BAH
Military abbreviation · Military Term
| Stands for | Basic Allowance for Housing |
|---|---|
| Categories | Military |
BAH stands for Basic Allowance for Housing, a military term abbreviation.
Tax-free monthly allowance that pays service members living off base for housing costs, set by pay grade, dependency status and the ZIP code of the duty station. Rates are recalculated every year using local rental market data.
Example: Our BAH in San Diego covers a two-bedroom apartment but not much more.
Usage notes
BAH replaced the older Basic Allowance for Quarters and Variable Housing Allowance in 1998. Members living in government quarters generally do not receive full BAH, and dual-military couples are each paid, with only one at the with-dependents rate. Because BAH is untaxed, military pay comparisons with civilian salaries should include it. A separate Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) applies abroad.
Related abbreviations
More military term abbreviations
- APFT – Army Physical Fitness Test
- ASVAB – Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery
- ASW – Anti-submarine warfare
- AT – Annual training
- AUMF – Authorization for Use of Military Force
- AWOL – Absent without leave
- BAS – Basic Allowance for Subsistence
- BCD – Bad-conduct discharge
- BCGs – Birth control glasses
- BCT – Basic Combat Training
- BDA – Battle damage assessment
- BDU – Battle Dress Uniform