Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 6/30/2008

Question
My husband is in the Coast Guard and has been for the past 6 years. We recently got orders to move from North Carolina to Virginia. During the transfer my husband took 27 days leave. When we got to Virginia we filled out all the papers for bah on June 11th. Then on the 18th he got a call back that there was more paperwork to do. Well we got our paycheck today for July 1st and we have no bah. He called the unit and was informed that since he took leave during the transfer that we are not eligible for bah for either area for the whole month of June and we are going to have to suffer the loss. How does this work since we filled out the paperwork and vacated military housing on June 3rd that we are not eligible for any money just because he took leave? Neither one of us can understand where we have a signed lease showing that we are living here, paying rent, electric, water and sewer to name just a few bills that we don't get any money from the military. Have you heard of this policy or is there anything we can do to at least get some bah money for the month of June. Thank you. Mandi

Answer
Dear Mandi --

Your BAH starts the day you sign in at your new duty station, if you do not get on post housing.  Since you signed out of quarters, but did not immediately travel to your new duty station and sign in, your BAH start is delayed.

However, your BAH should be prorated for the number of days of the month you were on duty and not assigned housing in your new duty locale.  You should get a few additional days of BAH for your first few days in Virginia when you get your full BAH next month.

You should also have your husband apply for his dislocation allowance which married service members can get for every accompanied move.  The dislocation allowance is one month's BAH and will make up for the 27 days BAH you "lost."  If he had a good advisor at finance, he may have already received this entitlement.  If not, he must apply for it at the finance office.

Further, if, after you signed into your new duty station, you had to stay in a hotel, motel, or temporary lodging while you waited for a house or apartment to move into, you can claim up to 10 nights lodging under the temporary lodging expense (TLE) authorization.  That should also help you recoup some of your expenses.  This only covers lodging, not taxes, parking or other fees, but it certainly helps defray the costs of the move.

If you move from off-base housing to off-base housing in the future, you will retain your BAH at the lower going rate while you are on leave enroute to you new duty station.  If you go from off-base to on-base housing, you will lose your BAH on the day you sign for housing, no matter how many days remain on your lease, and regardless of your duty status.  

I hope this helps address some of your questions.  Please write back if you have additional questions.  Good luck to you and your family.  Please thank your husband for his service.  I hope you all enjoy Virginia, and get settled in quickly.