H.R. 5208 — To amend title 37, United States Code, to exclude the basic allowance for housing from the calculation of gross household income for purposes of the basic needs allowance for eligible members of the Armed Forces.

This section revises the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA) to exclude all basic allowance for housing (BAH) paid to an eligible service member from gross household income calculations (previously, only a portion that the Secretary concerned elects to exclude in certain cases). (The BNA provides monthly payments to low-income service members—i.e., those with household incomes below 130% of the federal poverty guidelines—to cover basic living expenses such as food and utilities. Thus, the change broadens BNA eligibility and potential payment amounts by fully disregarding BAH.)