Basic Needs Allowance (BNA)

Start Here If You Are New to BNA

The Basic Needs Allowance is a monthly cash allowance for active-duty Marines with dependents whose gross household income falls below 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline for their household size. Established by Section 601 of Public Law 117-81 (NDAA FY22) and codified at 37 U.S.C. 402b. Public Law 118-159 Section 621 raised the threshold to 200 percent effective 12 May 2025, implemented by MARADMIN 369/25MARADMIN 369/25 under Change 3 to DoDI 1341.15DoDI 1341.15. MARADMIN 369/25 cancelled the earlier implementation messages, MARADMIN 673/22 and MARADMIN 345/23. The allowance closes the gap between your gross household income and the 200 percent threshold. You apply voluntarily through the MOL EPAR module, and your O-5 commanding officer or SCMCA adjudicates the application.

This page walks you through BNA from your seat as a General Marine. By the end you will know.

• The 37 U.S.C. 402b statutory basis and the threshold history, 130 percent at launch, 150 percent from July 2023, 200 percent from 12 May 2025
• Eligibility, active duty with DEERS-enrolled dependents, entry-level training complete, Reserve Marines on 180-day or longer orders
• The monthly allowance calculation, 200 percent of FPG minus prior-year gross household income, divided by 12
• What counts as gross household income
• The MOL EPAR application, adjudication, and election steps
• Recertification events and your reporting duties

Every fact on this page comes from 37 U.S.C. 402b, Public Law 117-81 Section 601, Public Law 118-159 Section 621, DoDI 1341.15DoDI 1341.15 CH-3, MARADMIN 369/25MARADMIN 369/25, and the HHS Federal Poverty Guidelines.

What BNA Is

Per 37 U.S.C. 402b, the Basic Needs Allowance is a monthly supplemental cash allowance paid to service members whose gross household income (GHI) and household size place them below a set percentage of the Federal Poverty Guideline (FPG). The allowance supplements your GHI up to 200 percent of the FPG. The intent is to help Marines with dependents secure affordable basic needs.

Threshold History and Effective Dates

• 130 percent of FPG at launch. MARADMIN 673/22 implemented the program for Marines in December 2022.
• 150 percent of FPG from July 2023 per MARADMIN 345/23, Change 1 to the implementation message.
• 200 percent of FPG effective 12 May 2025 per Public Law 118-159 Section 621 and Change 3 to DoDI 1341.15DoDI 1341.15, implemented by MARADMIN 369/25MARADMIN 369/25, which cancelled both earlier messages.

Eligibility

Per MARADMIN 369/25MARADMIN 369/25, BNA applies to all active-duty Marines meeting the following criteria.

Active Duty With Dependents

You are on active duty with dependents who are both enrolled in DEERS and reported within MCTFS.

Entry-Level Training Complete

You have completed initial entry-level training. New accessions apply after joining their first Permanent Duty Station. A training location with a scheduled period of instruction of 20 weeks or more counts as a PDS.

Reserve Component Marines

Reserve Marines qualify on active-duty orders of at least 180 days. The Reserve duty station location determines the applicable FPG, regardless of order type or length.

Income Below the Threshold

• Initial screening. Your GHI for the preceding calendar year must not exceed 200 percent of the applicable FPG for the preceding calendar year.
• Recertification screening. Your current monthly GHI, projected over a full year, must not exceed 200 percent of the preceding calendar year's FPG.

The Federal Poverty Guideline

HHS publishes the FPG annually by household size and geographic location. Marines outside the United States use the FPG for the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia. Your household is you plus all DEERS-enrolled dependents, regardless of their location. FPG tables are at https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines.

How Gross Household Income Is Calculated

Per MARADMIN 369/25MARADMIN 369/25, GHI is the sum of.

• Your military income, including all pays and allowances except the BNA itself, regardless of taxability
• Any additional income you earn
• All income earned by each member of the household from any source

GHI excludes income from Federal Government food assistance programs. The Glossary of DoDI 1341.15DoDI 1341.15 carries the complete list of income exclusions.

Note the treatment of allowances. All pays and allowances except the BNA itself count in GHI under the current rule. Read your LES total entitlements, not only basic pay, when you self-screen.

Monthly Allowance Calculation

Per MARADMIN 369/25MARADMIN 369/25 paragraph 16.

Formula

BNA monthly amount = ((2.0 x FPG for the payment year) - (GHI for the prior calendar year)) / 12.

• Partial months prorate at 1/30th of the monthly amount based on the eligibility date.
• Retroactive payments before the certification date are not authorized.
• The MOL EPAR module and the HQMC MPO Military Compensation website host the BNA Allowance Calculator and an application example.

Tax Status

BNA is taxable income. The counseling you receive at election covers this.

Notification and the Application Window

Commands screen for potentially eligible Marines through the MOL pre-screen advisory. Within 30 days of the advisory, your command notifies you with a page 11 entry (NAVMC 118-11). You then have 180 days to apply after notification or after joining your first PDS. If you do not apply inside the window, you wait until the next annual screening or a recertification event. Consult your installation Personal Financial Management Specialist before applying.

Application Process

You apply voluntarily, with or without a prescreening notification.

