Posted on Dec 18, 2021
Can you claim BAH from a different location if your family stays at one location and you move?
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I am PCSing probably for about one year before I retire. My family is staying in Hawaii as that is where we are retiring too. I will have to Move CONUS. Since the BAH is much higher herein Hawaii than where I probably will relocate can I get BAH from Hawaii since my family is staying and I am going to a different location temporarily? I read a few things but it seems subjective of who is accepted. Thoughts?
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 6
An approval process exists, but the likelihood of it being approved is minimal. You might be able to strengthen your case if you go ahead and submit a retirement packet (if you haven't already done so). You could make a financial argument that the costs of the higher BAH are offset by the elimination of PCS costs of moving your family and HHGs stateside, and then back to Hawaii upon retirement (or wherever they base your HHGs shipment costs for retirement). I doubt they'll do it just for convenience purposes that are based on a stated desire to retire on a specific timeline (but not with a retirement packet having been submitted). We have all seen examples where people say they are going to retire to get what they want from the military, but then don't retire once they get what they want.
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LTC (Join to see)
Yes I know that people have lied about dropping the packet. I have not dropped my packet as of yet because I can not. You are correct. It would be cheaper to not move my house hold goods and let me claim Hawaii BAH. All I would need is a few suitcases for myself which would save Uncle Sam a lot of money. That may be my justification defense. Lol. Thx.
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SFC Ralph E Kelley
LTC Kevin B. That's what I did when I shipped my family ahead to Kentucky prior to retirement .
LTC (Join to see) I also got some admin leave time to go and look for a family house about 6months out to move my family and household goods. Yes, I did have to submit my retirement package prior - which was promptly pulled once Saddam invaded Kuwait -my family had already been settled by that day. I didn't retire till the war was over and done.
LTC (Join to see) I also got some admin leave time to go and look for a family house about 6months out to move my family and household goods. Yes, I did have to submit my retirement package prior - which was promptly pulled once Saddam invaded Kuwait -my family had already been settled by that day. I didn't retire till the war was over and done.
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You can apply for a BAH waiver based on a legitimate reason for your family to stay in place.
It's not subjective, as there are specific criteria, but it is case by case.
It can be disapproved, but I have not seen that happen yet out of a few dozen.
If granted, it's a year to year thing, but sounds like you only need the first year.
It's not subjective, as there are specific criteria, but it is case by case.
It can be disapproved, but I have not seen that happen yet out of a few dozen.
If granted, it's a year to year thing, but sounds like you only need the first year.
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SFC (Join to see)
LTC (Join to see) the instructions are in an ALARACT that's released every year. Just go onto Army pubs under the ALARACT messages to find the most current one
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No, you can not claim BAH for both the location of your family and your future duty location. Although there is an appeals process, I’ve only ever seen it for senior individuals whose spouse or children require extensive medical care that can only be provided at their current location. You mentioned it’s only because Hawaii is the location you want to retire to, which does not meet the requirements to obtain dual location BAH. As a LTC, you are also NOT authorized unaccompanied housing and your BAH will be tied to your physical location, not your families location. So you have 1 of 2 options: 1) move your family with you 2) pay out of pocket for the residence in Hawaii.
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LTC (Join to see)
Thx I wasn’t expecting dual BAH, but read something about possibly getting the higher BAH of my family’s location. Yes I did read about the medical justification which wouldn’t apply to me. Thx for the response.
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