The Basic Needs Allowance (BNA) is a monthly allowance for active duty service members with dependents who have completed initial entry training and whose gross household income (GHI) falls below 200% of federal poverty guidelines.

Service members must meet four initial requirements:

• Regular Air Force service members on active duty orders
• Completed initial entry training (IET)
• Have at least one dependent listed in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).
• Have a gross household income from the preceding calendar year and an annualized gross income for the current year that falls below 200% of the federal poverty guideline for their assigned duty station and household size ­— visit the Department of Health and Human Services' Poverty and Economic Mobility webpage to find current and historical Federal Poverty Guidelines.

Note: You MUST include ALL income sources, including all military pays and allowances such as the Basic Allowance for Housing and Basic Allowance for Subsistence in your gross household income.

Gross household income (GHI) Includes all income derived from each member of the household from any source, except:

1. Earned income of a dependent who is not required to file a tax return
2. Non-taxable grants and scholarships for postsecondary students
3. Income tax refunds and insurance settlements
4. Federal and state reimbursements for expenses such as utilities, medical care, or dependent care if they do not exceed actual expenses
5. All military travel and transportation related allowances and entitlements
6. The amount of the BNA
7. The amount of any Federal Government food assistance program
8. Any portion of the basic allowance for housing or overseas housing allowance in high cost of living areas or for a demonstrated need as determined by the ASD (M&RA).

A household consists of an active duty service member and any dependents of the member enrolled in DEERS, regardless of those dependents’ location.

BNA is optional and service members may choose not to apply. You may also decline the allowance if you are notified that you have been certified for approval.

How Do I Apply for BNA?

Each military branch proactively screens service members and notifies them in writing of their eligibility to apply. The written notification includes instructions and application deadlines.

If you did not receive a notification and think you might be eligible, you can apply at any time using your service's specific application procedures.

You can also talk with your military leader, contact your installation's Military and Family Support Center or schedule an appointment with a DoD personal financial manager or counselor for general guidance.

BNA Calculation
BNA must be computed as follows: Two times the most recently published annual federal poverty guideline for the calendar year during which the allowance is paid based on the service member’s duty station and the current number of individuals in their household, including the service member, minus their GHI during the preceding calendar year, divided by 12. The amount of the BNA must be rounded to the nearest whole dollar.

Screening (monthly and previous calendar year GHI)

• Prior to graduation from IET, TRADOC Commanders and Human Resources Officers (HROs) will screen service members
  • Notification for eligible graduates occurs at service members’ first permanent duty location
• In and Out Processing (by Unit Commanders and installation HROs)
• Personal Readiness Review and Service Member Readiness Processing
• Arrival to service member readiness processing, and on arrival and departure at the Mobilization Force Generation Installation (MFGI) for ARNG/ARNGUS and USAR service members (by First Air Force and Parent Units)
• Service members who meet screen criteria must be notified in writing of their eligibility to apply
• Service members DO NOT need to receive a screening notification to apply for BNA
• Service member’s current monthly GHI and preceding calendar year GHI will be reviewed during the screening
• Service member’s applicable federal poverty guidelines will be determined by family size (service member plus dependents) and rates for these geographic locations:
  • 48 contiguous States and the District of Columbia (this rate is also used to compute BNA for duty OCONUS)
  • Hawaii
  • Alaska
• If the screening determines that a service member’s current monthly GHI does not exceed the 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, the service member may be eligible for the BNA and should be notified by the Commander.

 Special BNA Eligibility Considerations

1. Service members in a non-pay status, for any reason, are not eligible for the BNA during the non-pay period. When service members are returned to a pay status, they may apply or reapply for the BNA.
2. When a household contains multiple Service members determined to be eligible to receive the BNA, only one allowance may be received. The household service members must jointly elect which member must receive the allowance.
3. If the service member’s previous-year GHI was reduced due to a fine, forfeiture, or reduction in rank imposed as part of a disciplinary action, the service member is not eligible for the BNA solely due to the fine, forfeiture, or reduction in rank.
4. A service member receiving the BNA will continue to receive it until separation.
5. Service members may become eligible for the BNA if a change in their dependents reported in the DEERS is such that the service member’s calculated GHI drops below the percentage of federal poverty guidelines determined by the Secretary of War.
6. Service members determined to be eligible to receive the BNA will be considered automatically ineligible if their monthly GHI increases because of a promotion or other permanent increase to pay or allowances.
7. Certifying officials must notify service members receiving the BNA if they become ineligible due to a change in dependents, promotion, or other permanent increase to pay or allowances. The BNA will terminate 60 calendar days after the date of pay increase or change in DEERS.

 Payment Process

• Eligible service members who are certified as approved for BNA will receive monthly payments based on their GHI for the calendar year preceding the date of application and current household size.

• Monthly payments are calculated as the difference between the 200% of the current year's federal poverty guidelines minus the preceding year's gross household income, divided by 12.
• All eligible service members will be paid the monthly BNA within 30 days of your service certifying the application.
• BNA is considered taxable income and a certain amount of the allowance will be withheld from each paycheck to meet tax requirements.

Recertification
Service members receiving BNA must reapply each year or when other factors trigger a recertification, such as a change in household size, a PCS to or from Alaska or Hawaii, or an increase in gross household income.

Point of Contact:

Airmen and Guardians may contact the Total Force Service Center at 210-565-0102 or via myFSS and select "Ask A Question" from the top menu bar: https://myfss.us.af.mil/USAFCommunity/s/.

For BNA questions, select “Compensation” from the “What program does your question pertain to?” menu and use “BNA” in the subject of the question.

For more information, please visit the Basic Needs Allowance webpage maintained by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service:
https://www.dfas.mil/MilitaryMembers/payentitlements/bna/   

Financial Readiness BNA Resource Page:
https://finred.usalearning.gov/Benefits/BNA  

Department of Defense Instruction 1341.15, “Basic Needs Allowance”:
https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/134115p.PDF