{"id":30836,"date":"2023-04-03T22:01:48","date_gmt":"2023-04-03T22:01:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/04\/03\/more-troops-will-soon-be-eligible-for-basic-needs-allowance\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T15:19:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T15:19:12","slug":"more-troops-will-soon-be-eligible-for-basic-needs-allowance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/fedlife\/2023\/04\/03\/more-troops-will-soon-be-eligible-for-basic-needs-allowance\/","title":{"rendered":"More troops will soon be eligible for Basic Needs Allowance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

More service members will soon qualify for a new allowance that\u2019s designed to help them put food on the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defense officials plan to change eligibility rules for the Basic Needs Allowance<\/a> in July, increasing the income eligibility cap to 150% of federal poverty guidelines, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said during a March 28 Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s six months before DoD is required by law to make the change. The higher income cap \u201cwill allow us to help more families,\u201d Austin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a related move, two members of the House have introduced legislation to make the Basic Needs Allowance tax exempt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mandated in the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, the allowance serves as a safety net for military families to help combat food insecurity<\/a>. It went into effect in January, and currently goes to troops whose total family income is less than 130% of federal poverty guidelines, which, in addition to total family income, are based on household size and location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, lawmakers included a provision raising the income eligibility cap for the allowance to 150% of federal poverty guidelines, which would allow more families to qualify. DoD is required to implement the new provision by 2024, but the law allows them to do it earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initial screening by the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy found 85 service members who may be eligible<\/a>. The Army issued its guidance on Feb. 27 and has begun screening its soldiers<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Based on Defense Department estimates, the higher income cap would increase the number of active duty families who might be eligible for the allowance to about 2,400.<\/p>\n\n\n\t