There are several types of BAH to satisfy various housing situations that occur
among military members. In general, the amount of BAH you receive depends on your
location, pay grade, and whether you have dependents. Under most circumstances,
you receive BAH for the location where you are assigned, not where you live. Additionally,
you may be entitled to some BAH amounts if you are residing separately from your
dependents. This occurs in situations involving unaccompanied overseas tours or
having a dependent child that resides with a former spouse. The rules regarding
these situations can become quite complex. Consult your Finance Office if you are
in one of these situations. Each type of BAH is described below.
BAH With Dependents and BAH Without Dependents
A member with permanent duty within the 50 United States, who is not furnished government
housing, is eligible for Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), based on the member's
dependency status at the permanent duty ZIP Code. A member stationed overseas, including
U.S. protectorates, who is not furnished government housing, is eligible for Overseas
Housing Allowance (OHA) based on the member's dependency status. If a member is
serving an UNACCOMPANIED overseas tour, the member is eligible for BAH at the "with
dependents" rate, based on the dependent's US residence ZIP Code, plus OHA at the
"without dependents" rate, if the member is not furnished government housing overseas.
Partial BAH
A member without dependents who is living in government quarters is entitled to
a Partial BAH.
BAH Reserve Component/Transit (BAH RC/T)
BAH RC/T is a non-locality housing allowance for members in
particular circumstances, for example, reservists on active duty for 30
or fewer days. It also applies when a member is in transit from selected
areas where no prior BAH rate exists (such as overseas). It does not
vary by geographic location. BAH RC/T was set based on the old Basic
Allowance for Quarters (BAQ), which was based on the national average
for housing. BAH RC/T is published annually and is determined by
increasing the previous year's rates by the national average percentage
growth of housing costs.
BAH-Differential (BAH-Diff)
BAH-Diff is the housing allowance amount for a member who is
assigned to single-type quarters and who is authorized a basic allowance
for housing solely by reason of the member's payment of child support. A
member is not entitled to BAH-Diff if the monthly rate of that child
support is less than the BAH-Diff. BAH-Diff is determined by the SECDEF
and was equal to the difference between BAQ with dependents and BAQ
without dependents in 1997 for the member's grade. BAH-Diff is published
annually and is determined by increasing the previous year's rates by
the percentage growth of military basic pay. For more information
contact your finance office.
Additional Resources