I in-processed last month to an OCONUS base within the U.S. We elected unaccompanied orders and had my dependents' relocation address put on the orders. My read of the JTR indicates that I get the higher of mine or my dependents' location for BAH. While in-processing with Finance, the Finance troop told me I get "dual BAH" meaning both my OCONUS BAH plus my dependents' BAH. This would add up to an absurd amount of money. I'm skeptical but hopeful.
I checked my June LES and it shows an amount of BAH appropriate for only my dependents' location. (Plus FSH, COLA, etc for me.)
What's correct?
Does 'dual BAH' exist for unaccompanied OCONUS tour with civilian dependents CONUS? Or is Finance technician making things up?
byu/bleucheez inMilitaryFinance
Posted by bleucheez
2 Comments
I’m not sure what you’re looking at in the JTR. The housing allowance regulations aren’t in there; they are in the DoD FMR, Volume 7a, Chapter 26.
It’s technically not two BAHs, but it effectively is.
When you are unaccompanied orders, you get a housing allowance at the with dependents rate for your dependents location. You also get either government housing (barracks/dorms/ship) for yourself or Family Separation Housing if that is not available. FSH is equal to the without dependents housing allowance for your location.
So if both you and your family are in the US and you are living off base, you would be getting BAH with dependents for your family’s location and BAH without dependents for your location (but it should be labeled as FSH-B).
Dang I want your orders