The Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is based on geographic duty location, pay grade, and dependency status. The intent of BAH is to provide uniformed servicemembers accurate and equitable housing compensation based on housing costs in local civilian housing markets, and is payable when government quarters are not provided.
Each year the BAH tables are released between December 15 and January 1.
2010 BAH Update:
Although some servicemembers may see their BAH increase as much as 13.6 percent in 2010, the average increase will be more like 2.5 percent. Driven by lower rental costs in many areas, the 2010 BAH average increase is quite a bit smaller than the 2009 average rate increase of 6.9 percent.
View the 2010 BAH Rate tables:
2010 BAH With Dependents (pdf)
2010 BAH Without Dependents (pdf)
Non-Locality (Reserve Component/Transient and Differential BAH Rates)
Search for your BAH rate by zip code
You can also view the 2009 BAH rate tables:
2009 BAH With Dependents (pdf)
2009 BAH Without Dependents (pdf)
According to the DoD, BAH rates now make it possible for servicemembers to have zero out-of-pocket expense -- for servicemembers living in civilian rented housing. Since 2008 the BAH rates are directly related to the cost increases of the local rental housing markets.
Although BAH rates will generally either remain stable or increase, there may be some areas that decrease due to a decreasing local rental market. However, individual rate protection will still apply. Individual rate protection prevents the decrease of a BAH rate as long as the status of a servicemember remains unchanged. The servicemember who is already attached to his or her unit and receiveng BAH will receive any published BAH increase, but no decrease. When the new BAH rates go into effect, rate protection assures that the servicemembers typical out-of-pocket costs may be less, but never more, than upon their reporting date.
