2015 BAH rates are out.

[killercupcake]

How'd you all fare? Ours went up about 100 bucks a month. I'm shocked and happy. 

[kpol]

It doesn't matter for us overseas but it made me realize I was looking at the wrong amount to begin with for our **hopeful** next assignment.

::fingers crossed:: "next assignment" ::fingers crossed:: went up about $50 but from my reading comprehension fail, went down $300...whoops!

[NomadicMama]

The BAH went down $42 for where we are headed. It's still plenty so I won't complain.

[nsl]

This is making the decision-making process about whether or not we should move back to the DC area a lot easier. We could definitely afford a reasonably sized townhouse or even a smaller SFH in the neighborhoods we want at these rates.

[Dory1988]

Mine went up $30. His goes up $30 as well. He'll get an additional $30 when he starts getting E6 BAH.  Sooooo exciting...

[dcn]

Down almost $200. Yikes. We live on base so it doesn't matter but housing here is crazy, so that is a big decrease that would make it harder if we were just moving here.

Our rumored next move only went down $20, I was glad to see that.

[G22]

Down $75 but we'll be PCSing this summer and since we don't know where we're headed yet, I don't know what it will change to.

[meltoine]

H's BAH is going down $45, but his base pay is going up $47, so yay? $2/month. We can each buy a gum ball at the grocery store.

[VillainV]

Ours went down about $60. Where we are PCSing to, it's going down $40....

[amaristella]

Assuming I did this right where we're at went +$168 but we're in housing. So....they better not run out of the damn light bulbs I need again.

And where I think we should be moving went +$96

I believe it, too. Both locations have been having issues as of late with private rentals raising their rates just because they can and people having to move mid-tour.

[amaristella]

And I need to say that I'm laughing at how many of use have to look up two locations because we're moving soon. It's almost as though military families move a lot.

[panicked]

Our next location went from 1413 to 1239. Yikes.

[audette]

Well, crap. Our next assignment dropped by $50. (PCS countdown is measured in days at this point...)


That kinda bites, because it's been looking like we'll have to pay out of pocket already to find a decent place.  Boo.

[killercupcake]

Dec 22, 2014 18:26:29 GMT -5 Stan said:

Also, despite already knowing that they had come out, I hadn't looked up mine, just H's. I'm glad you guys still have a reason to get BAH since I always counted on you posting this kind of stuff!

When I created the post, I was totally thinking that I'm always the one who posts this thread. lol

[amaristella]

Dec 23, 2014 0:57:41 GMT -5 killercupcake said:

Dec 22, 2014 18:26:29 GMT -5 Stan said:

Also, despite already knowing that they had come out, I hadn't looked up mine, just H's. I'm glad you guys still have a reason to get BAH since I always counted on you posting this kind of stuff!

When I created the post, I was totally thinking that I'm always the one who posts this thread. lol

I would have to check but you might very well be. I think a lot of people myself included appreciate the reminder!

[ggirl]

Dec 22, 2014 16:35:15 GMT -5 killercupcake said:

How'd you all fare? Ours went up about 100 bucks a month. I'm shocked and happy. 

Your h is on GI bill right? For those getting the MHA rate the increase doesn't happen until AUGUST 1st. I looked It up yesterday. And I have no clue why my ipad made AUGUST all caps lol. 

[panicked]

Dec 22, 2014 23:05:46 GMT -5 Stan said:

Dec 22, 2014 19:52:19 GMT -5 meltoine said:

H's BAH is going down $45, but his base pay is going up $47, so yay? $2/month. We can each buy a gum ball at the grocery store.

You get grandfathered at your current rate.

What is this? We've always lived on post (or had oha instead), so I never paid attention to bah rates.

[ohyouknow]

Dec 23, 2014 8:05:17 GMT -5 panicked said:

Dec 22, 2014 23:05:46 GMT -5 Stan said:

You get grandfathered at your current rate.

What is this? We've always lived on post (or had oha instead), so I never paid attention to bah rates.

This means that once you are assigned to a location, your BAH will not drop if it goes down the next year. For example, if you move to D.C. as an E-6 in 2011 receiving $2500/month BAH and in 2012 E-6 BAH drops to $2400, you still get $2500.  This is because the government assumes you made financial commitments based on the amount you initially received, i.e. you rented/bought a $2500/month home.
However if you get promoted (in the example made E-7), then your new BAH would be the current year's E-7 BAH, unless it is lower than the E-6 BAH was. But if E-7 BAH for 2011 (the year you arrived) was $2600 and it was $2550 the year you were promoted, you get $2550.
Clear as mud?

[panicked]

Dec 23, 2014 8:27:02 GMT -5 ohyouknow said:

Dec 23, 2014 8:05:17 GMT -5 panicked said:

What is this? We've always lived on post (or had oha instead), so I never paid attention to bah rates.

This means that once you are assigned to a location, your BAH will not drop if it goes down the next year. For example, if you move to D.C. as an E-6 in 2011 receiving $2500/month BAH and in 2012 E-6 BAH drops to $2400, you still get $2500.  This is because the government assumes you made financial commitments based on the amount you initially received, i.e. you rented/bought a $2500/month home.
However if you get promoted (in the example made E-7), then your new BAH would be the current year's E-7 BAH, unless it is lower than the E-6 BAH was. But if E-7 BAH for 2011 (the year you arrived) was $2600 and it was $2550 the year you were promoted, you get $2550.
Clear as mud?

