We’re almost at the end of our New Navy Wife Kit! So far we have covered After Marriage Paperwork, Healthcare, as well as FRG and the Ombudsman. The latest installment of New Navy Wife Kit will be covering what’s on everyone’s mind at least once a month: Navy Pay. In this blog we will explore the Leave and Earnings Statement, Pay, Allotments, and Deductions.

The LES

The Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) is a document given to United States Military Service members on a monthly basis. It tracks Base Pay, Special Pays, Deductions, Allotments, and a wealth of other information. The LES can be found online through MyPay (https://mypay.dfas.mil/mypay.aspx). For more information on how to read an LES please check with Defense Finance and Accounting Service’s guide to reading the LES (http://www.dfas.mil/militarypay/militaryemploymentverification/navy_reading_your_les.pdf).

Pay

Base Pay is dependent upon how many years of service you have been in. Pay tables are updated every year and be found online with Defense Finance and Accounting Service (http://www.dfas.mil/militarypay/militarypaytables.html).

On top of Base Pay, there are also over 70 other kinds of special pays to learn more about them you can check with Military.com (http://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/index).

It is important to note that there are also quite a few different types of allowances. The following are a few select types of allowances that are of note.

• Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is based on several things: pay grade, dependency status, and geographic duty location. This is a very important factor to consider when deciding on whether or not to live in Military Housing. It is important to note this allowance goes up when you get a dependent just once. It does not keep going up with each additional dependent. To determine your BAH, please check with the Department of Defense Per Diem, Travel, and Transportation Committee (http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem/bah.html).
• Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) is available to help offset housing costs overseas. These costs are comprised of: rent, utility/recurring maintenance expense, and Moving-in Housing Allowance (MIHA). To determine your OHA please check with the Department of Defense Per Diem, Travel, and Transportation Committee (http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem/ohaform.html).
• Base Allowance for Sustenance (BAS) is an allowance to help offset the cost of a service member’s meals. The level of BAS is linked to the cost of food. It is not meant to pay for a family’s meal. To determine your BAS please check with the Office of the Secretary of Defense – Military Compensation (http://www.defenselink.mil/militarypay/pay/bas/).
• Clothing Allowance is an allowance issued to help Service Members pay for uniforms. There are four main types of clothing allowance: Initial clothing Allowance, Cash Clothing Replacement Allowance, Extra Clothing Allowance, and Military Clothing Maintenance Allowance. To learn more and to determine your Sailor’s Clothing Allowance please check with Defense Finance and Accounting Service (http://www.dfas.mil/navy2/militarypay/clothingallowance.html).

To view a full list of allowances please check with Defense Finance and Accounting Service (http://www.dfas.mil/navy2/militarypay/allowances.html).

Allotments

Allotments are specified amounts of money authorized to be paid to a designated institution per paycheck. Allotments are meant to help Service members and their families adjust their finances to the Military lifestyle. These can come in two different forms: Discretionary and Non Discretionary.

Discretionary Allotments are allotments where the Service Member specifies the individual, institution, or business to receive funds. Service Members are limited to six discretionary allotments.

Non Discretionary Allotments are made to a specified purpose or designated agency. These can include (but are not limited to): charities, relief payments, child support, or the purchase of savings bonds. There is no limit to how many non discretionary allotments Service members can have.

For more information regarding restrictions on allotments and eligibility please stop by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service website (http://www.dfas.mil/navy2/militarypay/allotments.html).

Deductions

Deductions can occur in two forms: Mandatory or Voluntary.

Mandatory Deductions are when funds are collected because the Service Member is in debt to the U.S. Government.

Voluntary Deductions are when funds are willingly collected from the Service Member’s Pay (such as allotments).

For more information regarding Deductions and examples please stop by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service website (http://www.dfas.mil/navy2/militarypay/deductionscollections.html).

I hope this blog has helped you sort out some of the confusion with regard to Navy Pay. Stick around for my next and final installment of New Navy Wife Kit, which will cover Moving options for New Navy Spouses.

Last update : 08/13/2009 11:42 AM

Average user rating

   (0 vote)