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Thursday, December 17, 2015

Military service members to get 3.4 percent more in 2016 for housing

The Defense Department released housing allowance rates for 2016, as service members head into a second year of cost-sharing increases.

DoD said Dec. 15 that the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates will increase by an average of 3.4 percent starting Jan. 1, or roughly $54 per month.

“The cost-sharing amounts incorporated in the 2016 Basic Allowance for Housing rates vary by grade and dependency status and range from $24 to $57 monthly. This means for 2016, a typical member will need to absorb [2] percent of the national average housing cost by pay grade,” the department stated in a release.

The 2 percent increase is part of a four-year phase-in to shift some costs to members, with the amount increasing each year by 1 percent through 2018. By 2019 and after that year, members will be paying for 5 percent of their housing costs and utilities.

“This rate computation change slows the growth of certain military pay and benefits in a fair, responsible and sustainable way,” DoD said. “Even with these nominal changes, the overall military pay and benefits package remains robust and healthy.”

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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

This paltry amount of money for those willing to give their lives, while Congress makes a minimum of $156,000 per year plus benefits. We the people...

Anonymous said...

Military pay is not too bad. Say for example you went in the Air Force 5 years ago and are now a Staff Sergeant. (5 years is about average TIS for E-5). Base pay is $2797 per month, plus BAH which for 21804 is $1377 (with dependents) plus $378 for Basic allowance for sustenance. Totals up to $4552 per month. BAH and BAS are not taxed, so there is a benefit there. Roughly 184 hours a month for a typical civilian job that would be $24.74 an hour. Not too bad for starting out fresh from high school, get paid to attend school and learn a trade and quickly make some decent pay.

The culture now in the military is so rancid because of this administration, so hopefully a good conservative president will be voted in next year and remove some of the disgust for the current president, then the military will be a good place to go.