So, it's exactly what it sounds like. Forgive me, I haven't had my coffee. ;-) we aren't on official orders (and won't be until after jan 1) so this doesn't help us. Dammit!

[meltoine]

Dec 22, 2014 23:05:46 GMT -5 Stan said:

Dec 22, 2014 19:52:19 GMT -5 meltoine said:

H's BAH is going down $45, but his base pay is going up $47, so yay? $2/month. We can each buy a gum ball at the grocery store.

You get grandfathered at your current rate.

Really? I had no idea! 

[ohyouknow]

Dec 23, 2014 8:29:42 GMT -5 panicked said:

Dec 23, 2014 8:27:02 GMT -5 ohyouknow said:

This means that once you are assigned to a location, your BAH will not drop if it goes down the next year. For example, if you move to D.C. as an E-6 in 2011 receiving $2500/month BAH and in 2012 E-6 BAH drops to $2400, you still get $2500.  This is because the government assumes you made financial commitments based on the amount you initially received, i.e. you rented/bought a $2500/month home.
However if you get promoted (in the example made E-7), then your new BAH would be the current year's E-7 BAH, unless it is lower than the E-6 BAH was. But if E-7 BAH for 2011 (the year you arrived) was $2600 and it was $2550 the year you were promoted, you get $2550.
Clear as mud?

So, it's exactly what it sounds like. Forgive me, I haven't had my coffee. ;-) we aren't on official orders (and won't be until after jan 1) so this doesn't help us. Dammit!

Lol, I'm useless without coffee. :-) That sucks you are going to miss the higher BAH at your new location. :-(

[pennylane]

We are in the midst of a PCS, the new location went down by $36. It surprised me that it didn't go up.

[killercupcake]

Dec 23, 2014 7:56:32 GMT -5 ggirl said:

Dec 22, 2014 16:35:15 GMT -5 killercupcake said:

How'd you all fare? Ours went up about 100 bucks a month. I'm shocked and happy. 

Your h is on GI bill right? For those getting the MHA rate the increase doesn't happen until AUGUST 1st. I looked It up yesterday. And I have no clue why my ipad made AUGUST all caps lol. 

Yep.

That's stupid. Ugh.

[ggirl]

Dec 23, 2014 12:15:00 GMT -5 killercupcake said:

Dec 23, 2014 7:56:32 GMT -5 ggirl said:

Your h is on GI bill right? For those getting the MHA rate the increase doesn't happen until AUGUST 1st. I looked It up yesterday. And I have no clue why my ipad made AUGUST all caps lol. 

Yep.

That's stupid. Ugh.

Lol agreed. Our rate went up too. It would've provided another cushion for us with the baby coming. We have more than enough in savings for me to be unpaid for 8 weeks. But. Still. Would've provided another sense of security lol.

[killercupcake]

Dec 23, 2014 12:20:56 GMT -5 ggirl said:

Dec 23, 2014 12:15:00 GMT -5 killercupcake said:

Yep.

That's stupid. Ugh.

Lol agreed. Our rate went up too. It would've provided another cushion for us with the baby coming. We have more than enough in savings for me to be unpaid for 8 weeks. But. Still. Would've provided another sense of security lol.

Do you know if they pay out over summer? H has to take some classes this summer to stay on schedule.

[ggirl]

Dec 23, 2014 12:37:28 GMT -5 killercupcake said:

Dec 23, 2014 12:20:56 GMT -5 ggirl said:

Lol agreed. Our rate went up too. It would've provided another cushion for us with the baby coming. We have more than enough in savings for me to be unpaid for 8 weeks. But. Still. Would've provided another sense of security lol.

Do you know if they pay out over summer? H has to take some classes this summer to stay on schedule.

IF he is taking a full course load then I think yes but if not it is a pro rated amount I think?

[killercupcake]

Dec 23, 2014 12:40:12 GMT -5 ggirl said:

Dec 23, 2014 12:37:28 GMT -5 killercupcake said:

Do you know if they pay out over summer? H has to take some classes this summer to stay on schedule.

IF he is taking a full course load then I think yes but if not it is a pro rated amount I think?

Okay, this is good news. lol Thanks!

[prettyinpink]

Dec 23, 2014 12:37:28 GMT -5 killercupcake said:

Dec 23, 2014 12:20:56 GMT -5 ggirl said:

Lol agreed. Our rate went up too. It would've provided another cushion for us with the baby coming. We have more than enough in savings for me to be unpaid for 8 weeks. But. Still. Would've provided another sense of security lol.

Do you know if they pay out over summer? H has to take some classes this summer to stay on schedule.

E has taking classes in the summer and got his. Our friend's husband took a small load and got a pro-rated amount.

[prettyinpink]

Dec 23, 2014 12:15:00 GMT -5 killercupcake said:

Dec 23, 2014 7:56:32 GMT -5 ggirl said:

Your h is on GI bill right? For those getting the MHA rate the increase doesn't happen until AUGUST 1st. I looked It up yesterday. And I have no clue why my ipad made AUGUST all caps lol. 

Yep.

That's stupid. Ugh.

We always got the rate increase right away on the GI Bill.

[ilovecandy]

I haven't looked at our current base but we are moving mid jan and the new base it went down $126 which makes it extremely hard to find off post housing. We are looking into buying again there.

ETA: for grammar and to add that at our base his rank went down $13 but grandfathers plus hey only $13 so not a big deal.