R 291254Z MAR 22
MARADMIN 150/22
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP//
SUBJ/ADVANCE CHANGE TO MCO 7220.56A ENTITLEMENT TO BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING AT LOCATIONS OTHER THAN PERMANENT DUTY STATION//
REF/A/DOC/MCO/20150831//
REF/B/DOC/NAS/20210421//
REF/C/DOC/DOD/20210801//
AMPN/ REF A IS MARINE CORPS ORDER 7220.56A, ENTITLEMENT TO BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING (BAH) AT LOCATIONS OTHER THAN PERMANENT DUTY STATION (PDS).  REF B IS NAVAL AUDIT SERVICE AUDIT REPORT N2021-0016, BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING PROGRAM AT MARINE CORPS INSTALLATIONS PACIFIC.  REF C IS DOD FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS VOLUME 7A, CHAPTER 26, HOUSING ALLOWANCES//
POC1/ALAN HARGIS/CIV/MPO/TEL: 703-784-9386/EMAIL: ALAN.HARGIS@USMC.MIL//
POC2/KERRY CERNY/CIV/MPO/TEL: 703-784-9386/EMAIL: KERRY.CERNY@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  To promulgate an advance change to reference (a) in compliance with reference (b).
2.  Background.
2.A.  Per the references, Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is an allowance that provides Marines equitable compensation based on housing costs in local housing markets when government quarters are not provided.  Generally, Marines who are serving an unaccompanied overseas tour, can elect to receive BAH for their dependents based on a designated place for the dependents instead of their last permanent duty station (PDS).  A designated place is a specific location where a Marine’s dependent intends to establish a bona fide residence, such place is authorized in the Marine’s permanent change of station (PCS) orders, and dependent travel and transportation allowances are authorized.
2.B.  Per reference (b), the Naval Audit Service (NAS) audited the Marine Corps’ management of BAH payments of Marines who were serving unaccompanied overseas tours and who elected to receive BAH for dependents based on a designated place for their dependents.  NAS found opportunities for the Marine Corps to reduce the risk of fraudulent claims of BAH rate payments base don a designated place.
2.C.  Per the references, if a dependent moves his or her residence, at government expense, to an authorized designated place while the Marine is serving an unaccompanied or dependent-restricted tour, BAH at the with-dependent rate changes from the Marine’s last PDS to the designated place of the dependent.
2.D.  Per the references, if a dependent moves his or her residence, at personal expense, while the Marine is serving an unaccompanied or dependent-restricted tour, BAH at the with-dependent rate does not change to the dependent’s new location.  Instead, BAH at the with-dependent rates continues to be based on the Marine’s last permanent duty station (PDS).  Source documentation for the entitlement to the BAH rate for the last PDS is the PCS orders directing assignment to that PDS.
3.  Execution.
3.A.  Modify reference (a) by inserting a new subparagraph under paragraph 3.b of enclosure (1) as follows:  “(4)  The commander of the Marine shall provide notice to the gaining commander that the inbound Marine elected to serve an unaccompanied overseas tour and is intending to move his or her dependent to an approved designated place at government expense.  This notice shall be provided to the gaining commander before the Marine detaches from the losing command.  This notice prompts the gaining commander to verify, after the Marine has reported to the gaining command, whether the Marine’s dependent actually moved to the designated place.”
3.B.  Modify reference (a) by inserting a new subparagraph under paragraph 3.b of enclosure (1) as follows:  “(5)  After checking into the gaining command, the Marine shall confirm whether his or her dependent moved to the designated place authorized in the PCS orders.  If the dependent moved to the designated place at government expense, the Marine shall submit documentation of such move to the commander.  A residential lease agreement, mortgage agreement, utility bill, and moving receipts, bearing the name of the dependent or Marine and the address of the dependent’s location, are examples of adequate documentation.  Such documentation must be included in the Marine’s claim for travel reimbursement in relation to the execution of the PCS orders.  The gaining IPAC or administrative support office must review such documentation for authenticity prior to changing the Marine’s BAH at the with-dependent rate from the last PDS to the designated place.”
4.  Administrative Action.
4.A.  The changes in this Maradmin are effective on 1 May 2022.
4.B.  The documentation required herein shall be uploaded to the Marine’s electronic OMPF.
4.C.  File this change immediately following the signature page of reference (a).
5.  This MARADMIN is applicable to the Marine Corps Total Force.
6.  Release authorized by BGen A. T. Williamson, Director, Manpower Plans and Policy Division.//