R 141536Z JUN 01
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//MP//
TO MARADMIN
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UNCLAS //N07220//
MARADMIN 286/01
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON/MP/MPO-40//
SUBJ/BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING (BAH)//
REF/A/DOC/OASD/6JUN01//
AMPN/THE REFERENCE IS OASD MEMO OF 6 JUN 01 WHICH PROVIDES
IMPLEMENTATION POLICY REGARDING RETAINING THE STATION RATE
OF BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING (BAH) UPON PCA/PCS//
POC/A.J. GILMORE/MAJ/COML 703-784-9387/DSN 278-9387//
RMKS/1. THIS MARADMIN WILL PROVIDE INTERIM POLICY PENDING UPDATE
OF THE DOD FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REGULATION.
2. CONGRESS ADDED AUTHORITY IN THE FY01 NATIONAL DEFENSE
AUTHORIZATION ACT (NDAA) TO BASE BAH ON THE OLD PERMANENT DUTY
STATION RATE IN SITUATIONS INVOLVING LOW OR NO COST PERMANENT
CHANGE OF ASSIGNMENTS (PCA) WITHIN THE UNITED STATES AND FOR
SITUATIONS WHERE THE MEMBER AND DEPENDENTS ARE RESIDING SEPARATELY
BECAUSE OF A PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION (PCS). THESE AUTHORITIES
ARE DESIGNED TO CORRECT INEQUITIES IN ENTITLEMENT RULES INVOLVING
ADJACENT HOUSING AREAS WITH DIFFERENT BAH RATES.
3. THE FIRST AUTHORITY ALLOWS CONTINUATION OF THE OLD STATION RATE
UPON PCA. AS AN EXAMPLE, A MEMBER ASSIGNED TO THE PENTAGON WHO
RESIDES IN THE QUANTICO MILITARY HOUSING AREA (PRINCE WILLIAM
COUNTY), WHO IS REASSIGNED TO QUANTICO UNDER A NO COST PCA WILL
NOW BE ABLE TO CONTINUE RECEIVING THE HIGHER DC BAH. MOVEMENT OF
HOUSEHOLD GOODS WAS NOT AUTHORIZED AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE. UNDER
EXISTING RULES, THE MEMBER'S BAH ENTITLEMENT WOULD CHANGE FROM THE
HIGHER WASHINGTON DC RATE TO THE LOWER PRINCE WILIAM COUNTY RATE
UPON REASSIGNMENT. THE NEW AUTHORITY ALLOWS CONTINUATION OF THE
OLD STATION RATE. THE LOGIC FOR "PROTECTION" IN THIS CASE IS THAT
IT IS NOT EQUITABLE TO REDUCE THE MEMBER'S BAH WHEN THE MEMBER HAS
NOT MADE ANY CHANGE IN HOUSING.
4. THE SECOND CHANGE IN THE AUTHORITY TO USE THE OLD STATION RATE
ADDRESSES SITUATIONS WHERE DEPENDENTS ARE RESIDING SEPARATELY FROM
THE MEMBER BECAUSE OF A PCS. THE MOST COMMON APPLICATION OF THIS
AUTHORITY WOULD BE FOR MEMBERS SERVING IN DEPENDENT-RESTRICTED
ASSIGNMENTS OVERSEAS. UNDER PREVIOUS LAW, WHEN A MEMBER SERVED ON
AN UNACCOMPANIED TOUR OVERSEAS, THE HOUSING ENTITLEMENT CHANGED
FROM THE OLD PERMANENT DUTY STATION RATE TO THE DEPENDENT'S
LOCATION RATE. FOR EXAMPLE, A MEMBER ASSIGNED TO MCAS MIRAMAR WHO
LIVED IN THE CAMP PENDLETON AREA RECEIVED THE SAN DIEGO ALLOWANCE
BASED ON DUTY ASSIGNMENT. IF THE MEMBER TRANSFERRED TO OKINAWA ON
AN UNACCOMPANIED TOUR, THE HOUSING ALLOWANCE CHANGED TO THE LOWER
CAMP PENDLETON RATE EVEN THOUGH THE FAMILY DID NOT MOVE. IF THE
MEMBER RETURNED FROM OKINAWA AND WAS AGAIN ASSIGNED TO MCAS MIRAMAR,
THE HOUSING ENTITLEMENT WAS RESTORED TO THE HIGHER SAN DIEGO RATE.
AGAIN, THE CONCEPT OF "PROTECTION" IN THIS CASE IS THAT IT IS NOT
PROPER TO REDUCE HOUSING ALLOWANCES WHEN THE MEMBER HAS NOT MADE
ANY CHANGE IN HOUSING. IF THE MEMBER USES THE AUTHORITY TO MOVE THE
FAMILY TO A NEW LOCATION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ASSIGNMENT TO THE
UNACCOMPANIED TOUR, THEN THE MEMBER HAS CHOSEN TO CHANGE HIS HOUSING
AND THERE IS NO OBLIGATION TO CONTINUE THE OLD STATION RATE.
5. EFFECTIVE DATE: 1 JULY 2001//
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