BAH

FutureMrsSS

So me and my FI live in different states, and after getting married I am moving to where he is. I was just talking to him and he said it takes 2 months to get BAH. Is that true? He said that he can't put in any of the paperwork for it or to get approved to live off base until we have the marriage certificate, and after all the paper work is filled out it takes about two months. What has been other peoples experience with this? I don't want to get married and have another two months not living together. 

Sammy0709

Sorry, I can't help. DH was high enough ranking to be living off base and receiving BAH before we got married. Good luck, though. Some of the other ladies probably have experience with this.

BinxRose

I know some friends who have had to wait for up to a couple of months for BAH to start coming through, but then you get back-paid (they give you the money for those last two months). I'm not sure why your FI can't live off base if not married. My H and I lived together off base for almost 1.5 years while not married, and he also didn't start getting BAH til November (at which point we still were not married, but he was then ranked high enough to receive BAH). So we actually lived off base, not married, not getting BAH, paying rent out of our own pockets for almost 10 months.

EDIT- clarification

ggirl2001

Our BAH kicked in right away. We got married 8/7/11. We went to file our own marriage certificate the next day instead of having the officiant mail it in. We went on base on 8/9/11 and filled out all the paperwork, he officially checked out of the barracks (I moved down a few months before the wedding and he was living with me at that point, but had never checked out of barracks). I got enrolled in DEERS, etc. We had no problems with BAH. 

But, if they do take that long, they do backdate it to your wedding date. 

I would try to see if you can file your marriage certificate yourself, then pay for extra certified copies. That saved us a few weeks by doing that. 

Zimsgirl

I live with FI and he gets bah. It's been a bitch getting it switched to where we live. They stopped giving it to him randomly for 2 months then this month he got reimbursed for what they messed up. It'll go up some when we get married

kara811

Your BAH should kick right in once you are in DEERS and he has updated his Page 2 with personnel. Like someone else said, you will be back paid to the day you get married. There are some cases where it takes a while or there are mistakes with paperwork and whatnot. IMO, find a place to live even without a BAH since you will be eventually getting it anyway. But also, not living together for 2 months isn't the end of the world. I had to wait half a year since H was stationed in Japan and deployed at the time.

FutureMrsSS

Binx - Ya I don't know why he can't live off base either. I know at the base he was on before he would talk about moving off if I moved down there. I don't know if he really isn't allowed, or if its just not easy and he doesn't wana do all that until I'm there. 

ggirl - thanks thats good advice about filing the marriage certificate ourselves. I will keep that in mind! 

kara - I know two months is nothing. I reread that after I posted it and realized it sounded kind of whiny haha, but I know I'm lucky to be able to even live with him! We've been apart for almost a year now, and I had just got done skyping with him and talking about living together. It made me kinda sappy but I'm really not usually that lame! 

Thanks so much everyone. I feel like I'm so lost on all the military stuff, and constantly am asking my FI questions. So thank you its nice to have other people who have experienced it already to ask. 

BinxRose

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_bah-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:13Discussion:a7ea252d-fc8c-4d81-8bff-84d3f0082376Post:58b6936e-b9fb-4671-ab3c-d950ee45d518">Re: BAH</a>:
[QUOTE]Binx - Ya I don't know why he can't live off base either. I know at the base he was on before he would talk about moving off if I moved down there. I don't know if he really isn't allowed, or if its just not easy and he doesn't wana do all that until I'm there.  ggirl - thanks thats good advice about filing the marriage certificate ourselves. I will keep that in mind!  kara - I know two months is nothing. I reread that after I posted it and realized it sounded kind of whiny haha, but I know I'm lucky to be able to even live with him! We've been apart for almost a year now, and I had just got done skyping with him and talking about living together. It made me kinda sappy but I'm really not usually that lame!  Thanks so much everyone.<strong> I feel like I'm so lost on all the military stuff, and constantly am asking my FI questions. So thank you its nice to have other people who have experienced it already to ask. 
</strong>Posted by FutureMrsSS[/QUOTE]

That's part of why we're all here!! <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-laughing.gif" border="0" alt="Laughing" title="Laughing" />

kyrgyzstan

IPAC for the MC told us we could have started with the marriage license, not certificate. We didn't get BAH for two months though, sigh. H moved off base (where he was getting single BAH in a strange way) and into an apartment before BAH came through. 

FutureMrsSS

Thanks Binx 

Wish - We're getting married in a different state, and aren't getting our licence until the week of the wedding. Thanks for the suggestion though that would def be helpful if we could get the license beforehand. 

I feel like I'm making things sound really complicated, but it really isn't. I think were just going to save enough money for a few months of rent so whenever BAH comes through it comes through and is nothing to stress over. 

Irishcurls

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_bah-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:a7ea252d-fc8c-4d81-8bff-84d3f0082376Post:c4271941-3216-4b62-b22b-4c8d6d7b0987">Re:BAH</a>:
[QUOTE]Your BAH should kick right in once you are in DEERS and he has updated his Page 2 with personnel. Like someone else said, you will be back paid to the day you get married. <strong>There are some cases where it takes a while or there are mistakes with paperwork and whatnot.</strong> IMO, find a place to live even without a BAH since you will be eventually getting it anyway. But also, not living together for 2 months isn't the end of the world. I had to wait half a year since H was stationed in Japan and deployed at the time.
Posted by kara811[/QUOTE]
Like never filing it and then PCSing so when you go back to the office, no one even knows what you're talking about because there's no paperwork in your file and you have to redo it all. But we got backpaid <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-laughing.gif" border="0" alt="Laughing" title="Laughing" />

lrh17

I don't really have anything to add but I wanted to say hi, and congrats on your upcoming wedding! I've learned a lot about military life from these ladies, so stick around!

crownsuperstar

Hello and welcome.

