UNCLAS
ALCOAST 247/23
SSIC 7220

SUBJ:  UPDATE TO BASIC NEEDS ALLOWANCE (BNA) - IMPLEMENTATION OF
INCREASED FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES (FPG) THRESHOLD
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 301707Z DEC 22/ALCOAST 524/22
B. 37 U.S.C. Section 402b - Basic Needs Allowance
C. FY23 National Defense Authorization Act (Public Law No. 117-263)
D. Basic Needs Allowance, DoDI 1341.15
E. Coast Guard Pay Manual, COMDTINST M7220.29D
F. Personnel and Pay Procedures TTP, PPCINST M1000.2

1. This ALCOAST announces implementation of a change to the Federal
Poverty Guideline (FPG) eligibility threshold for Basic Needs
Allowance (BNA) effective on 1 July 2023. REF (A) announced
implementation of BNA, pursuant to REF (B). As implemented, 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 130
percent of the FPG for the geographical location of their permanent
duty station (PDS).

2. In an effort to expand eligibility for BNA, increasing the number
of servicemembers and families who will be positively impacted by
the allowance, REF (C) authorizes an increase in the FPG threshold
from 130 percent to 150 percent. 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

3. Policy. REF (D) applies to the Coast Guard, establishing
overarching policy for all armed forces, and has been updated with
Change 1 effective on 1 July 2023. Other than the increased FPG
threshold, there are no changes to Coast Guard-specific policy,
as promulgated by REF (A), which will be incorporated into the next
revision of REF (E). REF (D) can be found on the Washington
Headquarters Services, Directives site at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)
https://www.esd.whs.mil/DD/

4. Forms. The Basic Needs Allowance Eligibility Screening Worksheet,
CG Form 7431A, and the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA) Worksheet,
CG Form 7431, are being updated to reflect the change to the FPG
threshold and the updated forms are expected to be available on
1 July 2023. The forms 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

5. Procedures. Members who were screened for eligibility earlier
this year will not have to rescreen upon implementation of the
increased threshold.  Members who previously screened ineligible
based upon their household income are encouraged to rescreen and
apply, as appropriate. To rescreen, use CG-7431A and follow Coast
Guard-specific procedures promulgated in Section E of Chapter 8
of REF (F), 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/

6. 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
mailto:COMPENSATION@USCG.MIL.

7. COs and OICs shall bring the contents of this ALCOAST to the
attention of all personnel.

8. This message will be cancelled on 29 JUN 2024.

9. Dr. D. M. Navarro, Acting Assistant Commandant for Human
Resources (CG-1), sends.

10. Internet release is authorized.