Fact Sheet: COVID-19 Military Personnel, Pay, and Benefits ...

This fact sheet provides answers to questions about military personnel, pay, and benefits policy relating to the coronavirus pandemic. , Skiptomaincontent(PressEnter). Release Youhaveaccessedpartofahistoricalcollectionondefense.gov.Someoftheinformationcontainedwithinmaybeoutdatedandlinksmaynotfunction.PleasecontacttheDODWebmasterwithanyquestions. (1)ALTERNATEPLACESOFDUTYANDTELEWORK Q1.1:IamunabletoreporttodutywithmyunitbecausemywifehastestedpositiveforCOVID-19,andIwastoldtostayhome.WillIbegivenleavetocareforher? A1.1:Youshoulddiscussthisissuewithyourchainofcommand,whomaybeabletoprovideyouwithoptionsbaseduponyourspecificcircumstances.Potentialoptionsyoumaywishtodiscusswiththeminclude:leave,designationofanalternateplaceofduty,andtelework.  Q1.2:Whyhaven’tallmilitarymembersbeentoldtostayhomeinsteadofcominginforduty? A1.2:Themilitarymuststillperformallessentialmissions,butmilitarycommandershavebeengivenguidancetoapplyleaveandlibertypoliciesliberallytothemaximumextentwhilecontinuingtoensuretheycanfulfillthesemissions.Militarycommandershavebroadauthoritytoassignmemberstoalternateplacesofduty,suchasamember’sresidenceorgovernmentquarters,whichcouldincludeallowingmemberstocareforfamilymembers.Militarycommanderscanalsoauthorizememberstoperformdutiesremotelyifpossible. Q1.3:Isteleworkanoptionformilitarymembers? A1.3:Yes,telework-readymilitarymembers,whocanperformappropriatemilitarydutiesremotely,maybeassignedtoanalternatedutylocationintheirresidenceorgovernmentquarters.Militarycommanderswilldeterminethosememberswhocanworkremotelyandassignappropriateduties.Noteverymilitarymemberisabletotelework,anditisuptothediscretionofeachcommandertodeterminehowtoeffectivelyutilizetelework.Incertaincircumstances,youmaybeorderedtoteleworkandwillnotbegiventheoptionofreportingfordutyatyourregulardutylocation.Youshouldcheckwithchainofcommandforspecificguidanceonwhoisauthorizedtoteleworkandwhomustreportfordutyattheprimarydutylocation. Q1.4:Iamunabletoteleworkfromhomebecausemyjobistoperformmaintenanceonhelicopters.WhatdoIdoifIampotentiallyexposedtoCOVID-19andneedtostayhome? A1.4:Memberswhoaresickshouldnotifythechainofcommandandseekmedicalattention,asappropriate.Thecommanderwillmakeadecisionwhetherornottoorderyouintorestrictionofmovementforself-monitoring.Aninabilitytoperformtraditional“telework”isnotabarriertocomplyingwithrestrictionofmovementorders.Yourcommanderhasauthoritytoassignyoutoanalternateplaceofduty,whichcouldincludeyourresidence,duringaperiodyouareorderedtorestrictionofmovementforself-monitoring.   (2)BASICALLOWANCEFORSUBSISTENCEFORENLISTEDMEMBERS