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Housing and moving
Some of the toughest decisions in the military revolve around housing and moving. Should you live on base or off? Should you have a moving company deliver your household goods, or should you move them yourself? Before you make any decisions, you can get smart on those issues and more here.
Study: Bigger housing payouts encourage younger marriages — and divorces
Higher rates of pay and benefits for married troops encourages service members to wed at a younger age than the general public — and lead to a "significantly greater" divorce rate for those who... Posted Wednesday Apr 21, 2010 14:27:26 EDT
Loans could tide over HAP homeowners
Military financial institutions could help military homeowners with low-interest, short-term loans while they await payments under the expanded Homeowners Assistance Program, a Defense Department... Posted Thursday Jul 30, 2009 12:29:36 EDT
House approves better moving, leave benefits
A House committee has approved a 3.4 percent increase in military pay on Jan. 1, an increase in household goods weight limits for career enlisted members and more leave days for service members busy... Posted Tuesday Jun 23, 2009 15:58:44 EDT
Alliance advocates steady rise in BAH
If Congress is unwilling to make a one-time adjustment in the residence standards used to set the basic allowance for housing, a group of military and veterans associations suggests phasing in higher... Posted Thursday Jan 29, 2009 11:37:45 EST
Ripped off during a move
Electronics Technician 1st Class Jonathan Palmer watched as the Italian company packed and sealed his five crates of personal belongings for his move back to the States from Naples, Italy, in October. Posted Wednesday Jan 28, 2009 11:35:59 EST
Army’s privatized housing will absorb utility rate hikes
Troops living in privatized military housing will get some built-in relief if utility rates jump in their area — at least, if they are living on Army installations. Posted Thursday Sep 25, 2008 15:29:29 EDT
Mortgage crisis hits BRAC-affected homeowners hard
The broad effects of the housing mortgage crisis will prevent nine out of 10 homeowners affected by base closure and realignment actions from receiving financial help under the Homeowners Assistance... Posted Tuesday Aug 19, 2008 14:23:02 EDT
Plan would boost BAH for E-8s
The House of Representatives has approved a modest first step toward improving off-base living conditions for enlisted members by ordering housing allowances for E-8s to be based on the rental costs... Posted Thursday Jun 5, 2008 14:49:19 EDT
‘Erosion’ of quality-of-life funding chafes lawmakers
Sharp declines in funding for military quality-of-life programs may signal a lack of commitment by service officials, lawmakers said April 17. Posted Tuesday Apr 22, 2008 15:33:09 EDT
Sharing can lead to saving
JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — Marine Staff Sgt. Michael Martineu gave up searching the Internet for a one- or two-bedroom apartment in the Jacksonville area while he was still deployed to Iraq last year. Posted Thursday Apr 3, 2008 11:50:57 EDT
Fair play: Boosting BAH for singles
The current system of Basic Allowance for Housing payments is split between haves and have-nots — those with families and those without. Posted Thursday Apr 3, 2008 11:50:48 EDT
Paying more for homeownership
By the Pentagon's standards, single E-7s are paid enough housing allowance to rent a two-bedroom townhouse. Posted Thursday Apr 3, 2008 11:50:32 EDT
Single doesn’t mean fewer expenses
Alaska has some of the highest rent districts in the country, but the money available to soldiers for housing there is still not quite enough for Army Sgt. Romesa Fantroy. Posted Thursday Apr 3, 2008 11:50:24 EDT
Living within the allowance
SAN DIEGO — Southern California's sun-splashed, sandy beaches attract sun worshippers and surfers — Navy Lt. Jared Gianquinto included. Posted Thursday Apr 3, 2008 11:50:07 EDT
Study suggests raising partial BAH
About 65,000 single junior enlisted members live in housing that is below Defense Department standards — and they should be paid extra for that hardship, military pay experts say. Posted Thursday Apr 3, 2008 11:46:16 EDT
Housing: Basic Allowance for Housing
Many service members stationed in the U.S. live off base and collect the Basic Allowance for Housing, or BAH. The tax-free monthly allowance goes to families who cannot get government quarters or who... Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Housing: BAH Differential
Single members living on base and paying child support may qualify for additional monthly payments. For 2010, these payments range from $104.70 to $315.30. Exact amounts are determined by paygrade. Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Housing: Overseas Housing Allowance
Military members on official accompanied overseas tours either are provided housing or receive the Overseas Housing Allowance. Eligibility for OHA does not require that family members join the... Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Housing: Reservists
Reservists qualify for full BAH when mobilized for more than 30 days. In addition, reservists mobilized for 30 days or fewer specifically in support of a contingency operation also get full BAH. They... Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Housing: Two-Household Families
The government provides dual housing allowances for service members on unaccompanied tours overseas who are unable to get into government quarters, but still are supporting a family stateside. Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Housing: Barracks and Dormitories
The services call military unaccompanied personnel housing by different names, such as bachelor enlisted quarters, barracks and dormitories. All the services are upgrading their current facilities... Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Housing: Family Housing
Defense Department policy calls for relying on the civilian community first to house military families assigned in the continental U.S. But all service members with families are eligible to apply to... Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Housing: Overseas
Members with command-sponsored families — those authorized to have families accompany them to an overseas duty station — may apply for on-base housing. Adequate community housing is... Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Housing: Privatized Housing
Having private companies build, own, maintain and operate housing on government land is helping the services repair or replace inadequate housing and build new housing much more quickly than the... Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Housing: Off-Base Housing
