{"id":66745,"date":"2021-09-13T22:32:19","date_gmt":"2021-09-13T22:32:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/09\/13\/temporary-hike-in-bah-imminent-for-some-troops-families-caught-in-housing-crunch\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T12:58:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T12:58:10","slug":"temporary-hike-in-bah-imminent-for-some-troops-families-caught-in-housing-crunch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/management\/pay-benefits\/2021\/09\/13\/temporary-hike-in-bah-imminent-for-some-troops-families-caught-in-housing-crunch\/","title":{"rendered":"Temporary hike in BAH imminent for some troops, families caught in housing crunch"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Military members and families affected by surging housing costs<\/a> in 56 areas around the country may soon get relief through a temporary hike in their Basic Allowance for Housing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DoD officials had not officially confirmed the initiative to Military Times by publication time, but the start is imminent, according to a Pentagon source with knowledge of the discussions. The temporary BAH hike<\/a> has been approved by DoD personnel officials and is scheduled to take effect Oct. 1, the source said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A partial copy of an \u201caction memo\u201d within the Defense Department, which has been circulating on social media, requests temporary BAH increases of between 10 to 20 percent for 56 specific areas. The memo from J.B. Busch, DoD\u2019s director of military compensation policy, to Leonard Litton, acting deputy assistant secretary of defense for military personnel policy, asks for Litton\u2019s approval of the temporary BAH hikes and states the temporary rates would remain in effect through December 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Typically, BAH rates are adjusted once a year and the new rates take effect Jan. 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to several internal sources, officials are still hashing out the guidance for implementation of the temporary BAH hike. According to the memo, troops will have to request the additional BAH and quality for it based on certifying they have incurred higher housing costs. But there are no details yet on how that process will work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In those 56 areas, \u201cthe large majority of members are expected to be eligible\u201d but the exact percentage is unknown, according to the memo. Assuming the maximum number of certifications, the estimated cost to the services would be about $159 million, officials stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\t