Family Separation Allowance (FSA) is paid at the rate of $250.00 per month or prorated at $8.33 per day. FSA is payable to service members with dependents assigned away from their permanent duty station continuously for more than 30 days in a TDY or TCS status when all of the member’s dependents are not residing at or near the temporary station.
FSA continues or stops as follows:
• Entitlement continues to accrue to the member if one or more, but not all, dependents visit at or near the TDY/TCS station for more than 30 days, if the member is otherwise entitled on behalf of the dependent(s) who are not visiting the member.
• Entitlement stops when all of the member’s dependents visit at or near the TDY/TCS station for 30 days or longer (stops effective on the 31st day).
• Entitlement stops on the day prior to getting PCS’d to new permanent duty station.
• Entitlement stops on the day prior to returning to home station.
Family Separation Allowance (FSA) Examples
Example 1:
TSgt Hall returns home from a combat zone for medical treatment that is away from permanent duty station from January 10 to July 15. TSgt Hall has four dependents including a spouse and three children. Unfortunately, no dependents are able to join him. FSA continues uninterrupted while TSgt Hall is at the treatment facility.
Example 2:
TSgt Hall returns home from a combat zone for medical treatment that is away from permanent duty station from January 10 to July 15. TSgt Hall has four dependents including a spouse and three children. On January 25th, TSgt Hall’s spouse and children join TSgt Hall full time. Since every dependent is at or near their temporary station continuously for over 30 consecutive days, FSA ends on January 31.
Example 3:
TSgt Hall returns home from a combat zone for medical treatment that is away from permanent duty station from January 10 to July 15. Out of four dependents, TSgt Hall’s spouse and two of the children join TSgt Hall full time. Since not every dependent is at or near the temporary duty station continuously for over 30 days, FSA continues.
Example 4:
TSgt Hall returns home from a combat zone for medical treatment away from permanent duty station from January 10 to July 15. Out of four dependents, TSgt Hall’s spouse and two of their children join TSgt Hall full time. TSgt Hall’s other child still visits as often as possible, but is not able to reside near the station continuously. Since not every dependent is at or near the temporary duty station continuously for over 30 days, FSA continues.
Example 5:
TSgt Hall returns home from a combat zone for medical treatment away from permanent duty station from January 10 to July 15. TSgt Hall has four dependents including a spouse and three children. On January 25th TSgt Hall’s spouse joins full time, but TSgt Hall’s children just visit when able on long weekends and school breaks. Since only one dependent is at or near the temporary duty station continuously for over 30 days, FSA is still paid through complete stay.