Here Are Your 2022 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) Rates

Moving is difficult, and military families know this well. Amidst the PCS chaos, the 2022 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) softens the blow. This allowance helps service members cover housing costs, varying by location, pay grade, and dependency status.

This is vital for service members. Many wonder why there’s a housing allowance and where the 2022 BAH data comes from. Let’s delve into these questions and other BAH-related inquiries.

Table of Contents:

• Understanding the 2022 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)
  • How 2022 BAH Rates Are Determined
  • BAH Rate Protection
• 2022 BAH Rates Table For Example Location – Fort Hood, Texas (ZIP code: 76544)
• Conclusion

Understanding the 2022 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)

The 2022 BAH rates used data from the third quarter of 2021. This data includes rental and homeowner costs like rent, insurance, property taxes, and utilities. This data collection method provides a comprehensive look at the housing market.

The 2022 BAH rates reflect the 2021 housing market. This can surprise service members if their allowance decreases or remains stagnant despite rising rental housing costs at their new duty station. Service members relocating to expensive areas may struggle with BAH shock around Veterans Day. While some can use government housing, most rely on their 2022 BAH. Having a firm grasp of the BAH primer will give you the utmost preparation to secure good housing.

How 2022 BAH Rates Are Determined

Many things determine your 2022 BAH rate, including your duty station’s location and zip code. Dependency status affects those in the Active Duty military, National Guard, Air Force, Space Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

BAH rates vary by pay grade, E-1 through O-10. Understanding grade-specific rates clarifies 2022 BAH. “Pay grade,” not “rank,” is important for these calculations, since pay grade determines BAH entitlements and rates for permanent duty. Having multiple saved jobs and searches could influence what BAH rate a service member has to cover their housing costs.

BAH Rate Protection

Good news for service members: If your BAH rate dropped from 2021 to 2022, you kept the higher rate. This commercial travel benefit mitigates the impact of changing housing costs and DTMO data.

BAH, a non-taxable part of military pay, supplements base pay. More resources include the VA loan, housing allowance primer, veteran employment information, and 2022 BAH podcasts. Service members, CONUS or overseas, can ask their Defense Department office about past entitlements for insight into other allowances that could change how BAH is calculated. It is the only single focal point allowance as a localized calculation at each service member’s assigned location, which has led some service members to take advantage of saved searches to learn about their housing choices and seek career advice on job searches to afford commercial travel.

2022 BAH Rates Table For Example Location – Fort Hood, Texas (ZIP code: 76544)

Grade	Without Dependent	With Dependent
E-1	$1,311	$1,512
E-2	$1,383	$1,584
E-3	$1,458	$1,632
E-4	$1,521	$1,632
E-5	$1,563	$1,719
E-6	$1,644	$1,815
E-7	$1,827	$1,956
E-8	$1,851	$1,956
E-9	$1,884	$1,968
O-1	$1,824	$2,127
O-2	$2,067	$2,328
O-3	$2,118	$2,496
O-4	$2,274	$2,667
O-5	$2,544	$2,766
O-6	$2,664	$2,838
O-7	$2,769	$2,997
O-8	$2,889	$3,132
O-9	$3,063	$3,144
O-10	$3,063	$3,231

Conclusion

Military life has unique housing challenges. Understanding the 2022 BAH is key to good housing choices. BAH rate protection eases PCS transitions. Vet friendly employers often offer relocation support, which can make a difference to veterans utilizing VA benefits and seeking new employment. BAH is meant to cover 95% of housing expenses while service members pay the remaining 5% out of pocket.