ALCOAST 244/25 - MAY 2025 UPDATE TO BASIC NEEDS ALLOWANCE (BNA) - IMPLEMENTATION OF INCREASED FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES (FPG) THRESHOLD

R 281748Z MAY 25 MID120001972855U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 244/25
SSIC 7220
SUBJ: UPDATE TO BASIC NEEDS ALLOWANCE (BNA) - IMPLEMENTATION OF
INCREASED FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES (FPG) THRESHOLD
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 301707Z DEC 22/ALCOAST 524/22
B. 37 U.S.C. Section 402b - Basic Needs Allowance
C. FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (PL 118-159, Sec. 621)
D. Basic Needs Allowance, DoDI 1341.15
E. Coast Guard Pay Manual, COMDTINST 7220.29D
F. Personnel and Pay Procedures TTP, PPCINST M1000.2
1. This ALCOAST announces implementation of a change to the Federal
Poverty Guideline (FPG) eligibility threshold for Basic Needs
Allowance (BNA) effective on 12 May 2025. REF (A) announced
implementation of BNA, pursuant to REF (B). As implemented, BNA is a
monthly allowance for active duty members (including reservists on
active duty for other than training (ADOT)) with dependents
enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System
(DEERS), who have completed initial entry training (IET), and whose
gross household income (GHI) and household size place them below the
the FPG for the geographical location of their permanent duty
station (PDS).
2. In an effort to expand eligibility for BNA, increasing the number
of servicemembers and families who will be positively impacted by
the allowance, REF (C) authorizes an increase in the FPG threshold
from 150 percent to 200 percent. The FPGs are periodically updated
and can be found on the Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS), Poverty and Economic Mobility, Poverty Guidelines site at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-
guidelines

3. Policy. REF (D) applies to the Coast Guard, establishing
overarching policy for all armed forces, and has been updated
effective on 12 May 2025.
4. Other than the increased FPG threshold, there are no changes to
Coast Guard-specific policy, as promulgated by REF (A), which will
be incorporated into the next revision of REF (E). REF (D) can be
found on the Washington Headquarters Services, Directives site at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://www.esd.whs.mil/DD/

5. Forms. The Basic Needs Allowance Eligibility Screening Worksheet,
CG Form 7431A, and the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA) Worksheet,
CG Form 7431, are being updated to reflect the change to the FPG
threshold and the updated forms are expected to be available on
the COMDT (CG-612) Directives and Publications, CG Authorized Forms
Portal site at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/forms

6. Procedures. Members who were previously screened eligible for BNA
will not have to rescreen upon implementation of the increased
threshold. Members who previously screened ineligible based upon
their household income are encouraged to rescreen and apply, as
appropriate. To rescreen, use CG-7431A and follow Coast Guard
specific procedures promulgated in Section E of Chapter 8 of
REF (F), found on the PPC, Procedures & Development site at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/ppc/pd/3pm/

7. Questions regarding this ALCOAST or BNA should initially be
directed to the servicing P&A Office. Questions that cannot be
addressed by the P&A Office may be directed to COMDT (CG-1M12) at
SMB-COMDT-COMPENSATION@USCG.MIL.
8. COs and OICs shall bring the contents of this ALCOAST to the
attention of all personnel.
9. CAPT Ryan P. Matson, Acting Assistant Commandant for Military
Personnel (CG-1M), sends.
10. Internet release is authorized.