1. Submit the application and supporting documentation through the MOL EPAR module, under Pay, Basic Needs Allowance. Your S-1 assists if you lack EPAR access.
2. The application routes to your O-5 commanding officer or Special Courts-Martial Convening Authority. Adjudication authority sits there and is not delegable.
3. The determination comes back as certified, incomplete, or ineligible, with justification for the latter two.
4. Upon certification, you elect to receive or decline BNA. The election is documented in the application.

Required Documentation

• Leave and Earnings Statement
• Preceding calendar year's tax return
• Civilian pay stubs and W-2s
• Income documents for every household member

Counseling at Election

Marines electing BNA are counseled on four points. Report income increases pushing annualized GHI past 200 percent of FPG. BNA affects eligibility for federal food assistance programs such as school lunch, WIC, and SNAP. BNA is taxable. BNA is subject to discontinuation at any time.

Payment

Certifying personnel officers report TTC 694/693 per the MCTFSPRIUMMCTFSPRIUM to credit BNA. Payment occurs within 30 calendar days of the certified application. BNA appears as Basic Needs Allowance on the LES. Units and S-1s submit BNA payment authorization to the PAC monthly.

Recertification Events

Routine events trigger recalculation and recertification. Examples from MARADMIN 369/25MARADMIN 369/25 paragraph 15.

• Promotion
• Annual basic pay increases
• Basic pay increase from years of service
• Start, stop, or rate change of special or incentive pays
• Assignment to family-type government quarters
• Execution of PCS orders
• Annual FPG rate changes
• Income changes for other household members
• COLA changes
• Start, stop, or rate change of bonus payments

Special Rules

• Termination grace. A Marine whose GHI exceeds the limit keeps BNA for 60 days after the date of ineligibility, then it stops.
• Family growth. Previously ineligible Marines reapply when family size increases.
• Reporting duty. You are responsible for reporting GHI and family size changes to your S-1.
• Disciplinary reductions. A GHI decrease from a fine, forfeiture, or reduction in rank imposed as discipline does not increase your BNA.
• Dual-military couples. Only one member receives BNA. The couple jointly elects the recipient.

Reconsideration and Appeals

• An incomplete application resubmits with additional supporting documents.
• A disapproved application appeals via the chain of command using the AA Form (NAVMC 10274), explaining the basis, to SMB_HQMC_MPO@usmc.mil.

Common Questions Marines Ask

Who qualifies for BNA?

Active-duty Marines with DEERS-enrolled dependents reported in MCTFS, entry-level training complete, and prior-year gross household income below 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline. Reserve Marines qualify on orders of 180 days or more.

Is BAH counted in my income for BNA?

Yes. GHI includes all pays and allowances except the BNA itself, regardless of taxability, per MARADMIN 369/25.

How is the monthly allowance calculated?

((2.0 x FPG for the payment year) - (prior calendar year GHI)) / 12. Partial months prorate at 1/30th per day.

Is BNA taxable?

Yes. Election counseling covers the tax treatment and the effect on federal food assistance eligibility.

How do I apply?

Through the MOL EPAR module under Pay, Basic Needs Allowance, routed to your O-5 commander or SCMCA. Your S-1 assists if you lack EPAR access. Attach your LES, prior-year tax return, pay stubs, W-2s, and household income documents.

How long do I have to apply?

180 days after the command page 11 notification or after joining your first PDS. Missing the window means waiting for the next annual screening or a recertification event.

What if my income changes mid-year?

Report GHI and family size changes to your S-1. Income pushing your annualized GHI past the threshold ends BNA 60 days after the date of ineligibility.

What if my spouse and I are both active duty?

Only one of you receives BNA. You jointly elect the recipient.

What happens if my application is disapproved?

Resubmit with more documentation if the determination was incomplete. Appeal a disapproval via the chain of command on the AA Form (NAVMC 10274) to HQMC MPO.

Where to Go for Help

• Self-screening and calculator. MOL EPAR module and the HQMC MPO Military Compensation website.
• Financial counseling before applying. Installation Personal Financial Management Specialist through MCCS.
• Application help. Your unit S-1.
• Eligibility and adjudication questions. Your S-1 or PAC first, then HQMC MPO at SMB_HQMC_MPO@usmc.mil.

Where to Go Next on This Site

• Pay and Entitlements landing page lists all the pay topics.
• Basic Pay covers monthly basic pay framework.
• BAH covers the housing allowance, counted in BNA GHI under the current rule.
• BAS covers the food allowance.
• Federal Tax Withholding covers federal income tax on BNA and other taxable pays.
• Pay Problems and Fixes covers LES errors and pay correction submission.

Related Roles

• Leaders identify Marines with dependents who appear to qualify and connect them with the S-1 and the MOL EPAR application.
• Admin at S-1 assists applications, tracks the 180-day window, processes TTC 694/693, and submits monthly payment authorizations to the PAC.
• Commanders at O-5 level adjudicate applications, ensure page 11 notifications go out within 30 days of the MOL advisory, maintain monthly BNA records, and forward signed page 11s and applications to the OMPF.

The Basic Needs Allowance supplements gross household income up to 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline for active-duty Marines with dependents. Calculation is ((2.0 x FPG) minus prior-year GHI) divided by 12. Application through MOL EPAR to the O-5 commander or SCMCA. Per 37 U.S.C. 402b, Public Law 118-159 Section 621, DoDI 1341.15DoDI 1341.15 CH-3, and MARADMIN 369/25MARADMIN 369/25.