Service members arriving at a new duty station must report to the local housing office for referral assistance before they rent or buy housing off base. Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Housing: Fair Housing Act
The Federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in the rental or purchase of a home on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, familial status or handicap. Service members who... Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Housing: Homeowners Assistance Program
Military homeowners caught in the housing market crisis may qualify to receive help under a provision signed into law Feb. 17, 2009. Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Housing: Lease Protection
The Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act protects renters in the civilian community. If a person signs a lease and subsequently enters active duty during the term of the lease, or if a service member... Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Housing: Rental Partnership Program
The Rental Partnership Program was established to help military members get adequate rental housing at a reduced rate, but it does not mean rental housing is set aside exclusively for them.... Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Housing: VA Home Loans
Service members and veterans who decide to buy or refinance a house are eligible for a home loan guaranty offered by the Veterans Affairs Department. Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Moving: Transportation
As soon as you have reassignment orders, make an appointment with your local transportation office. This is especially important for those stationed at large military installations or in locations... Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Moving: Household goods - Move.mil
As soon as you have reassignment orders, start arranging for the shipment of your household goods. With many service members moving during peak summer months, or in areas with large military... Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Moving: Automobiles
The government will ship one privately owned vehicle — an automobile, motorcycle or scooter — overseas for a service member. The limit is 20 measurement tons. One measurement ton equals... Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Moving: Baggage
Accompanied baggage is the luggage service members and family members carry on an airplane, bus, train or car. It also refers to personal documents and property such as jewelry. It is not counted in... Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Moving: Boats
Canoes, skiffs, sailboats, light rowboats, motorboats, dinghies or sculls of any size, and boat trailers may be shipped as household goods and count against your weight allowance. Service members are... Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Moving: Damage claims
Full Replacement Value protection now provides better coverage for household goods that are lost or damaged while in the care of moving companies. A member can recover $5,000 per shipment, or $4... Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Moving: Firearms
Firearms are considered part of household goods, but national, state and local laws govern their transportation. Foreign countries also have rules about firearms. Check with your transportation... Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Moving: Professional items
Professional items are not counted against your weight allowance. These include books, papers and special uniforms such as flight suits, if approved by the transportation office as necessary in the... Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Moving: Storage
Permanent storage is permitted when the amount of household goods that can be transported overseas is restricted or when service members don't take all their possessions with them. Under such... Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Moving: Weight allowances
The government sets weight limits for what it will ship. The allowed weight depends on your rank and if you have dependents. Weight allowances can be found in the Joint Federal Travel Regulations,... Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Moving: Children
Many military families make decisions about where they will live based on the educational needs of their children. The Military Child Education Coalition has a number of tools for parents to find... Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Moving: Pets
Service members must move pets at their own expense, although the cost is tax deductible. Most states have laws governing the entry of animals. Most require up-to-date rabies vaccinations for dogs... Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Moving: Relocation
Defense Department policy gives service members up to 10 days for house hunting at a new assignment location, but policies vary among the services. Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Moving: Advance Pay
Service members with permanent change-of-station orders can receive advance pay and allowances with their commander's approval. These include advances on basic pay and Basic Allowance for Housing.... Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Housing: Automated Housing Referral Network
AHRN is an online housing referral network sponsored by the Defense Department that connects military renters with a wide range of rental properties in the area near military installations in the... Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Moving: Military Homefront/Plan My Move
The Defense Department's "Plan My Move" site has information about planning and managing a permanent change-of-station move, as well as detailed information on most military installations. Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Moving: Military One Source
This Defense Department resource provides assistance in virtually any subject area related to military life, but it can be especially useful for those with questions about resources in the community... Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Moving: Services’ relocation assistance
Personnel at the services' family centers can provide soup-to-nuts information and answer specific questions from service members and family members. Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
Moving: SmartWebMove
SmartWebMove is a program for Army and Navy service members changing duty stations within the U.S. and members of other services stationed in the Washington, D.C., area. Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
2011 Insider's Guide To Military Benefits
This handbook for military life includes essential information on pay and benefits, housing, education, health care and more.
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2011 Insider's Guide To Military Benefits
