R 021515Z APR 24 MID120001003695U
FM DFAS CLEVELAND OH
TO AIG 4676
AIG 4678
INFO DFAS CLEVELAND OH
BT
UNCLAS
MSGID/GENADMIN/DFAS-CL CLEVELAND OH/JFL//
SUBJ/NEW MINIMUM THRESHOLD FOR CONUS COLA EFFECTIVE 1 APRIL 2024//
MILITARY PAY ADVISORY 05/24//
POC/RECHELLE WILLIAMS/DFAS-CL/JFLQ/RECHELLE.R.WILLIAMS.CIV@MAIL.MIL//
REF/A/DOC/THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024//
AMPN/REF A AUTHORIZES FUNDING LEVELS AND PROVIDES AUTHORITIES FOR
THE U.S. MILITARY AND OTHER CRITICAL DEFENSE PRIORITIES//
RMKS/1.  The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024
(FY 2024 NDAA) lowered the minimum threshold the DoD uses to determine
eligibility for the Continental U.S. Cost-of-living Allowance
(CONUS COLA) to more members stationed in additional high cost areas
and to pay more to those stationed in existing CONUS COLA locations.
2.  Per Ref A, Effective 1 April 2024, the DoD will pay CONUS COLA
to Service members assigned in areas with cost of living that exceeds
107 percent of the average CONUS cost-of-living. The previous
threshold was 108 percent of the CONUS average.
3.  Members stationed in areas that will quality for CONUS COLA that
previously did not, or in areas that will qualify for a higher
CONUS COLA payment, will see changes in their 15 April 2024 paycheck.
4.  Newley added COLA locations are:
     West Point, NY
     Boston, MA
     Sacramento, CA
     Boulder, CO
     Seattle, WA
5.  CONUS COLA is a taxable allowance. CONUS COLA is only payable when
costs at a location exceed average CONUS costs by an established
threshold percentage, now 107 percent. Rates can increase, decrease,
or remain the same. Additional information on the CONUS COLA program
can found on the following site:
https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/CONUS-Cost-of-living-Allowance/.
6.  Request widest possible dissemination.//