Service members to see changes in benefits next month

CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, UNITED STATES

12.18.2014

Story by Cpl. Scott Whiting 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Service members stationed in eastern North Carolina will see a couple of changes in their military benefits, starting Jan. 1, 2015.

The U.S. Congress recently passed the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, which allots for approximately $585 billion for defense spending during the next year.

Under the new defense bill, military personnel will receive an across-the-board pay raise of 1 percent in basic pay, equal to the 1 percent raise service members received in 2014.

Military personnel will also see a 1 percent decrease in basic allowance for housing (BAH). Due to budgetary constraints, military and government officials have asked for cuts to troop benefits in an effort to reduce personnel costs.

The military’s basic housing allowance currently covers 100 percent of rental costs for troops. Under the new rules, the rate would decrease to 99 percent.

For example, a married corporal with three years of service stationed at Camp Lejeune currently makes $1206 from BAH. Under the new bill the new BAH amount for the same person will be $1,193.94. However, that corporal’s base pay will increase from $2,328 to approximately $2,351.

• Date Taken: 12.18.2014
• Date Posted: 12.18.2014 08:15
• Story ID: 150613
• Location: CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, US