Dec. 30, 2022 —
R 301707Z DEC 22 MID600052545225U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 524/22
SSIC 7220
SUBJ: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BASIC NEEDS ALLOWANCE (BNA)
A. FY22 National Defense Authorization Act (Public Law No. 117-81)
B. 37 U.S.C. Section 402b - Basic Needs Allowance
C. Basic Needs Allowance, DoDI 1341.15
D. Coast Guard Pay Manual, COMDTINST M7220.29C
E. Personnel and Pay Procedures TTP, PPCINST M1000.2
1. This ALCOAST announces implementation of the Basic Needs
Allowance (BNA) effective on 1 January 2023. BNA was signed into law
by REF (A) and codified into REF (B). BNA is a monthly allowance for
active duty members (including reservists on active duty for other
than training (ADOT)) with dependents enrolled in the Defense
Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS), who have completed
initial entry training (IET), and whose gross household income (GHI)
and household size place them below the 130 percent of the Federal
Poverty Guideline (FPG) for the geographical location of their
permanent duty station (PDS). The FPGs are periodically updated and
can be found on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS),
Poverty and Economic Mobility, Poverty Guidelines site at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)
https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-
guidelines
2. Policy. REF (C) applies to the Coast Guard, establishing
overarching policy, assigning responsibilities, and prescribing
general procedures concerning eligibility and requirements for
receipt and administration of BNA. Coast Guard-specific policy, as
promulgated by this ALCOAST, will be incorporated into the next
revision of REF (D). REF (C) can be found on the Washington
Headquarters Services, Directives site at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)
https://www.esd.whs.mil/DD/
3. Forms. The following two forms are the only approved documents
for Coast Guard member screening and application for BNA. They can
be found on the COMDT (CG-612) Directives and Publications, CG
Authorized Forms Portal site at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)
https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/forms
a. BNA SCREENING WORKSHEET. The Basic Needs Allowance Eligibility
Screening Worksheet, Form CG-7431A, will be used by Personnel and
Administration Offices (P&A) to screen members for eligibility for
BNA IAW REF (C). All Coast Guard members must be screened during
initial implementation of BNA, as well as IAW REF (C). After initial
implementation, all new Coast Guard members must be screened during
IET. Members transferring from IET at TRACEN Cape May to Class "A"
School remain in the training accession pipeline. Members who screen
eligible during IET may not apply for BNA until after reporting to
their first PDS.
b. BNA APPLICATION. The Basic Needs Allowance (BNA) Worksheet,
Form CG-7431, will be used by members who have screened as eligible
to apply for BNA. Members who elect to apply for BNA must submit
their Form CG-7431 within 90 days of screening as eligible on a
Form CG-7431A. Members who do not apply within 90 days of screening
as eligible, will be required to rescreen prior to submitting an
application. Commands must certify applications prior to
submission for payment processing. Members in receipt of BNA must
regularly have their entitlement recertified IAW REF (C).
4. Procedures. In addition to the general procedures in REF (C),
Coast Guard-specific procedures have been promulgated in Chapter 8
of REF (E), which can be found on the PPC, Procedures & Development
site at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)
https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/ppc/pd/3pm/
5. Questions regarding this ALCOAST or BNA should initially be
directed to the servicing P&A Office. Questions that cannot be
addressed by the P&A Office may be directed to COMDT (CG-1332) at
COMPENSATION@USCG.MIL.
6. These changes will be made to the next revision of REF (D),
which will be released within the next year.
7. This ALCOAST is cancelled on 29 DEC 2023.
8. COs and OICs shall bring the contents of this ALCOAST to the
attention of all personnel.
9. RADM B. K. Penoyer, Assistant Commandant for Human Resources
(CG-1), sends.
10. Internet release is authorized.