Letter to Army Captain for Reconsideration of Decision Regarding Entitlement of Female Military Members to an Increase in the Basic Allowance for Quarters on Account of a Dependent Husband

We have reexamined our decision concerning the entitlement of female members to the basic allowance for quarters on account of a dependent husband. By decision of July 3, 1972, B-161261, 52 Comp. Gen. 1 to the Secretary of Defense, we reconsidered our decision in 32 Comp. Gen. 364, and concluded that effective that date a female member of the uniformed services may be considered as having a dependent husband within the meaning of the governing statute, 37 U.S.C. 401, where there is sufficient evidence to establish his dependence on her for over one-half of his support without regard to the husband's mental or physical capability to support himself. It appears that under the purview of the above decision of July 3, 1972, you maybe entitled to the increased basic allowance for quarters commencing July 3, 1972, on account of a dependent husband, should it be determined by the Department of the Army that your husband is in fact dependent for more than one-half of his support. However, that decision provides no authority for crediting your account in such instance with the increased allowance for the period prior to the date thereof.