|APPENDIX�P�-�VARIABLE�HOUSING�ALLOWANCE�(VHA)�IN�THE�UNITED�STATES
        P8000�PURPOSE
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| | P8000 PURPOSE� | 
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| | TheVHAis authorized to assist members entitled to aBAQto defray housing costs, if permanent Government quarters aren't assigned or occupied jointly by the member and dependent(s), when the: | 
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| | 1.member is assigned to aPDSin an area of the United States which is a high housing cost area with respect to that member; | 
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| | 2.member with dependents is assigned to an unaccompanied tour outside the United States and for any period while the member is serving that tour that the member's dependents reside in an area of the United States that is a high housing cost area with respect to that member; | 
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| | 3.member with dependents is assigned to aPDSin the United States and because of the location of thePDSor circumstances of the assignment, as determined under par. P8003-B2, it is necessary for the dependents to reside at a different location in an area of the United States which is a high housing cost area with respect to that member; or | 
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| | 4.member with dependents is assigned to an unaccompanied tour in Alaska or Hawaii, and the member is or would be entitled to aFSA-I if the member'sPDSwere outside the United States.� (In this instance, the member is entitled to aVHAat the rate prescribed for thePDSfor a member without dependents and aVHAfor dependents at the place of their residence.) | 
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| | A member may not be paid aVHAunless the member makes an annual certification identifying his or her housing costs.� ForVHApurposes, an area is considered a high housing cost area for a member when the median monthly cost of housing in that area for other members in the same grade exceeds 80 percent of the median monthly cost of housing inCONUSfor members in the same grade.� A member's oldPDSis considered to be thePDSforVHApurposes through the day before the day the member reports at the newPDSin compliance withPCSorders. | 
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| | P8001DEFINITION OF TERMS AS USED IN THIS CHAPTER� | 
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| | A.� Member With Dependents.� | 
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| | The term "member with dependents" as used in this Part means a member who is entitled to aBAQat the with dependent rate. | 
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| | B.� Member Without Dependents.� | 
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| | The term "member without dependents" as used in this Part means a member who is entitled to aBAQat the without-dependent rate. | 
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| | C.� Unaccompanied Tour.� | 
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| | The term "unaccompanied tour" as used in this Chapter means any portion of a member's assignment to aPDS:� | 
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| | 1.outside the United States when dependents reside in, or during which all dependents return to, the United States to establish a permanent residence; | 
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| | 2.in Alaska when dependents reside in, or during which all dependents return to, one of the other states, the District of Columbia or a different location within Alaska (not at or near thePDS) to establish a permanent residence, provided the member is entitled toFSA-I during the assignment or following departure of dependents.� (In this case the member is entitled toVHAat the without-dependents rate for thePDS, if Government quarters aren�t assigned to, or occupied by, the member, andVHAat the with-dependents rate for the location of the dependents' permanent residence.� If the member isn�t entitled toFSA-I, and Government quarters are assigned to the member, it is deemed inequitable to base the member�sVHAon thePDS, and the member is entitled only to oneVHAat the with-dependents rate for the location of the dependents� permanent residence (See NOTE below)); | 
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| | 3.in Hawaii when dependents reside in, or during which all dependents return to, one of the other states, the District of Columbia or a different location within Hawaii (not at or near thePDS) to establish a permanent residence, provided the member would be entitled toFSA-I during the assignment or following departure of dependents if thePDSwere outside the United States. (In this case the member is entitled toVHA� at the without-dependents rate for thePDS, if Government quarters aren�t assigned to, or occupied by, the member, andVHAat the with-dependents rate for the location of the dependents' permanent residence.� If the member wouldn�t be entitled toFSA-I, and Government quarters are assigned to the member, it is deemed inequitable to base the member�sVHAon thePDS, and the member is entitled only to oneVHA, which is at the with-dependents rate for the location of the dependents� permanent residence (See NOTE below)). | 
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| | When dependents reside separately from a member assigned to aPDSin Alaska or Hawaii, it is presumed to be due to the location or circumstances of thePDS. | 
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| | NOTE:� If Government quarters aren�t assigned to the member, the member is entitled to only oneVHA, which is at the with-dependents rate for thePDS. | 
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| | D.� Residence.� | 
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| | Any quarters in which a member and/or dependents actually reside. | 
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| | P8002 RATES PAYABLE� | 
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| | A.� General.� | 
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| | VHAis payable to a member with or without dependents at a rate as hereinafter prescribed, or at a rate prescribed in a rate table prepared byPDTATAC.�VHAisn't payable for the number of travel days allowed under par.U5160for direct travel between the old and newPDSincident to aPCS.� A reduction in theVHAentitlement for those travel days is made at the rate paid to the member while assigned at the oldPDS, or at the rate payable following departure from thatPDSif an allowance wasn't paid while at thePDSbecause Government quarters were assigned. | 
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| | B.� Member Without Dependents.� | 
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| | TheVHAprescribed for a member'sPDSis used in determining entitlement for a member without dependents. | 
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| | C.� Member With Dependents.� | 
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| | Except as provided in par. P8003-B2, theVHAprescribed for a member'sPDSis used in determining the member's entitlement for a member with dependents whether the dependents reside with the member or at a different location.� When dependents reside separately from the member, and the member is assigned to an unaccompanied tour at aPDS: | 
