Today, the Department of Defense announced the 2015 military pay and compensation rates for service members.
The new rates for basic pay, basic allowance for housing (BAH), basic allowance for subsistence (BAS), and the cost of living allowance (COLA) rates for the contiguous United States will take effect on Jan. 1, 2015.
Basic pay for service members will increase one percent, except for general and flag officers who will not see an increase in 2015. For example, an E-4 with three years of service will see an increase in basic pay of $22.20 per month, while an O-3 with six years of service will increase basic pay increase $54.30 per month in 2015.
BAH rates for service members in 2015 will increase on average $17 per month, or 0.5 percent. Rates are calculated using median current market rent and average utilities (including electricity, heat, and water/sewer) for each pay grade, both with and without dependents. Two changes were made to BAH rate computations for 2015: renter’s insurance, which contributed an average of one percent to rates was eliminated, and the Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act reduced housing rates on average one percent for service members.
However, individual rate protection for service members remains an integral part of the BAH program. This means that even if BAH rates decline – including through the elimination of renter’s insurance and the reduction in the calculated rate – a service member who maintains uninterrupted BAH eligibility in a given location will not see a rate decrease. This ensures that service members who have made long-term commitments in the form of a lease or contract are not penalized if local housing costs decrease.
Service members can calculate their BAH payment by using the basic allowance for Housing calculator at: http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/bahCalc.cfm.
The 2015 BAS rates for military members will increase by 2.9 percent over last year. The new rates are:
• $367.92 per month for enlisted members
• $253.38 per month for officers
The annual adjustments to BAS—a monthly non-taxable cash payment to military members intended to be used to buy food—are linked to changes in food prices as measured by the annual change in the U.S. Department of Agriculture cost of food at home index. From the beginning of October 2013 through the end of September 2014, the index rose by 2.9 percent, forming the basis for the increased BAS rates.
The Defense Department also released its 2015 contiguous United States (CONUS) cost of living allowance (COLA) rates. While roughly 12,000 members will see a decrease in their CONUS COLA payments, some 7,000 members will see an increase or no change. 4,000 members will no longer receive a CONUS COLA payment.
CONUS COLA is a taxable supplemental allowance designed to help offset higher prices in high-cost locations, and rates vary based on location, pay grade, years of service and dependent status. Rates can increase or decrease depending on the prices in a specific duty location compared to prices in an average CONUS location. Service members can calculate their CONUS COLA rate at: http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/conusCalc.cfm.