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SCHWETZINGEN, Germany – Some U.S. Army, Europe Soldiers may see
changes in their housing allowances this month as the Department of
Defense implements new housing allowance policy.
These changes stem from legislation that changes the way housing
allowances are computed. Essentially, the changes related to the
Overseas Housing Allowance. Previously, OHA contained a basic allowance
for housing (called BAH Type II for locations outside the continental
U.S.) and a supplement to reimburse for cost of housing. The changes
eliminate BAH Type II as an allowance, and bases OHA totally on
reimbursable housing costs. Soldiers who were receiving only BAH II
will lose this allowance, beginning this month.
USAREUR-based Soldiers in the following categories may see pay changes
in their October Leave and Earnings Statement:
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Soldiers living off post with no lease
registered with the housing office;
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Single Soldiers living in economy housing
who subsequently deploy and do not retain their off-post lease
agreement;
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Soldiers who perform an Early Return of
Dependents (ERD) at their own expense.
Also, single Soldiers drawing any BAH differential allowance for child
support will see a change in their January 2006 LES.
These new rules have been published in the Joint Federal Travel
Regulation and the Department of Defense Financial Management
Regulation. More information is available on the 266th Finance Command
website at
https://www.266fc.hqusareur.army.mil/.
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Soldiers who share rent should make sure their rental agreement is on
file with the local housing office. Soldiers must have an approved
rental agreement to receive. The BAH II Soldiers have previously
received is no longer authorized as an allowance.
If
you are a single Soldier living in off-post (“on the economy”) quarters
and are in receipt of temporary change of station deployment orders, you
will continue to receive OHA only if your off-post lease agreement is
approved through the housing office. Soldiers who live off-post and do
not have a housing-approved lease should register with their supporting
housing office now to ensure they are eligible for the appropriate
housing allowances.
Since Sept. 30, Soldiers who complete an early return of dependents at
their own expense will continue to receive OHA if they retain off-post
quarters at their permanent duty station. No other housing allowance
will be authorized for dependents at any other location. Soldiers who
receive an approved authorization for an ERD will be entitled to a
housing allowance at the dependents’ location based on the ERD order.
Beginning Dec. 31, Basic Allowance for Housing, Differential (an
allowance for child support) will be eliminated for single Soldiers
residing in economy quarters. Soldiers stationed OCONUS will receive
OHA at the with-dependent rate. Single Soldiers residing in single type
government quarters (barracks) will continue to receive BAH Diff.
Soldiers can now receive OHA at the with-dependent rate for dependents,
even if they are not command sponsored. The command sponsorship
requirement still remains for receiving the with-dependent OCONUS Cost
of Living Allowance.
As
of Oct. 1, OCONUS COLA and OHA stop when a Soldier departs the OCONUS
duty station for a new CONUS duty station. Previously, COLA and OHA
could continue for 60 days if family members remained at the OCONUS duty
station. New procedures require approval by Headquarters, Department of
the Army G1 to continue OHA in this instance.
For more detailed
information regarding these housing allowance changes and other
financial issues, click on the 266th Finance Command website at
https://www.266fc.hqusareur.army.mil/.
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* The 266th Finance Command link can
only be accessed from a .mil domain. |