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| | 1.outside the United States, the allowance prescribed for the area within the United States where the dependents reside is used in determining the member's entitlement forVHAfor dependents; | 
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| | 2.in Alaska or Hawaii, the allowance prescribed for the area within the other state or the District of Columbia where the dependents reside is used in determining the member's entitlement toVHAfor dependents provided the member in Alaska is entitled toFSA-I or the member in Hawaii would be entitled toFSA-I if thePDSwere outside the United States.(See NOTE below.); | 
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| | 3.in Alaska or Hawaii, the allowance prescribed for the area within Alaska or Hawaii where the dependents reside is used in determining the member's entitlement toVHAfor dependents when both thePDSand dependents' residence are in the same state provided the member in Alaska is entitled toFSA-I or the member in Hawaii would be entitled toFSA-I if thePDSwere outside the United States (See NOTE below.). | 
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| | In instances of multiple dependent location, the member designates the primary residence of dependents for theVHAentitlement. | 
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| | NOTE:� If the member in Alaska isn�t entitled toFSA-I or the member in Hawaii wouldn�t be entitled toFSA-I, and Government quarters are assigned to the member, it is deemed inequitable to base the member�sVHAon thePDS, and the member is entitled to only oneVHA, which is at the with-dependents rate prescribed for the location of the dependents� permanent residence.� If Government quarters aren�t assigned to the member, the member is entitled to only oneVHA, which is at the with-dependents rate for thePDS. | 
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| | D.� Both Husband and Wife are Members.� | 
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| | When both husband and wife are members, each is entitled to aVHAas a member, with or without dependents as applicable, depending on whether the member has a dependent other than the spouse.� This entitlement exists whether husband and wife maintain a joint resident or separate residences. | 
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| | E.� Member Assigned to Ship or Afloat Staff.� | 
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| | For the purpose ofVHAauthorized under this Part, the homeport of the ship or other fleet unit to which a member is assigned is considered the member'sPDS. | 
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| | F.� Member in Leave Status Awaiting Final Discharge.� | 
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| | A member in a leave status away from thePDSwhile awaiting final discharge is entitled to the sameVHAthe member would be paid if the leave was taken at the member'sPDS(B-223425, November 3, 1986). | 
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| | G.� Members Participating in the Educational Leave Program Relating to Continuing Public and Community Services.� | 
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| | A member of the Armed Forces participating in "The Educatiknal Leave Program Relating to Continuing Public and Community� Service"� under� DoDI� 1322.21, isn't entitled toVHA, as noted in pars.P8000and P8003-A, during any period the member is on such educational leave and not entitled to8U>BAQ.��� However, the member is entitled toVHAfor any period(s) the member is entitled toBAQwhile reporting to the designated unit of assignment during scheduled school breaks or during any period the member takes regular leave and is entitled toBAQ.� The statutory authority for the Program expires 30 September 1999.�� | 
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| | H.� Member Processing for Separation or Retirement.� | 
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| | When a member is directed or authorized to proceed from thePDSto a separation activity for separation or retirement processing,VHAentitlement while undergoing such processing (including any period of leave and permissiveTDY) is based on the lastPDSrate unless the lastPDSwas outside the United States, in which case the rate for the processing station will be used.� In the event the member was receivingVHAbased on dependent�s location immediately prior to proceeding to a separation activity, the rate for the dependent�s location continues to be used. | 
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| | I.�VHARate Protection�� | 
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| | 1.� General.� | 
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| | The monthlyVHAamount actually paid a member (i.e.,VHArate protection) shall not be reduced as a result of systematic change in the annualVHArate table unless: | 
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| | a.there has been a break in the member�s eligibility to receiveVHAwithin the MHA, or | 
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| | b.the member�s certified housing costs are reduced. | 
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| | A member�sVHArate protection at the current amount ceases on the date the member�s certified lower housing costs go into effect, or the date the member�s eligibility to drawVHAfor a given MHA terminates, whichever is earlier.� The newVHArate becomes the member�s new protectedVHA.� | 
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| | 2.� Certified Housing Costs. | 
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| | Certified housing costs in the case of a member who: | 
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| | a.rents a residence, are limited to the rent payment and amounts paid for liability and personal property insurance. | 
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| | b.owns a residence, are limited to periodic payments consisting of principal, interest, taxes and insurance (Includes hazard and liability insurance.). | 
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| | For a member who rents or owns a mobile home or house boat as a residence, certified housing costs also include lot or berthing fees, if applicable.� Loans permitted as certified housing costs for members who own a residence are limited to those allowed in par. P8001-F, items 1 through 4. | 
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| | 3.� Loss ofVHARate Protection.� | 
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| | A member losesVHArate protection when demoted or promoted and when there is a change in dependency status.� A member also losesVHArate protection when there is a reduction in certified housing costs which may occur incident to: | 
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| | a.a change in residence within the MHA, | 
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| | b.reduction in rental expenses for a residence,� | 
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| | c.mortgage refinancing, | 
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| | d.lower costs on adjustable rate mortgage (ARM), | 
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