Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) - Frequently Asked Questions

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Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA)
Frequently Asked Questions
Updated: 17 December 2018

1. What is OHA?

The Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) is paid to Service members living in private housing at overseas duty stations. OHA helps offset housing costs, consisting of:

Rental allowance
Utility and recurring maintenance allowance
Move-in housing allowance (MIHA)

MIHA Miscellaneous: Up front, lump sum payment to offset average move-in costs
MIHA Rent: Dollar-for-dollar reimbursement for realtor fees
MIHA Security: Dollar-for-dollar reimbursement for security upgrades (security system, window bars, secure doors, etc.) in high threat areas only as determined by the Department of State
MIHA Infectious Disease: Dollar-for-dollar reimbursement for infectious disease prevention-related upgrades to a dwelling (window/door screens)

Although there is a separate allowance for rent and utilities, housing allowances appear as a single amount on the LES.

2. How much OHA will I receive when I PCS to my new duty station?

To look up your OHA rates, visit the OHA calculator.

3. Do I have to apply for OHA?

Yes. When you arrive at your duty station, check with the local housing office (or the local commander if there is no housing office) to see what the procedures are for your area. To start your OHA, once you have found housing, take a copy of your lease to the appropriate official and complete the DD Form 2367, Individual Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) Report.

4. Do I have to apply for MIHA?

That depends on the type of MIHA and where you are stationed.

MIHA Miscellaneous	All members who fill out the DD Form 2367 to start their OHA will automatically get the MIHA Miscellaneous rate along with their first OHA payment.
MIHA Rent	If you paid a realtor, you can claim reimbursement by filling on the DD Form 2556, Move-In Housing Allowance Claim.
MIHA Security	If you paid for security upgrades to your quarters, you can seek reimbursement only if your locations is a MIHA Security authorized location. See https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/Docs/AB-MIHA-01.pdf. Claim reimbursement on the DD Form 2556.
MIHA Infectious Disease	If you paid for window/door screens to prevent the Zika virus, and your location is an authorized location, you may claim reimbursement on the DD Form 2556. See https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/Docs/AB-MIHA-01.pdf.

5. How do I know how much rent I can afford to pay?

You can find your maximum rental allowance on the OHA calculator page or ask your housing officer (or the local commander). The amount payable is either your rent amount or the amount of the allowance, whichever is lower.

6. How can I find out what kind of utility bills and move-in expenses to expect?

You can find your MIHA miscellaneous and utility allowance rates on the OHA calculator page or ask the housing office. These rates are based on expenditures reported on the OHA surveys by members assigned to your duty station. If you know what your allowances are, you should be able to budget for those expenses.

7. Will OHA cover all my housing costs?

OHA is designed to offset housing costs, and members can be expected to pay out-of-pocket.

8. I am planning to take my family overseas with me. Will I receive a housing allowance for them?

Yes, command sponsorship is no longer required for a Service member to receive OHA for his accompanying family.

9. Where does the Department of Defense get the information that's used to set the allowances?

Rental allowances are determined by analyzing rents in the pay system, based on information on members’ DD Form 2367. The utility allowance is based on annual surveys, in which members report average monthly expenditures. The MIHA miscellaneous is based on triennial surveys, in which members report expenses incurred upon moving in to their quarters.

10. I've heard that utility bills are not sent out every month in some places overseas. Is that true?

Yes, in many overseas locations, you may be billed for utilities only once or twice a year, or you may receive estimated bills for several months with a catch-up bill at the end of the year based on actual usage. It might exceed the estimate; so it would be wise to set money aside in case you receive a higher than expected bill.

11. How often is OHA reviewed?

The rental allowances are reviewed every 6 months based on rents in the pay system. The utility allowance is reviewed annually based on the annual OHA Utility Expenses Survey. The MIHA Miscellaneous is reviewed every 3 years based on the triennial OHA Utility and Move-In Expenses Survey.

12. I'll be paying my housing costs in the local currency, and the value of the dollar seems to change every other day. Is my housing allowance going to keep up with the changes?

The Allowances Branch closely monitors daily exchange rates. The pay system exchange rate can adjust as often as every pay period to maintain your purchasing power. See https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/currency.cfm.

13. Does the amount of OHA I receive affect my COLA?

No. OHA and COLA are separate allowances.