Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 2/10/2008

Question
Ma'am:

I am an E-3 currently at Fort Lewis at 68WM6 school.  Over the Christmas exodus, I married my long-term boyfriend.(We have been together for over four years) I am trying to collect BAH, of which I am entitled, but am being told that I have to be on my husband's mortgage.  My husband has had the mortgage for years, and adding a name to the mortgage is not an easy feat. I have documentation proving that we are married and that I have been living at the house.  Unfortunately, I am being told that I will not receive any help towards housing, and it has been insinuated that I am perhaps doing something "shady".  Please help.  I have looked at Department of Defense Pay Regulations, Volume 7a, Chapter 26, but still cannot find black and white documentation regarding exact documentation needed.

Thank you for your time. It is much appreciated.

Answer
Dear Kara --

Since you were not married at the start of this enlistment, and are living in the barracks, the government has provided housing for you.

You cannot apply for the housing allowance just because you married someone, if your housing is provided for you.  Since you are an E-3, and your husband does not reside in the Fort Lewis area, you are not likely to be given permission to live off-post.  Housing allowance is only authorized when the government does not provide you with living quarters, or you were married before your orders were issued and you are sent to an unaccompanied assignment.

What you are authorized is health care for your husband, and a dependent's ID card for him too.  You need to fill out a DD Form 1172, and bring that  form and a copy of your marriage certificate to your personnel center.  They will prepare documentation to allow your husband to get an ID card, and they will register him in DEERS.  Depending on his location, he will be eligible for Tricare Prime, or Tricare Prime Remote.  His ID card will allow him on base to shop at the PX and Commissary, if a base is near to his home.

Please write back, if you continue to have trouble getting him his ID card and DEERS registration.