Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance (FSSA): Eligibility, Rates, and How to Apply

If you are a servicemember stationed overseas with a family and a qualifying household income, you may be eligible for extra monthly pay to help cover food costs. That benefit is called the Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance, or FSSA.

FSSA is a voluntary, tax-free monthly payment that supplements your Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) to help ensure your family can afford nutritious food. It pays you the difference between your household income and 130 percent of the federal poverty level for your household size, up to a maximum of $1,100 per month.

Note: FSSA is only available to servicemembers stationed outside the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. If you are stationed stateside, see the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA) section at the bottom of this page, which is the program designed for you.

What Is FSSA?

Congress created the FSSA to ensure that low-income military families would not have to rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, to afford food.

The program works by topping up your household income. If your total household income falls below the SNAP gross income threshold for your household size, FSSA pays you the difference to bring your income up to 130 percent of the federal poverty level. The benefit is paid directly to you in cash, in whole dollar amounts, and appears on your Leave and Earnings Statement (LES).

FSSA Payment Amounts

FSSA pays you the amount needed to bring your gross household income up to 130 percent of the federal poverty level as established by the USDA. The maximum payment is $1,100 per month, paid in whole dollar amounts.

If you are eligible for less than a full month of FSSA, the payment is prorated at 1/30 of the monthly amount for each day of entitlement.

If you are currently receiving SNAP benefits, your FSSA entitlement equals whichever is higher: the calculated FSSA amount or your current SNAP allotment. Either way, your payment cannot exceed $1,100 per month.

Because the federal poverty guidelines are updated annually by the USDA, the income thresholds that determine your eligibility and payment amount change each year. Contact your service representative or a Military and Family Support Center counselor to get the current figures for your household size.

Effect on other benefits

Receiving FSSA may affect your eligibility for other federal assistance programs. Before you apply, check each program’s rules to understand how FSSA income will be counted. Programs that may be affected include:

• SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
• WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children)
• Subsidized school meal programs
• Earned income tax credit calculations
• Child care assistance programs

You can receive FSSA and SNAP at the same time. If you receive both, FSSA counts as earned income when determining your SNAP allotment.

Who Is Eligible for FSSA?

You may qualify for FSSA if you meet all four of the following conditions:

1. You are serving on active duty and receiving full or partial BAS
2. Your gross household income falls within the SNAP income guidelines for your household size
3. At least one person in your household is a military dependent
4. You are stationed outside the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or Guam

National Guard and Reserve members serving on active duty orders may also qualify if they meet all four conditions above.

What does “household” mean for FSSA?

Only dependents who normally live with you count as part of your household for FSSA purposes. If you are geographically separated from your family because of your assignment, you are still considered part of your household for eligibility calculations. Non-dependents who live with you may also be included in the household count, but at least one person in the household must be a military dependent.

Non-pay status and AWOL

If you are in a non-pay status, you are not eligible for FSSA. However, if you receive a “no pay due” status because of deductions or collections from your pay, you are still eligible. Members in AWOL status are not eligible.

What Counts as Household Income for FSSA

Your total household income determines whether you qualify and how much you receive. The following sources count as income for FSSA:

Military income includes:

• Basic pay
• Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS)
• Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) or the cash equivalent if you live in government quarters
• Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA)
• All bonuses, special, and incentive pays

Other household income includes:

• Wages, salaries, and earnings from employment
• Commissions and tips
• Self-employment income
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• TANF payments
• Interest and dividend income
• Alimony and child support
• Unemployment and workers compensation
• Veterans benefits
• Annuities, pensions, and other retirement income

What does not count as income

The following are excluded from your FSSA income calculation:

• Hostile fire pay and imminent danger pay
• Continental U.S. Cost of Living Allowance (CONUS COLA)
• Overseas Cost of Living Allowance (OCONUS COLA)
• Family Separation Allowance (FSA)
• All travel and transportation allowances
• Clothing allowances
• Income of students under 18 years of age
• Loans, grants, and scholarships
• Income tax refunds
• Insurance settlements
• Federal energy assistance payments
• HUD utility reimbursements
• Reimbursements for medical and dental care
• The value of SNAP benefits already received

How to Apply for FSSA

To apply for FSSA, complete DD Form 2857, “Family Supplemental Subsistence Allowance Application.” The application is web-based and must be completed from a DoD computer. You submit it to your service representative, who makes all decisions about eligibility, entitlement amount, and final certification for payment.

