Posted on Mar 19, 2019
How to receive BAH at losing installation rate when family stays behind for 180 days after report date per this year's NDAA?
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I have a question that no one seems to be able to answer so far.
In this year's NDAA, Section 604, entitled "HOUSING TREATMENT FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES, AND THEIR SPOUSES AND OTHER DEPENDENTS, UNDERGOING A PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION WITHIN THE UNITED STATES" there is a provision (among other things) for qualifying dependents to either:
PCS up to 180 days prior to the report date on SMs orders and for the SM to then receive BAH at the rate of the gaining installation (the location of the dependents)
or
PCS up to 180 days after the report date on SMs orders and for the SM to then receive BAH at the rate of the losing installation (the location of the dependents)
How can SMs take advantage of this legislation?
For example, I am on orders to report to Fort Leavenworth for ILE in July. My wife (who is eligible due to her full time employment) would like to remain here at Fort Meade for 180 days after my report date. According to the NDAA, I should be able to receive BAH at the Fort Meade rate during this time period, but no one seems to be able to tell me how to do so.
In this year's NDAA, Section 604, entitled "HOUSING TREATMENT FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES, AND THEIR SPOUSES AND OTHER DEPENDENTS, UNDERGOING A PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION WITHIN THE UNITED STATES" there is a provision (among other things) for qualifying dependents to either:
PCS up to 180 days prior to the report date on SMs orders and for the SM to then receive BAH at the rate of the gaining installation (the location of the dependents)
or
PCS up to 180 days after the report date on SMs orders and for the SM to then receive BAH at the rate of the losing installation (the location of the dependents)
How can SMs take advantage of this legislation?
For example, I am on orders to report to Fort Leavenworth for ILE in July. My wife (who is eligible due to her full time employment) would like to remain here at Fort Meade for 180 days after my report date. According to the NDAA, I should be able to receive BAH at the Fort Meade rate during this time period, but no one seems to be able to tell me how to do so.
Posted in these groups: 
PCS
BAH
Battalion Personnel Officer (S1)
Battalion S1 Personnel NCOIC
S1 Personnel NCO
PCS BAH Battalion Personnel Officer (S1) Battalion S1 Personnel NCOIC S1 Personnel NCO
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 5
This is one reason I love RallyPoint -- I read this question in the thread and had no idea what the answer could be. Then I blink and 3 Senior NCOs have already chimed in with great insights. It's stuff like this that you really can't get anywhere else. :-)
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I've seen something similar where branch managers authorize a BAH waiver and that's added to the SMs orders in the special instructions. The spouse remains at the losing station while the SM attends school.
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MAJ (Join to see)
Thanks! SFC Hobbs had some particulars below, and I was able to find out additional info as well (below).
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You would have to request an exception to policy for your spouse to remain at your current location. HRC Officer branch is the approving authority. I’m out on convalescent leave so I’m not able to send you an example. You can call officer assignments at HRC and they should be able to assist. Your BN CDR is the recommend approval authority and it is done in memorandum format.
I just want you to know it isn’t an easy process. If your spouse isn’t a school teacher or receiving specific medical care, it will not get approved. If she is a school teacher, then it will only be approved up to the time school is out. In my last unit I submitted one for a SM and it got disapproved. When I called HRC to inform them the SM spouse was a school teacher, they told me it should have been included in the request, so I had to re-submit with documents from the school she worked at verifying she is employed at the school. Once they received the updated packet they approved it. Unfortunately having a spouse that is employed is not grounds for an exception to policy, if that was the case majority of SM will be granted the ETP because most are in the same situation (no disrespect intended). You will not be able to request the ETP once you arrive at your gaining unit.
Also the 180 relocation of family members usually refers to personnel that are in hardship assignments.
I hope this helps, good luck to you....
I just want you to know it isn’t an easy process. If your spouse isn’t a school teacher or receiving specific medical care, it will not get approved. If she is a school teacher, then it will only be approved up to the time school is out. In my last unit I submitted one for a SM and it got disapproved. When I called HRC to inform them the SM spouse was a school teacher, they told me it should have been included in the request, so I had to re-submit with documents from the school she worked at verifying she is employed at the school. Once they received the updated packet they approved it. Unfortunately having a spouse that is employed is not grounds for an exception to policy, if that was the case majority of SM will be granted the ETP because most are in the same situation (no disrespect intended). You will not be able to request the ETP once you arrive at your gaining unit.
Also the 180 relocation of family members usually refers to personnel that are in hardship assignments.
I hope this helps, good luck to you....
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MAJ (Join to see)
Thanks! In this case, I was wondering how the NDAA might affect the process. 1SG Healy has a good answer below. Thanks for the response.
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