I will add to make sure you look at the statement. H discovered that about four months into this deployment that he was not getting the seperation pay.  He was able to contact someone and they did bring him up to date with the payments.  (I know you asked about housing but just wanted to make sure you check everything).

crimewatcher

H was able to get his BAH adjusted right after we went to the DEERS office. But we did need the marriage license/certificate.

As for the seperation pay that Crown mentioned, the AF only pays it if you are seperated for more than 60 days, so H has to wait until the 60 days are up to apply for it and then he gets it.

crownsuperstar

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_bah-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:13Discussion:a7ea252d-fc8c-4d81-8bff-84d3f0082376Post:fc3842d1-333c-4e37-839d-cda092184e32">Re: BAH</a>:
[QUOTE]H was able to get his BAH adjusted right after we went to the DEERS office. But we did need the marriage license/certificate. As for the seperation pay that Crown mentioned, the AF only pays it if you are <strong>seperated for more than 60 days</strong>, so H has to wait until the 60 days are up to apply for it and then he gets it.
Posted by crimewatcher[/QUOTE]

Thanks for adding that.  I forgot to put that in. 

kara811

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_bah-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:a7ea252d-fc8c-4d81-8bff-84d3f0082376Post:fc3842d1-333c-4e37-839d-cda092184e32">Re: BAH</a>:
[QUOTE]H was able to get his BAH adjusted right after we went to the DEERS office. But we did need the marriage license/certificate. As for the seperation pay that Crown mentioned, the AF only pays it if you are <strong>seperated for more than 60 days</strong>, so H has to wait until the 60 days are up to apply for it and then he gets it.
Posted by crimewatcher[/QUOTE]

<div>Isn't it just 30, even for all branches? I even googled it and it said 30. So does it just take a couple of months before the allowance kicks in? Do you guys not get the montly $250 then? </div><div>
</div><div>I find it funny/odd how H would go on workups and they would come back right under the 30 day mark, like right at 28 or 29 this way the Navy won't have to give us the FSA. Smart thinking on their part though! </div>

ggirl2001

In Response to Re:BAH:[QUOTE]In Response to Re: BAH:H was able to get his BAH adjusted right after we went to the DEERS office. But we did need the marriage license/certificate. As for the seperation pay that Crown mentioned, the AF only pays it if you are seperated for more than 60 days, so H has to wait until the 60 days are up to apply for it and then he gets it.Posted by crimewatcherIsn't it just 30, even for all branches? I even googled it and it said 30. So does it just take a couple of months before the allowance kicks in? Do you guys not get the montly 250 then?nbsp;I find it funny/odd how H would go on workups and they would come back right under the 30 day mark, like right at 28 or 29 this way the Navy won't have to give us the FSA. Smart thinking on their part though!nbsp; Posted by kara811[/QUOTE]
I know it's 30 for H. That's why this training he was back before the 30th day as well ;

crownsuperstar

I just looked it up and for us it is 30 days as well. .  I just don't know for sure since he is either training for just 2 weeks or deployed for 9+ months.  HAAA  So OP I would check.

crimewatcher

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_bah-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:13Discussion:a7ea252d-fc8c-4d81-8bff-84d3f0082376Post:8084375e-f387-4619-beb4-50cced23704f">Re: BAH</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: BAH : Isn't it just 30, even for all branches? I even googled it and it said 30. So does it just take a couple of months before the allowance kicks in? Do you guys not get the montly $250 then?  I find it funny/odd how H would go on workups and they would come back right under the 30 day mark, like right at 28 or 29 this way the Navy won't have to give us the FSA. Smart thinking on their part though! 
Posted by kara811[/QUOTE]

hmmm... we do get around $200. I'll have to double check with H.

FutureMrsSS

Thanks everyone! and hello 

Ok now I have another question! Do we have to go to the DEERS office together? Or can he go by himself and do all of this with the certificate? 

kara811

You need to be there because they will take your picture for your military id and they will also need your signature. You can go without him but you'll need a POA. Make sure you have 2 forms of identification and also have your social security card. Some bases are strict and want that as well, but it also counts as indetification.

lrh17

In addition to what Kara said, he could enroll you in deers without you present, but he will need a copy of your SS card, drivers license, and maybe birth certificate, and of course the marriage certificate. He will then have to scan and send you a form to take to a place that issues military id's to get that since you have to have your pic taken and sign. So basically, he could take care of deers without you if necessary, but you need to be there for the Id.

lrh17

To clarify...you don't necessarily need to be in the same place as H to get your Id. I don't live anywhere near a base, but the federal building downtown issues id's so I just went there after H sent me the deers paperwork.

kangjisook

Depends on his chain of command and when he puts his paperwork in for it.  I was eligible to put in for it when I hit E-4 and it took about 2 months to get everything completed.  I did receive backpay, however.  So, seeing as you'll have to wait until you're actually married in order for him to put in for his BAH, he should get backpay from the date that you were married as well as any relocation pay that he may get for you moving out to live with him as a dependent.  Make sure he updates his Page 2 like ASAP though!

jrckfk

My husband was also high enough up in rank that he was also receiving BAH before we were married, but it did go up a bit after.  We got married June 7th, filed everything that week, and our BAH showed up on the June 30th pay check.  They did not give us backpay for the 8 days on the previous pay perios where we were married.   No big deal tho.  Also if you are planning on living in base housing I know the AF will let you apply and get on the waiting list for a house 60 days before the wedding.  You may want to look into that!