[Entitlement to Quarters Allowance]

In response to a request from an Air Force accounting and finance officer, GAO rendered an advance decision concerning a military member's entitlement to the basic allowance for quarters at the with-dependent rate during her husband's civil confinement under an extended prison sentence. GAO stated that a basic allowance for quarters is given to service members who are not furnished Government quarters and the increased allowance for members with dependents is intended to at least partially reimburse them for the expense of providing private quarters for their dependents. However, GAO noted that a quarters allowance at the with-dependent rate is not paid as a bonus for being married. In this case, the husband was a military member who was not entitled to pay and allowances because of the civil confinement. GAO does not believe Congress intended that a member be credited with an increased allowance where the dependent will be absent for an extended period of time and where, as in this case, the member was for all practical purposes absolved of the responsibility of providing a home for the dependent for the duration of the dependent's confinement. Accordingly, GAO found that the payment of the basic allowance for quarters at the with-dependent rate was not warranted; however, if the member were released from confinement and all other requirements were satisfied, the member would become entitled to the quarters allowance at the with-dependent rate.