New BAH rates now posted online Published Jan. 6, 2012 66th Comptroller Squadron HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- The Department of Defense recently published new calendar year 2012 base allowance for housing (BAH) rates, which can be viewed at www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/bah.cfm. Active duty service members who see a drop in BAH rate for their locality will have their BAH protected thanks to "individual rate protection," which was adopted by Congress nine years ago and prevents a reduction in a service members BAH while they remain assigned to a duty location. On the other hand, those who live in an area that have a BAH increase will see a higher BAH in their pay statement. Service members who move (PCS) to a new geographic duty location in 2012 will receive the new 2012 BAH rate. BAH rates vary nationwide based on geographic duty location, pay grade and dependency status and are updated each calendar year based on a market survey. Data is collected annually for more than 350 Military Housing Areas (MHAs) in the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. Cooperation from the services and local military housing offices in the data collection effort is an important part of the BAH process. Input from local commands is used to determine what neighborhood data are collected and to direct the data collection effort towards adequate apartment complexes and individual housing units. Any questions or concerns about these new rate changes may be directed to the local finance office. Additionally, current or prospective residents of housing at Hanscom may call Hanscom Family Housing at 781-861-5062 or the government Housing Management Office at 781-225-5638 with any BAH or rent related questions.