Housing Allowances To Rise

Service members will see their housing allowances rise by an average of $95 in 2009. Basic allowance for housing (BAH) rates are adjusted annually to offset expenses service members must pay for rent when base housing is not available. The rates vary by geographic location: They typically are higher big cities like Washington, D.C., and San Diego than in less populated areas. Some service members in certain pay grades will see their 2009 BAH rates decline slightly. Defense paymasters say such fluctuations are normal, because of declines in housing costs at some locales. Persons living in such areas who are locked into rental agreements will not see their BAH decline. Those who move into such areas and sign new leases will, however.