The authorization and payment of post allowance is governed by the provisions of Chapter 200 of the Department of State Standardized Regulations (DSSR). Post allowance is a cost-of-living allowance granted to full-time employees officially stationed at a post in a foreign area where the cost of living, exclusive of quarters costs, is substantially higher than in Washington, D.C. Part-time, intermittent, and U.S. family member winter/summer hire employees are not eligible for post allowance. The post allowance is paid to eligible full-time employees even though they may not be eligible for LQA, post differential or other allowances. Post allowance is non taxable income.

When married couple employees without family members are both eligible for the post allowance, each may be granted the post allowance in Section 229 for one person. When married couple employees with family members are both eligible for the post allowance, one employee spouse, at his/her option, may receive the post allowance for family members. The other employee may be granted the post allowance for one person only. Civilian employees who are spouses of military members receiving a cost of living allowance (COLA) at the "with family" rate will be granted the post allowance for the "without family" rate for one person only.

The post allowance rate is determined by the post classification of the employee’s post, his/her salary, family size, and the applicable annual rate prescribed in Section 229.1 of the DSSR. Your personnel center representative should be able to advise you if a post allowance is currently authorized at your post of assignment. If a post allowance is authorized and you are currently a full-time employee not receiving a post allowance, you may submit a completed SF-1190, Foreign Allowances Application, Grant, and Report, through the DoDEA Allowance Processing System (DAPS) to initiate your post allowance. Completion of the SF-1190 provides the necessary information to determine the correct amount of post allowances based on family members residing at the post. However, if you are married to a civilian employee who is currently claiming you for post allowance, then your civilian spouse must concurrently make an adjustment to his/her post allowance authorization to delete you as a family member as there can be no duplication of benefits.

For further information on post allowance, go to Section 220 of the DSSR.