishes.