Family Separation Allowance
You may have heard the term Family Sep Pay. The actual term the Military uses is Family Separation Allowance also known as FSA.
WHAT IT IS
Family Separation Allowance (FSA) is given to a servicemember with dependants who, because of Military orders, is away from his or her dependants for more than 30 days.
WHEN DOES IT APPLY
Family Seperation Allowance - R(FSA-R)
Transportation of dependents, including dependents acquired after effective date of orders (see Table 27-3 (Commencement Dates), rules 8 and 9), is not authorized at government expense (see paragraph 270301); and the dependents do not live in the vicinity of the member’s homeport/permanent duty station.Transportation of dependents is authorized at government expense, but member elects an unaccompanied tour of duty because a dependent cannot accompany the member to or at that homeport/permanent station due to certified medical reasons, regardless of the date on which the member first made the election to serve an unaccompanied tour. Prior to January 1, 2002, FSA-R was payable in this situation only pursuant to a secretarial waiver (see subparagraph 270301.D.).
Family Separation Allowance - S (FSA-S)
The member is on duty aboard a ship, and the ship is away from the homeport continuously for more than 30 days. NOTE: Effective June 20, 1994, a member was entitled to FSA-S for a redeployment if he or she returned to homeport after the original deployment for a period of 30 days or less and redeployed for a period of more than 30 days.Family Separation Allowance - T (FSA-T)
The member is on temporary duty (TDY) (or temporary additional duty) away from the permanent station continuously for more than 30 days, and the member’s dependents are not residing at or near the TDY station. This includes members who are required to perform a period of the TDY before reporting to their initial station of assignment. NOTE: Effective June 20, 1994, a member became entitled to FSA-T for a redeployment if he or she returned to the permanent duty station after the original deployment for a period of 30 days or less and redeployed for a period of more than 30 days.
WHO IT DOES NOT APPLY TO
A member electing to serve an unaccompanied tour, in lieu of an accompanied tour at a permanent station where his or her dependents are permitted, is not entitled to FSA-R for such a tour.
A member who is in receipt of accompanied tour orders, and subsequently requests to serve an unaccompanied tour, to include a dependents-restricted tour, in lieu of an accompanied tour at a permanent station where his or her dependents are permitted, is not entitled to FSA-R for such a tour.
A member's whose dependants reside within the vacinity of the member's homeport/permanant duty station.
A member's who is on TDY orders for more than 30 days but whose dependents reside at or near the TDY station. In otherwords if you choose to visit your spouse at his/her TDY station for more than 30 days, he/she will no longer be eligble for FSA-T.
CURRENT PAY RATE
The current FSA is $250.00 a month.
MORE INFORMATION
For a more detailed view of the FSA see DoD Financial Management Regulation Volume 7A, Chapter 27
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