Q2.1:WillBasicAllowanceforSubsistence(BAS)stopifIstartreceivingfood(roomservice)fromthegovernmentdiningfacilitywhileunderself-monitoring? A2.1:No,yourBASshouldnotstopbutyouwilllikelyhavetopayforthosemealsunderthediningraterules,unlessgrantedanexceptiontopolicybyyourcommander. Q2.2:IfIamself-monitoringathome,canIgetBasicAllowanceforSubsistenceLevelII(BASII)insteadofBAS? A2.2:Generally,no.BASII(i.e.,twicethemonthlyrate)maybeauthorizedforthosemembersorderedtolodgingthatcannotstorefood,whichinturnrequiresthemembertogethisorhermealsfromacommercialsource.BASIImayonlybeauthorizedforanindividualinthesecircumstancesifitisuniformlyauthorizedforallenlistedmembersinsimilarsituationsatthesameinstallationorinthesamegeographicarea. Q2.3:IfIamself-monitoringatmyhouse(oranynon-governmentprovidedfacilitysuchasahotel)andwouldnormallyhavemyBASauto-deductedbecauseIeatatagovernmentdiningfacility,canIstoptheauto-deduction? A2.3:Yes,butonlyifyourmealsarenotbeingprovidedbythegovernment.Isolatedmemberswhoaregiven“roomservice”fromthegovernmentfacilityshouldhavethosemealsdeductedfromtheirBASastheywouldnormallydo. Q2.4:Iamanofficer,willmyBasicAllowanceforSubsistence(BAS)change? A2.4:No,BASforofficersisnotchangedatthistime.   (3)FAMILYSEPARATIONHOUSING Q3.1:IfmydependentisnotauthorizedconcurrenttravelonmyPCSorderstomynewdutystationbecauseofthetravelrestrictions,amIeligibletoreceiveasecondbasicallowanceforhousingallowance? A3.1:BasicAllowanceforHousing(BAH)atthenewdutystationandFamilySeparationHousingAllowance(FSH)willbeauthorizedifALLofthefollowingconditionsaremet: governmentquartersarenotavailableatthenewdutystation, thememberhasobtainedprivate-sectorhousing,and thedependentdoesnotresideatornearthenewpermanentdutystation. Q3.2:HowmuchdoIgetifIameligibleforFamilySeparationHousingAllowance(FSH)intheU.S.? A3.2:YouwillcontinuetoreceiveBasicAllowanceforHousing(BAH)atthe“with-dependent”rateforyourdependent’slocationortheoldpermanentdutystation(whicheverismoreequitable).Additionally,FSHwillbepaidinamonthlyamountequaltothe“without-dependent”BAHrateapplicabletoyourpaygradeforthenewpermanentdutystation. Q3.3:Ifmydependentvisitsmeatmynewdutystation,willIcontinuetoreceiveFamilySeparationHousing(FSH)? A3.3:YourFSHwillcontinueuninterruptedwhileyourdependentvisitsatornearthenewdutystation,butthevisitcannotexceed90continuousdays.If,forunforeseenreasons,suchasillnessoranotheremergency,avisitlasts91ormoredays,FSHstopsattheendofthe90-dayperiod.FSHisauthorizedagainonthedaythedependentdepartfromthepermanentdutystation.Ifoneormore,butnotall,dependentsvisitforlongerthan90daysandyouareauthorizedawith-dependenthousingallowanceonbehalfofthedependentswhoarenotvisitingordonotresideinthevicinityofyourPDS,thenFSHwillcontinueuninterrupted.   (4)FAMILYSEPARATIONALLOWANCE(FSA) Q4.1:Ihavebeenhospitalizedatamedicalfacilitynearmypermanentdutystationandnearwheremydependentslive.Iamunabletoseethem.AmIeligibleforFamilySeparationAllowance(FSA)? A4.2:No,unfortunatelyFamilySeparationAllowance(FSA)isnotauthorizedinthissituation. Q4.3:Mycommandorderedmeintorestrictionofmovementforself-monitoringnearmypermanentdutystationandIamunabletoreturntobewithmyfamilyeventhoughwelivenearby.AmIeligibleforFamilySeparationAllowance(FSA)? A4.3:No,unfortunatelyFamilySeparationAllowance(FSA)isnotauthorizedinthissituation.Youmaybeeligibleforotherbenefits,suchasHardshipDutyPay–RestrictionofMovement(HDP-ROM)dependingonwhereyouareorderedtoself-monitor(seeSection7). Q4.4:IamawayfrommyfamilyonTDYandnotallowedtoreturnbecauseofthestopmovementorder?IwasreceivingFamilySeparationAllowance–Temporary(FSA-T).Willthatcontinue? A4.4:Yes,FSA-TwillcontinueuntiltheTDYends,aslongasthetotallengthoftheseparationis30daysormore. Q4.5:Iamcurrentlyinthemiddleofapermanentchangeofstation(PCS)move.Asaresultofthestopmovementorder,Iamseparatedfrommydependentsandexpecttobeseparatedfromthemforanextendedperiodoftime.AmIeligibleforFSA? A4.5:Yes.MemberswhoareseparatedduringthePCSprocess,whereamemberisattheoriginalornewdutylocation,butthedependentsareattheother,shouldreceiveFamilySeparationAllowance–Restricted(FSA-R)ifthedirectedseparationlastslongerthan30days.Iftheseparationlastslongerthan30days,FSA-Rwillstartandwillapplyretroactively.   (5)PERDIEMALLOWANCESWHILEISOLATEDORAWAITINGTRAVEL Q5.1:Iwasorderedintoself-monitoringafterIreturnedfromofficialgovernmenttravel.Whatbenefitsareavailabletome? A5.1:TheJointTravelRegulations(JTR)wasupdatedtoprovideguidanceonperdiemallowancesthatareimpactedbyCOVID-19.Thiswebsiteisahelpfulsourceofinformation:https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/news_Coronavirus.cfm Q5.2:Weareinthemiddleofapermanentchangeofstation(PCS),butourtravelwashaltedafterIcheckedoutofmycommand.HowdoIpayforlodgingandmeals? A5.2:Youwilllikelybeeligibleforperdiemwhileawaitingtransportationtocoverlodging,meals,andincidentalexpenses.Youwillwanttocommunicatewithbothyourdetachingcommandandyourgainingcommandaboutyoursituationwhileawaitingtravel. Q5.3:Iwasorderedtoself-isolatewhileinthemiddleoftemporarydutytravelforofficialduty.WhatwillhappenwhenmyTDYordersaresupposedtoend? A5.3:Ifyouareorderedintorestrictionofmovementforself-monitoringataTDYlocation,yourcommandmayauthorizecontinuedTDYtravelandtransportationallowances.YourTDYordersshouldbemodifiedtoextendtheTDYassignmenttocovertheperiodofself-monitoring,allowingyourperdiemandtravelallowancestocontinueuntilyoucanreturntoyourpermanentdutystation.   (6)HOUSEHOLDGOODSSHIPMENTS Q6.1:Iwassupposedtomovemyhouseholdgoodsnextweek.Willthatstillhappen? A6.1:No,iftheactualmovehasnotcommenced(i.e., HHGhasnotbeenpacked-out/pickedupfromtheresidence),theresponsiblePersonalPropertyOfficewillsuspendorrescheduletheshipmentandinformthememberstheirshipmentwillberescheduledtoalaterdate.   (7)HARDSHIPDUTYPAY–RESTRICTIONOFMOVEMENT Q7.1:IhaveheardaboutthisnewpaycalledHDP-ROM.Whatisthat? A7.1:HardshipDutyPay–RestrictionofMovement(HDP-ROM)isanewly-authorizedpaythatcompensatesservicemembersforthehardshipassociatedwithbeingorderedtoself-monitorinisolation(i.e.,restrictionofmovement)somewhereotherthanattheirhomeoragovernment-fundedlodgingfacility.HDP-ROMisonlypayableinsituationsinwhichthememberremainsassignedtothesamepermanentdutystation;itisnotpayablewhenamemberisisolatedwhileonofficialtravelorPermanentChangeofStation(PCS).ForallowancespayablewhileontravelorPCS,seeSection5. Q7.2:Ihaven’tbeenfeelingwellandamworriedthatImayhaveCoronavirus.Idon’twanttoinfectmyfamilyandfriends.CanIjustisolatemyselfatahotelandthenrequestHDP-ROMtodefraythecost? A7.2:No,HDP-ROMmayonlybepaidinthecasewereyourcommander(inconjunctionwithmilitaryorcivilianhealthcareproviders)determinesthatyouarerequiredtoself-monitorandordersyoutodosoawayfromyourexistingresidenceatalocationnotprovidedbyorfundedbythegovernment. Q7.3:Ihavebeenorderedtorestrictionofmovementforself-monitoringbecauseIrecentlyreturnedhomefromtravelduringwhichImayhavecomeincontactwithsomeoneinfectedbyCOVID-19.Ihavespentthepasttwoweeksaloneinmypersonalresidence.WhenwillIreceivemyHardshipDutyPay–RestrictionofMovement(HDP-ROM)payment?A7.3:Althoughyouhavebeenorderedtorestrictionofmovementforself-monitoring,youhavebeenallowedtodosoathomeinyourpersonalresidence.YoureceiveBasicAllowanceforHousing(BAH)foryourresidence.Therefore,youarenoteligibleforHDP-ROM. Q7.4: IaminthemiddleofaPCSmoveandjustcheckedoutofmyoldcommand.But,nowIwasorderedtostayatmyolddutystationasapartofthestop-movement.AmIeligibleforHDP-ROM? A7.4: No,howeveryouwilllikelybeeligibletoreceiveperdiemwhileawaitingtransportation.SeeSection5orcheckwithyourpersonneloffice. Q7.5:IjustreturnedfromadeploymentandtransitedthroughaCDCTHNLevel3country.Iamrequiredtoself-monitorbutdon’twanttopotentiallyexposemydependents.AmIeligibleforHDP-ROM? A7.5:Yourcommandermayorderyoutoself-isolatefromyourfamilywhodidnottraveltotheCDCLevel3countryandarenotcurrentlyaffectedbyCOVID-19.Ifnoon-postgovernmentfacilities(e.g.barracks,dorms)orgovernment-fundedlodging(e.g.,governmentcontractoff-posthotelrooms)areavailableandyouarerequiredtoincuradditionalcostsforlodging,whichareneitherreimbursednordefrayedbyanyothersource,youareeligibleforHardshipDutyPay–RestrictionofMovement(HDP-ROM).Youwillreceiveataxablepaymentof$100perday,nottoexceed$1,500permonth.HDP-ROMcompensatesyouforthehardshipincurredfrombeingorderedbyyourcommandtorestrictyourmovementsandself-monitorunderconditionswhereyouincurlodgingcosts.   Q7.6:Ijustreturnedfromdeploymentandamnotrequiredtoself-monitor.However,wethinkoneofmydependentswasexposedtoCOVID-19whileIwasgone.IfIreturntomyresidence,Iwillalsobeexposed.AmIeligibleforHDP-ROM? A7.6:Yourcommandermayorderyoutorestrictyourcontactwithyourpotentiallyexposeddependents.Ifnoon-postgovernmentfacilities(e.g.,barracks,dorm)orgovernment-fundedlodging(e.g.,governmentcontractoff-posthotelrooms)areavailableandyouarerequiredtoincuradditionalcostsforlodging,whichareneitherreimbursednordefrayedbyanyothersource,youareeligibleforHardshipDutyPay–RestrictionofMovement(HDP-ROM).Youwillreceiveataxablepaymentof$100perday,nottoexceed$1,500permonth.HDP-ROMcompensatesyouforthehardshipincurredfrombeingorderedbyyourcommandtorestrictyourmovementstoisolateyoufromyourfamilyunderconditionswhereyouincurlodgingcosts.   (8)LEAVE Q8.1:CanIstilltaketheordinaryleavethatwaspreviouslyapproved? A8.1:Yes,butonlyinyourlocalarea.Militarymemberswhoalreadyhaveleavescheduledarestillabletotakeleave;however,currentrestrictionslimitmilitarymemberstotakingleaveinthelocalarea. Q8.2:IfItraveledtoalocationawayfrommypermanentdutystationandamrequiredtoself-monitorfor14days,willIbechargedextraleave? A8.2:Notnecessarily.Ifyoubecomeillorarerequiredtoself-monitor,youshouldalertyourchainofcommandimmediately.Dependinguponyourcircumstances,yourcommandmayplaceyouinadifferentleaveordutystatusforthedurationofyourillnessorperiodofself-monitoring. Q8.3:Iamworriedaboutexceedingmy60daysofleaveandlosingitbecauseofthiscrisis.WhatcanIdo? A8.3:Itistooearlytodeterminehowlongthecrisiswilllastorwhatthelong-termeffectsonyourleavebenefitsmaybe.Weexpecttorevisitthelimitationoncarryingforwardmorethan60daysofleavetowardtheendofthesummer.Inthemeantime,yourcommandmaystillauthorizeyoutotakeleaveaslongasyouremaininthelocalarea. Q8.4:CanItakeemergencyleavetotravelandcareformyparentsoranotherrelativeinanotherstate?  A8.4: Possibly,butthatwillneedtobeauthorizedbyyourchainofcommand.Exceptinverylimitedcircumstances,leavemayonlybetakenwithinyourlocalarea.However,exceptionsmaybeauthorizedincompellingcaseswherethetravelis:(1)determinedtobemission-essential;(2)necessaryforhumanitarianreasons;or(3)warrantedduetoextremehardship.   (9)RESERVESPECIFICGUIDANCE Q9.1:IamamemberoftheReserves.Willmyannualtrainingbecancelled? A9.1:Thereservecomponentshavebroaddiscretiontoreschedule,cancel,ordetermineotherwaysforReserveandNationalGuardmemberstocompletetrainingrequirements.Recommendcheckingwithyourspecificunitormilitarycommanderforguidance. Q9.2:HowcanreservistsandGuardmemberscontinuetoperformdutyiftheirunitsarecancellingunitassembliesanddrillweekends? A9.2:ThereareoptionsforuseofalternatedutylocationsforperformanceofsomereserveandNationalGuarddutiesinlieuofperformingdutyattheprimarydrilllocation.Wherepossible,militarycommanderswillissueguidancetocontinueperformingcertainReserveandNationalGuarddutiesviaalternatedutylocations.Insituationsthatdonotallowalternatedutylocations,commanderswillrescheduleInactiveDutyTraining(IDT)orgrantauthorizedabsencesfortheperiodinwhichdrillingislimited.CommanderswillneedtobemindfuloftheminimumservicerequirementseachmemberoftheReserveandNationalGuardneedstoperformtoachieveacreditableyearofservicetowardretirement,andconsiderateoftheanniversarydatesfortheirmembers.    (10)ADDITIONALINFORMATION Q10.1:WherecanIgoformoreinformation? A10.1:ThesewebsitesprovideimportantinformationonDoD’sresponsetoCOVID-19: https://www.defense.gov/Explore/Spotlight/Coronavirus https://www.militaryonesource.mil/coronavirus https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/news_Coronavirus.cfm ServicemembersandtheirfamiliesareencouragedtocallMilitaryOneSourceat1-800-342-9647andconsulthttps://www.militaryonesource.mil/coronavirusforinformationandreferralstohelpfulresources.MilitaryOneSourceisavailable24/7/365andisalsoaccessibleviaphoneoutsidetheUnitedStatesatnocosttothecaller(seehttps://www.militaryonesource.mil/international-calling-optionsfordetails). coronavirus SubscribetoDefense.govProductsChoosewhichDefense.govproductsyouwantdeliveredtoyourinbox.Subscribe Defense.gov HomeNewsSpotlightsAbout HelpfulLinks LiveEventsTodayinDODContractsFortheMediaContact Resources DODResourcesHelpCenterDOD/MilitaryWebsitesInsigniaAgencyFinancialReport Popular FY2023DefenseBudgetCoronavirus:DODResponseArtificialIntelligenceDODSpaceStrategy TheDepartmentofDefenseprovidesthemilitaryforcesneededtodeterwarandensureournation'ssecurity. 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