Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) –
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) plays a critical role in child support calculations for military families. California courts have adjusted how they treat these payments in 2025, potentially affecting thousands of service members. Whether you’re paying or receiving support, understanding these changes could significantly impact your family’s finances.
How California Calculates Child Support in 2025
California uses a complex formula to determine child support obligations. For military families, this calculation becomes even more nuanced when factoring in BAH and other allowances.
- BAH is now partially included: Only the “with dependents” portion counts as income
- Differential treatment: BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistence) is treated differently than BAH
- Location matters: Your duty station’s BAH rate affects calculations differently in Los Angeles versus San Diego
3 Key Changes Affecting Military Families This Year
- New BAH proration rules: Courts now consider what percentage of housing costs actually benefit the children
- Modified deployment adjustments: Temporary duty assignments affect support differently than permanent changes
- Updated documentation requirements: You must now provide LES statements showing BAH breakdowns
Imagine BAH as a pie. California courts now carefully measure exactly which slices should count toward child support.
Common Mistakes That Cost Military Families
We’ve seen these recurring issues in California child support cases:
- Failing to document BAH changes when transferring bases
- Not accounting for “with dependents” versus “without dependents” rates
- Assuming all special pays count the same way in calculations
- Missing important deadlines to report income changes
Why Military Cases Need Special Attention
Civilian attorneys often misunderstand how military pay works. We recently helped:
- An Air Force member reduce overpayments by properly documenting his BAH rate change
- A Navy spouse secure appropriate support by proving her ex’s actual housing allowance
- A Marine avoid penalties by correctly reporting temporary duty assignment income
Our military family law team understands:
- Precisely which portions of military pay count as income
- How to properly document special circumstances
- Strategies for modifying support during deployments
- California’s specific calculation methods
Don’t risk overpaying or receiving less than you deserve. Contact our military support specialists today for a complete analysis of your situation. Even small calculation errors can add up to thousands over time. Getting it right matters.
