Overseas Housing Allowance

An overseas housing allowance (OHA) is a United States military entitlement given to military servicemen and women living overseas. It is administered by Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) and is the overseas equivalent of the Basic Allowance for Housing. OHA is intended to private lease local housing instead of living in government or on-base housing. Over $1.8billion is paid in OHA benefiting approximately 61,000 members annually.

OHA is given to servicemembers so that they can provide housing for themselves and their dependents (usually spouse and children). OHA is given when the member and their dependents do not occupy government quarters.

OHA is non-taxable money paid on a monthly basis, and is equivalent to the amount of rent owed. Whereas servicemembers stationed in the Continental United States (48 contiguous states) are allowed to keep any additional allowance pay that they do not use for their rent, servicemembers do not receive their full complement of OHA if their rents are lower than the maximum allowable rates.

Each servicemember is allowed a set OHA rate, broken down by district, depending on where they are stationed. The rates are slightly higher for those servicemembers with families, otherwise known as dependents. There are three factors for determining the maximum amount of OHA allowed to the servicemember:

OHA is paid in the dollar equivalent of the rent due, and therefore rises and falls with monthly changes in the exchange rate.

Frequently a "utility allowance" also accompanies OHA. This is usually a flat rate given to the member to cover the cost of utilities, regardless of the actual amount. In certain countries, an additional Move In Housing Allowance (MIHA) is allotted to cover the cost of cleaning, maintenance, repainting, and general refurbishing of the rental unit. Utility/recurring maintenance expenses are calculated annually. Move-in Housing Allowance (MIHA) expenses are calculated every 3 years. Both are based on actual servicemember expense reports. The rent allowance is meant to cover 80% of a servicemember's full expenses and the majority of the remaining 20% servicemember housing expenses.

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