Does the US Air Force now pay your BAQ up front yearly if you live off post?

Question

I was in the Army and received this benefit monthly along with the VHA. I have a son interested in the military and am looking into all the benefits, careers of each service. I recently heard that the Air Force pays your monthly BAQ upfront for the entire year. I found this odd, since a lot can happen-divorce, orders etc. and you may have to pay it back. Any of you NCOs out there fill me in?

Answer 1

BAQ and VHA were replaced by the BAH. Every base now has their own BAH rate. It is still based on rank and with or w/o dependants, so that can make huge differences in what people get each month.
And it is still monthly... no way would they do it upfront. Like you said, too much can happen.
Now, while they have tried to make it cover more of your actual expenses, most folks end up with about 15-20% of their rent and utilities coming out of pocket. Most cannot pay it all on BAH. The only time you can is when you are overseas and you not only get your BAH, but also your utilities allowance. The UA helps make up for the extraordinarily high cost of water, heating, and cooking fuels that many of us face.

Answer 2

It's not called BAQ anymore. It is BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) and BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistence). No, it's not paid "upfront", it is still applied bi-monthly on the 1st and 15th (paydays).

It is tax-free, however, so it's not really considered part of your income. It is based on where you're stationed, not the cost of the apartment, so be careful. Some guys I knew when I was in would sign a lease for an expensive place, and then find themselves hurting on payday because BAH didn't cover the entire rent.

Check out http://www.dfas.mil for paycharts, BAH and BAS rates, etc.

Answer 3

Okay, according to the JFTR, you can live off post/base with the permission of your Chain of Command. Now, if you are trying to request BAH when there are quarters available for you, you may have to come out of pocket for your living expenses. If your Command is all for it, to make room for new LTs, then simply fill out your services request for BAH, submit your your Finance Office. As for a mileage limit, there is none. You should know your place of duty and should/will be there at any given point of time (ie, be on time).