Basic Allowance for Housing rates to change this year Published Jan. 9, 2015 By Ryan Stark Nucleus writer KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Basic Allowance for Housing rates are changing for Kirtland Airmen this year. BAH is financial assistance provided by the Air Force for personnel who choose to live off base. Lt. Col. Tracy Bell, commander of the 377th Comptroller Squadron at Kirtland, said there are some changes to be aware of, but the impact should be relatively limited. "It's an economic decision for an Air Force member to decide whether they want to live on or off base," Bell said. "In the past, BAH included (money for) renters' insurance, but now it is no longer included." Tech. Sgt. Luis Sierra, the flight chief for financial services for the Comptroller Squadron, said BAH makes a big difference for Airmen and their dependents, including his own family. "It's intended to offset the cost of housing," he said. "To find suitable accommodation for all of them would be difficult on my salary." With the latest defense authorization bill approved by Congress, BAH will no longer cover the cost of renters' insurance, and will only cover 99 percent of the average rental cost, calculated based on average rental rates for a given area and the Airman's pay grade. Bell said 2,625 Airmen at Kirtland receive BAH. The comptroller squadron manages a payout of $3.49 million a month here for BAH. He said BAH covers more than it once did. It covered only around 80 percent of rental averages during the Cold War era. Even with recent changes, Bell said, Airmen would only see a change in their current BAH rate if they have a change in duty status, a transfer or a promotion. "Anyone who currently receives a BAH for their rank in 2014 won't see a change," he said. "The impact will be minimal to most people stationed at Kirtland." In fact, the overall amount of BAH money available on a monthly basis will go up slightly in most cases, he said. For example, an airman basic with dependents would have received $1,188 a month upon coming to Kirtland in 2014. The 2015 rate at the same pay grade is $1,197. Should an Airman receive a promotion, BAH rates also increase. This year's rate for a master sergeant with dependents would be $1,353, a captain with dependents would receive $1,371 and so on. The overall possible range for anyone receiving BAH at Kirtland is between $939 and $1,680 per month. Those with questions or concerns about BAH assistance can go to the finance customer support desk at the Consolidated Support Building. The Department of Defense Center for Travel Excellence also maintains an online BAH calculator and information site at www.defensetravel.dod.mil//site/baccalc.cfm.