Should deployed NG Soldiers receive BAH based on HOR, duty location (armory) or the higher of the two?

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 00:06:49 -0500

NG Soldiers who live in high cost living areas can receive much higher BAH than Soldiers from small towns. The difference can be hundreds of dollars per month, for my location it is a $500 difference. I didn't question it until I recently read FAQ #26 at http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/faqbah.cfm. What do you think? Please read FAQ # 26 as it is the base of the idea.

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Response by SFC William Farrell made Feb 4 at 2016 12:14 AM

SFC William Farrell — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 00:14:56 -0500

Unless they are on active duty, they shouldn't be receiving it.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2016 12:24 AM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 00:24:24 -0500

Are you serious? Why did so many people choose home of record?! I get BAH according to what the army sets and says is just. If I received BAH for home of record I would live in the nicest area!

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2016 12:34 AM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 00:34:54 -0500

Unless you do 30 days you get the differential BAH rate anyway. I am not sure about the Army Guard. It should be based on your residence because the housing should offset the cost of living in your area for the mean house market. If I were to drill in LA but lived in podunk Baker CA, It would not make sense to get the higher BAH for LA.

On the other hand I could live in LA but drill in Riverside, so I would hate to get the lower rate. So the current system makes some sense.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2016 1:18 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 01:18:51 -0500

It should be based on your home of record. You are receiving the BAH to offset your current housing. For an example lets say we choose Duty Location and that we get $500 for BAH. If Person A lives in a low cost of living area $500 may cover his mortgage but for person B living in a higher end area it may only cover half. If we chose "whichever is higher" then person A gets enough for housing + pockets the extra. Person B is now getting enough to cover his mortgage but doesn't pocket any extra.

The best solution is to do it by home of record as that is the most fair option available. It should be enough to cover the housing for their particular home of record based on the cost of living.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2016 7:43 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 07:43:41 -0500

It should be HOR, if the residence is maintained throughout.
BUT...
The actual answer is that whatever location by zip code that the Guard establishes on your mobilization order is the one used for BAH.
I have seen this gamed by units and people many times to ensure a bigger BAH and/or CONUS COLA.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 4 at 2016 8:28 AM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 08:28:45 -0500

Duty station is what I know for AD.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2016 8:48 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 08:48:40 -0500

For the reserves and National Guard its based on your zip code for HOR. There is NO duty station. On title 10 orders of course.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 4 at 2016 10:28 AM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 10:28:44 -0500

BAH Rates Featured Article

DIFFERENT TYPES OF BAH EXPLAINED

Non-locality BAH, or BAH II (RC/T), is one of several types of Basic Housing Allowance. Each created to satisfy a specific housing need for military members in varying situations.

BAH II RESERVE COMPONENT/TRANSIT

Non-locality BAH is BAH-II (RC/T), the housing allowance for members in particular circumstances, for example, reservists on active duty less than 30 days. It also applies when a member is in transit from selected areas where no prior BAH rate existed. It does not vary by geographic location.

BAH-II (RC/T) was set based on the old Basic Allowance for Quarters (BAQ), which was based on the national average for housing. BAH-II is published annually and is determined by increasing the previous year's table by the percentage growth of housing costs.

BAH: WITH and WITHOUT DEPENDENTS

Generally, BAH depends on location, pay grade, and dependents. Usually you receive BAH for where you are assigned, not for where you live. Additionally, you may be entitled to BAH if you live apart from your dependents such as during unaccompanied overseas tours, or if you have a dependent child who lives with a former spouse. There are separate BAH rules addressing these two situations:
•Within the 50 United States, a service member who is not furnished government housing is eligible for Basic Allowance for Housing based on dependency status at the permanent duty ZIP Code.
•A service 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.
•A service member serving an UNACCOMPANIED overseas tour 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.
•A member without dependents who is living in government quarters is entitled to a Partial BAH.

BAH-DIFF BASED ON BAH NON-LOCALITY

BAH-DIFF is the housing allowance for service members assigned to single-type quarters who are authorized for BAH because the service member pays child support. BAH-DIFF, as determined by the SECDEF, equals the difference between BAH-II with dependents and BAH-II without dependents, for the member's grade. You are not entitled to BAH-DIFF if the monthly rate of child support is less than the BAH-DIFF.

BAH-Diff is published annually and is determined by increasing the previous year's table by the percentage growth of the military pay raise.

MilitaryRates.com is not a government website and is not affiliated with any branch of the U.S. Military.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2016 11:34 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 11:34:46 -0500

I believe it probably has more to do with taking care of the mortgage that still has to be paid during deployment, no? HOR makes sure that the family still living at the home of record can afford to live there and makes up for the loss of income from the job the service member would normally perform as an M-day soldier.

Response by SGT Ronald Bacon made Feb 5 at 2016 2:37 PM

SGT Ronald Bacon — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 14:37:37 -0500

When I deployed and My unit received their BAH we had 2 PFC making more than our Company Commander because they lived in NYC and there BAH was more than my check was... At the time I would have said it should be the larger of the 2 but looking back and thinking what is right, BAH is for help with our housing not making money that is our base pay, lol. Good question I like reading the answers to these type of questions.