Fillable Form DA Form 5960

How to Get and Edit DA Form 5960 template

Open the DA Form 5960 template

Use PDFRun's PDF Editor and start filling out the sample template

Create a Free Account on PDFRun to save your document

Export your document, Download, Print or Send your Document via Email

What is DA Form 5960?

The DA Form 5960 is used by military members to apply for assistance concerning their Basic Allowance for Quarters (BAQ) and/or Variable Housing Allowance (VHA).

Why do I have to submit this form?

As a member of the military, you have the benefit of receiving assistance for housing allowance or expenses.

If you have not applied for an allowance yet, you have to submit this form so that the military could start officially releasing your payment.

If you have already applied for an allowance, you are required to submit this form routinely. It is so that the military could adjust your pay record.

If there are changes to your circumstance that may affect your expenses, you are also required to report that update to the military so that they could adjust your pay. According to the DFAS, these instances may be the following:

• Termination of family-type housing
• Assignment to family-type housing
• Married, divorced, or birth of child
• Legal separation or court-ordered child support
• Spouse enlisted or discharged from military
• Child enlisted to military

What other documents do I need?

You will need supporting documents that can verify your eligibility for BAH or changes to it. These are the common required documents:

• Proof of Dependency (ex. marriage certificate, birth certificates of children, divorce decree)
• Proof of Residence (ex. lease or rental agreement, mortgage documents, utility bills)
• PCS Orders or Assignment Orders
• Record of Emergency Data (DD Form 93)
• Signed Counseling Statement (DA Form 4856)
• Supporting Finance Documents (ex. pay stubs)

Who qualifies for the Basic Allowance for Housing?

As long as you are a military member who is on active duty, you are eligible for BAH. There are also different types of BAH, which are the following:

• BAH with Dependents and BAH Without Dependents
• Partial BAH
• BAH Reserve Component/Transit
• BAH-Differential

How to fill out DA Form 5960?

Get a copy of DA Form 5960 template in PDF format.

GET A COPY

You would have to fill out and submit three copies of this form. Make sure to provide all the information that is asked from you in this form. Nondisclosure of any information may result in nonpayment of your BAQ and/or VHA.

First, get a fillable DA Form 5960 PDF from PDFRun.

Then, provide the following information:

1. Name
   Input your full legal name in the space provided.
2. Social Security Number
   The Army identifies you for pay purposes via your SSN. Input your Social Security Number.
3. Grade
   Input here your current rank in the military.
4. Type of Action
   You are asked about the intention in filling out this form. Mark with an “X” the box that corresponds to your answer.
   • Start
   • Cancel
   • Change
   • Report
   • Correct
   • Stop
   • Recertification
5. Duty Location
   Input here your complete unit address.
6. Date
   Input here the effective date of action.
7. BAQ Type
   You are asked about the BAQ Type. Mark with an “X” the box that corresponds to your answer.
   • With dependents
   • Without dependents
   • Partial
8. Marital/ Dependency Status
   You are asked about your marital or dependency status. Mark with an “X” the box that corresponds to your answer.
   • Single
   • Married
   • Divorced
   • Legally Separated
   • Dependent Child

If you checked Divorced or Legally Separated: You will be asked to provide information about your former spouse. Fill out blocks 1, 2, and 3 located just below the choices for Marital Dependency Status.

If you checked the box for Dependent Child:

• Block 4: You will be asked about who you are in custody of. Mark with “X” your answer.
• Block 5: If you checked “Other” on Block 4, you will have to provide proof of dependency (DD Form 137)
• Block 6: If you receive child support from another military member, complete blocks 1, 2, and 3.

9. Quarters Assignment/Availability
   You are asked to define your quarters’ assignment or availability. Mark with an “X” the box that corresponds to your answer.

• Adequate: if you are assigned to government quarters
• Inadequate: see blocks 1, 2, and 4 for additional information you have to provide.
• Transient: see block 3 for additional information you have to provide
• Not Available: if you are residing off-post.

10. Dependents/Sharers
    Provide here the details about your dependents or the people you’re sharing your quarters with. Input here their name, complete current address, relationship, and the date of birth of your children.
11. Certification of Dependent Support
    In this section, you are to certify that you will provide adequate support for the dependents you have mentioned in Item 10. Write your INITIALS in the boxes provided (Read the form for the full statement of certification).
12. Expenses, if authorized, I am Requesting VHA Based On
    In this section, you are asked to indicate information about your monthly expenditure and the monthly expenditures of your dependents, if any.
13. Member’s signature
    Affix your signature in the box provided. Your signature is important. You will not be paid your BAH on time if you fail to sign this form.
14. Date
    Input the date you filled out this form.
15. Certifying Officer’s Signature
    Do not input anything here. The certifying officer, which is any commanding officer, will input his or her signature here to certify your accomplished Form DA-5960.

How do I submit DA Form 5960?

Submit your accomplished Form 5960 (and, if applicable, other documents supporting dependency) to your unit’s personnel actions office (S1) or human resources office.

The receiving personnel will be responsible for submitting the documents to the DFAS.

Reminder: It is recommended that you keep a copy of your signed forms for your future reference.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who signs a DA Form 5960?

The DA 5960 must be signed by both the service member and authorizing official.

How long does it take for BAH to get approved?

It depends on which military branch you are part of. However, it usually takes at least two weeks for it to be processed.

Do both married military members get BAH?

If two military members are married to each other but do not have dependents, then they will receive individual BAH. However, if there is a dependent child, then they must choose which of them will get the BAH at the with-dependent rate.