Personnel Support Division

Field Support (PSC-PSD-FS)

Family Stability Act/Housing Flexibility

 

ACN 109/18 implements policy concerning BAH and housing assignment flexibility for certain members with dependents undergoing a PCS within the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii).

The Family Stability Act allows a member BAH or housing flexibility to support the advanced or delayed travel of their dependents for certain reasons during the covered relocation period.

Covered relocation period: when used with respect to a PCS means the period that begins 180 days prior to the effective PCS departure date and ends 180 days after the effective PCS departure.

Policy:

A member with dependents in receipt of a PCS order within the United States may be
authorized BAH or housing flexibility during the covered relocation period based on one of the following reasons:

  • Has a spouse who is gainfully employed or enrolled in a degree, certificate, or
    license-granting program.
  • Has one or more dependents attending an elementary or secondary school.
  • Has one or more dependents enrolled in the Coast Guard Special Needs Program.
  • Has an immediate family member with a chronic or long-term illness at the beginning of the covered relocation period for whom the member is caring.

Housing flexibility options include:

  • Continuation of housing for the spouse and other dependents. If a spouse or other
    dependent of a member whose request is approved resides in Government-owned or Government-leased housing at the beginning of the covered relocation period, the spouse or other dependent may continue to reside in such housing during the covered relocation period.
  • Early housing eligibility. If a spouse or other dependent of a member whose request is approved is eligible to reside in Government-owned or Government-leased housing following the member’s permanent change of station within the United States, the spouse or other dependent may commence residing in such housing at any time during the covered relocation period.
  • Temporary use of Government owned or leased single-type housing intended for members without a spouse or dependent. If a spouse or other dependent of a member relocates at a time different from the member in accordance with an approved request, the member may be assigned to Government-owned or Government-leased housing intended for the permanent housing of members’ "WITHOUT" dependents until the member’s detachment date of the dependents’ arrival date, but only if such Government-owned or Government-leased housing is available without displacing a single member at such housing.
  • Equitable Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH). The member’s dependent(s) may perform PCS travel at a different time than the member once the PCS order has been issued. Unless otherwise authorized or approved for a different location, the members housing allowance is based on the PDS. However, an eligible member may request a housing allowance based on the dependents location. If authorized or approved for dependents who relocate in advance or after the member’s housing allowance may be based on one of the following:

    • The new PDS.

    • The dependents location when the member departs for the new PDS (only for the period of time the dependents reside at that location).

    • The area of the members former PDS, but only if that area is different from the area in which the spouse or other dependents reside. The member has departed their former PDS, and the dependent remains in the residence shared with the member, and the member made a daily commute to and from their former PDS.

Eligibility Expiration:

If the member’s eligibility expires for any reason during the covered relocation period, that period is terminated and BAH is based at the PDS where the member is assigned at that time. If the member departs the former PDS, and the dependents that are the basis of the eligibility do not arrive at the new PDS within the covered relocation period, the housing allowance is paid at the new PDS location rate beginning the day after the relocation period ends.

Procedures:

Eligible members desiring housing or BAH flexibility consideration must complete and email a CG-7220H to: HQS-SMB-CGPSC-PSDFS-BAH@uscg.mil  

Please also review the Family Stability Act Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). 

The Housing Flexibility Program Manager can be contacted at the email above or at (202)795-6638.

Mailing Address:

COMMANDER
PERSONNEL SERVICE CENTER

ATTN: PSC-PSD-FS
US COAST GUARD STOP 7200
2703 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR AVE SE
WASHINGTON DC  20593-7200