Is my S-1 correct in saying that I don't qualify for BAH and BAS due to being geographically separated from my dual-military spouse?

2018-09-07T02:07:17-04:00

So long story short I married straight out of AIT like a typical dumb private, husband went Campbell before I left for carson in November of 2016, we got married o n December 31st 2016 and both went back to our stations on Jan 3rd 2017. I "deployed" in Jan 18 2017 to Europe till Oct 25 2017. husband went to Kandahar, Afganistan for about 5 months. as soon as he redeployed home he was given BAH and BAS but no family sep. my leadership all the way up to my commander were tracking that I was dual military married and separated from my husband. sent up a packet to start my BAH and BAS but was continuously pushed back for certain documents. I get back to carson, and they claim me as a geo bachelor but mainly a single soldier and stuck me in the barracks. husband, soon to be ex, has been receiving BAH and Bas all this time and when I called and explained my situation to fort carson finance they said it was blamed on my command for putting me in the barracks. I was brand new to the army when I showed up to my unit in fort carson and no one failed to tell me that I needed to go to finance to get BAH and BAS started on my end, so now its been almost two years since weve been married and I have never received any money. is my s1 correct saying that I don't qualify even though I have physical proof of my marriage, timeline of how long I was with my husband before we went to our units, all the LES sheets from Dec 2016 till Aug 2018? from what ive been told by multiple people I am owed a good lump sum of money but finance and my s1 seem to believe I don't qualify. I need to know who to speak to about the actual answers so I can either get money owed to me or finally figure out why I cant receive it but my husband can.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2018 2:37 AM

2018-09-07T02:37:06-04:00

Also I wanted to add that I have made and sent up multiple packets to request Backpay and BAH and BAS with a 5960 filled out requesting everything with the commander and squadron commanders signature of approval stating I am eligible to receive the money. So is this an issue with finance and do I need to run it by with IG and Jag?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2018 5:09 AM

2018-09-07T05:09:24-04:00

Did you and your husband submit paperwork to be in the Army's dual military or couples program?

Response by LCpl Ferdinand Hughes made Sep 7 at 2018 7:26 AM

2018-09-07T07:26:43-04:00

Did you live in the barracks during whole time period? If so, the military will treat as a single soldier. As far as FSA is concerned, it's first come, first serve, only one of you can receive FSA.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2018 10:01 AM

2018-09-07T10:01:02-04:00

Have you gone to your finance at post?
Your S1 is incorrect, the geo bachelor program was ended. You're not authorized to stay in the barracks any longer and you should be drawing BAH.
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/army-announces-end-to-geographic-bachelors-3353934

Army Announces End to Geographic Bachelors

The Army has now announced an end to the geographic bachelor program. Soldiers with dependents, drawing a housing allowance can no longer live in barracks.

Response by CPL Ernest Hoag made Sep 7 at 2018 10:02 AM

2018-09-07T10:02:23-04:00

The "I didn't know" excuse seldom works in the Army. While it sounds like your chain of command failed you, it's doubtful that you'll get any substantial amount of back pay. Also, if you do manage to get BAH and BAS started, be aware that if they pay you past your divorce date, they'll probably take it back.

Response by SGT Philip Klein made Sep 8 at 2018 5:02 PM

2018-09-08T17:02:03-04:00

You’ve lived on post and ate at army dfacs for free, right? And this was at Carson, but for the six months in Europe, where presumably you also lived in government housing and ate free government food. The time to do your paperwork was sometime in 2017. Besides, single privates without dependents live on post at Carson. So once the divorce is through...