What to gather before you apply for FSSA

Having the following documents ready before you start will make the process faster:

• Your basic pay amount and pay entry base date
• Your BAH, BAS, and OHA amounts
• Any special pay and allowances you receive
• Any other household income, including your spouse’s earnings
• Proof of household size, such as a lease, page 2 of your military ID application, or similar documentation
• Your SNAP benefit amount, if you currently receive SNAP

After you apply for FSSA

Your service representative will certify your application and forward it to DFAS for payment processing. Once approved, your FSSA entitlement will appear on your LES. Keep a copy of your submitted application for your records.

Submitting false information on your application carries severe penalties. Under 18 U.S.C. §§ 287 and 1001, knowingly filing a false claim can result in a fine of up to $10,000, up to five years in prison, or both.

Recertification of FSSA Eligibility

You must recertify your FSSA eligibility every February. You must also recertify any time one of the following occurs:

• Your monthly household income increases by $100 or more
• Your household size decreases
• You receive a promotion
• You execute a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move

You can submit a recertification up to 30 days before or after a qualifying event without losing your eligibility. If you miss that window, your FSSA will be terminated, and you will need to submit a new application from scratch.

Is FSSA Taxable?

No. FSSA is a non-taxable allowance. You do not owe federal income taxes on FSSA payments. This is different from the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA), which is taxable.

FSSA vs. Basic Needs Allowance (BNA)

If you are not stationed overseas, FSSA does not apply to you. The program Congress created to serve stateside service members is the Basic Needs Allowance, which launched in January 2023.

Here is how the two programs compare:

Details	Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance (FSSA)	Basic Needs Allowance
Who it serves	OCONUS service members	CONUS service members
Tax status	Non-taxable	Taxable
Maximum monthly payment	$1,100	No fixed cap
Income threshold	130% of the federal poverty level	200% of the federal poverty level
Eligible branches	All branches, active duty, Guard, and Reserve on orders	All branches, active duty, Guard, and Reserve on orders
Application required	Yes, DD Form 2857	Yes, branch-specific process
Started	May 2001	January 2023

If you are stationed stateside and struggling with food costs, visit your installation’s Military and Family Support Center or financial readiness counselor to learn more about BNA eligibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is FSSA, and who qualifies? FSSA is a voluntary, tax-free monthly allowance that supplements your BAS to help cover food costs for your family. You qualify if you are on active duty, receiving BAS, stationed outside the U.S. and its territories, have at least one military dependent, and your household income falls within SNAP income guidelines for your household size.

How much can I receive from FSSA? The maximum is $1,100 per month. Your actual payment is the amount needed to bring your household income up to 130 percent of the federal poverty level for your household size. Payments are made in whole dollar amounts.

Is FSSA available if I am stationed in Guam or Puerto Rico? No. FSSA is only available if you are stationed outside the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. Service members in those locations may qualify for the Basic Needs Allowance instead.

Can I receive FSSA and SNAP at the same time? Yes. Nothing in the law prohibits you from receiving both at the same time. If you receive SNAP, your FSSA entitlement equals whichever is higher — the calculated FSSA amount or your SNAP allotment — up to $1,100 per month. Be aware that FSSA counts as earned income for SNAP and other assistance program calculations.

Does FSSA affect my WIC benefits? It may. FSSA income is counted when determining eligibility for WIC, subsidized school meals, and other income-based federal programs. Check with each program before applying to understand how FSSA income will affect your benefits.

Is FSSA mandatory? No. FSSA is a voluntary program. You must apply to receive it and you can choose not to participate.

How often do I need to recertify? You recertify every February. You also recertify any time your income increases by $100 or more in a month, your household size decreases, you are promoted, or you execute a PCS move. You have a 30-day window before or after a qualifying event to recertify without losing your benefits.

What if I am stationed overseas but separated from my family? If you are geographically separated from your household because of your assignment, you are still considered part of your household for FSSA eligibility purposes.

I am in the National Guard. Can I receive FSSA? Yes, if you are serving on active duty orders, stationed outside the U.S. and its territories, and meet the other eligibility requirements.

Where do I get help applying? Contact your command, your installation’s Military and Family Support Center, or a community services financial management counselor. You can also reach out to your service representative through your branch’s personnel office.