THE 2024 BAH (BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING) RATES ARE HERE

Every year, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) releases the annual BAH rates for the following year. The Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) provides financial assistance to help military families cover the cost of housing and other living expenses. While inflation is finally heading down, many military families are still feeling economic pressures as the cost of living continues to present challenges. Learn more about the 2024 BAH rates, which have received a notable increase.

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BAH Calculator 2024

The 2024 BAH rates are here, but they are not the same for everyone. For example, depending on which base you live on and whether or not you have dependents, among other factors, can affect your compensation.

On average, you can expect to see an increase of around $85 to $194 monthly for the 2024 rates. But if you want to get a firmer idea of what the BAH rates in 2024 will be, you’ll need to use the Basic Allowance for Housing Rate Lookup.

Remember, the DoD calculates these rates based on a uniformed service member's geographic duty location, pay grade, and dependency status, along with housing costs in each local market. So, they will vary. BAH is payable only when government quarters, such as barracks, are not provided or when a service member has dependents.

2024 BAH Rates

2024 military BAH rates are increasing by an average of 5.4%. This means around a million military members are going to receive just under $28 billion. Individual rate protection safeguards active duty members from experiencing a decrease in their BAH rate compared to 2023, provided their eligibility status remains unchanged.

This measure aims to protect those who have committed to long-term leases or contracts from being unfairly affected by reductions in local housing costs. The protection remains in effect unless there are changes in the service member's status due to factors such as a Permanent Change of Station (PCS), a reduction in pay grade, or alterations in dependency status.

It's important to note that BAH is categorized by with-dependents and without-dependents, not by the number of dependents, and rate protection continues upon arrival at a new duty station, allowing for any published increase while preventing a decrease if the service member's status remains consistent.

However, there may be exceptions. Particularly, because the 2024 BAH rates chart must encompass calculations and factors for hundreds of military facilities.

What Is BAH?

BAH in the military is an acronym standing for Basic Allowance for Housing. Active-duty personnel can receive a stipend that aims at covering about 95% of the cost of renting a home. Those serving in the Reserves or the National Guard who have been on active duty for 30 days minimum are also eligible for BAH.

While living off-base, you'll still receive money to cover your rent and utilities in addition to this stipend. The amount of military BAH pay you receive is based on different factors that make up your rate. These can include your rank, the number of dependents you have, and the average rate of rentals in your base’s real estate market.

How Does Dual Military BAH Work?

Dual military BAH works similarly to standard military pay BAH when you're married but don’t have any dependents. In this case, the spouses in a married relationship who are on active duty will receive the rate that's proportional to their rank and location if both are without dependents.

Things change when married troops receive BAH for military benefits but also have a child. Married couples with children will still receive BAH, but your rate will fall under the highest ranking partner’s allotment to receive the with-dependent BAH rate.

Different Types of Housing Allowances

There are different types of BAH created to help a wide range of those serving cover housing costs. Even people living in the barracks can receive BAH for military housing. Here are some of the different types of housing allowances available to those who serve:

• Partial BAH

  This is for those serving who live in government quarters and have no dependents. Your total housing allowance is lower than traditional BAH but can help pay for expenses. Those living in barracks, on-base housing, or temporary on-base housing are eligible.

• BAH Reserve Component/Transit (BAH RC/T)

  This can go by many names, including BAH Type 2 or BAH Type II. BAH Type II doesn’t take location into consideration to determine your rate and only looks at your rank and number of dependents. BAH RC/T is available for those serving in the National Guard who have activated less than 30 days.

• BAH-Differential (BAH-Diff)

  This is for those living in government quarters but also paying child support. BAH Diff is not available to someone who pays less in child support than what they would be eligible for.

For couples who divorce, military divorce BAH rates are often based on BAH-Diff, but there are many factors that may determine this rate change, most notably, court decisions.

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Jared Golden Is Leading the Call for an Inflation Bonus for Troops This article was originally published on VeteranLife.com. The DoD 2023 BAH Rates & Other Efforts Are Fighting Inflation for Troops

Sources:

DOD Releases 2024 Basic Allowance for Housing Rate, DoD. Accessed December 2023. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3617400/dod-releases-2024-basic-allowance-for-housing-rates/

Basic Allowance for Housing, DTMO. Accessed December 2023. https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/Basic-Allowance-for-Housing/

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), U.S. Army. Accessed 2023. https://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Benefit-Library/Federal-Benefits/Basic-Allowance-for-Housing-(BAH)

Different Types of BAH, DoD. Accessed 2023. https://militarypay.defense.gov/pay/allowances/bah_types.aspx