{"id":73562,"date":"2023-05-10T21:32:45","date_gmt":"2023-05-10T21:32:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/05\/10\/could-troops-get-a-100-housing-allowance-jan-1-what-that-would-mean\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T12:28:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T12:28:42","slug":"could-troops-get-a-100-housing-allowance-jan-1-what-that-would-mean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/management\/pay-benefits\/mil-money\/2023\/05\/10\/could-troops-get-a-100-housing-allowance-jan-1-what-that-would-mean\/","title":{"rendered":"Could troops get a 100% housing allowance Jan. 1? What that would mean"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Troops with families could get $100 to $184 more money each month, on average, if the Defense Department were to boost Basic Allowance for Housing levels from 95% to the full 100% of their housing costs \u2014 eliminating the cost share that troops now shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A recent DoD analysis, mandated by Congress, shows that if Pentagon leaders did decide to restore the full BAH level, as many lawmakers want, troops without dependents would get from $82 extra to $164 extra per month, on average.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, defense officials reduced the amount<\/a> of housing allowances they pay to military families from the full cost to 95% of their rental costs, as determined by the Basic Allowance for Housing formula. The cost-saving measure was authorized by Congress, but it wasn\u2019t required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But due to economic conditions, concerns have grown about the affordability and availability of housing for military families<\/a>. The rapidly rising cost of housing even persuaded defense officials to implement a temporary BAH increase at the beginning of fiscal years 2022 and 2023 to help service members find affordable, quality housing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, lawmakers have been urging defense officials to again have BAH cover 100% of troops\u2019 housing costs, which DoD can do without legislation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress also required DoD to analyze how much money the 5% boost would put in the pockets of average service members, based on rank and dependent status, as well as what it would cost the department. It won\u2019t come cheap. Paying the full cost of housing would add up to $1.1 billion in DoD outlays in 2024 if the full BAH were restored in January. That\u2019s in addition to the $26.8 billion in BAH <\/a>currently paid to about 1 million service members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DoD\u2019s analysis, obtained by Military Times, shows, for example, that an E-5 with dependents would see an extra $111 a month, on average; an O-2 with dependents, would get an average of $118 more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Department analysts also looked at the costs of gradually implementing a boost in the allowance, but their report doesn\u2019t include recommendations about whether the department or Congress should act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The current 5% out-of-pocket housing cost \u201creduces the buying power of service member families<\/a>, especially in high cost areas of the United States,\u201d lawmakers stated in their 2022 report requiring the DoD analysis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Family advocates share their concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMilitary families, like all Americans, have felt the financial pressure from the pandemic, inflation and a volatile housing market,\u201d said Shannon Razsadin, president and executive director of the Military Family Advisory Network. \u201cBut military families don\u2019t have the option to hunker down and ride it out. They move due to military orders, on average, every 2.5 years. From our extensive work on housing and food insecurity, we see a clear intersection between paying for housing and purchasing healthy food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt a time when nearly one-quarter of military families are experiencing food insecurity, an extra $100 per month could make all the difference,\u201d she said. \u201cWe are encouraged by the options DoD presented and are hopeful Congress will lay the path for a full restoration of the housing allowance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t