Under the military’s new “Taking Care of Our Service Members and Families” memorandum, recent military pay increases may help bridge the gap inflation has caused in caring for a military spouse’s children after separation.
Just off the presses, on September 22, 2022, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced sweeping and immediate changes to California military members Basic Allotment for Housing (BAH). This change increased the amount service members receive for their housing in specific high-housing-cost locations nationwide. The increase was also immediate (Effective October 1, 2022.)
To help military members afford safe and reliable housing in these high rent/mortgage zones, the military stepped in and increased the BAH pay in specific locations. Additionally, the military is authorizing a Basic Needs Allowance (BNA) and a 4.6% pay increase for Service members starting January 1, 2023.
What might this mean for you as a former spouse (or co-parent) of a military member raising your kids under inflation? A new change of circumstance may lead to requesting a new determination of child support.
Child support is determined by each parties income. The Income and Expense Declaration can help the Court determine what is fair and equitable between homes so each parent can adequately take care of the parties minor children. If you are co-parenting with a military member who just received the BAH raise, you may need to review how long ago your child support was established and whether the amount is fair and can keep up with the rising inflation rates.
Child support is designed to help establish equal home environments for the children transitioning between houses. Sometimes this means needing to redetermine if what you are receiving is enough when inflation and housing have increased by nearly 10%.
At Wells-Gibson Family Law, we can help with that. Whether through our monthly Subscription Program for Self-Representing Clients or by retaining our attorneys to fight for you and your children, we can help you determine if what you are receiving for your kids is enough, fair, and accurate to the state guidelines.