BAQ is divided into two basic categories—BAQ for members without dependents and BAQ for members with dependents. The rates payable vary within each category and with each paygrade. To find out whether you are entitled to BAQ and the amounts payable, check with your personnel or disbursing office. Other Allowances In addition to the allowances mentioned above, you may receive a family separation allowance (FSA), cost of  living  allowance  (COLA),  overseas  housing allowance (OHO), variable housing allowance (VHA), or other allowances. Your disbursing or personnel office can provide you with information about the type of allowances, if any, you are entitled to. Basic Allowance for Housing BAQ  and  VHA  are  combined  into  one  single allowance called basic allowance for housing (BAH). Total  BAQ  and  VHA  will  equal  your  actual  BAH amount. Your LES will show only the BAH amount. ALLOTMENTS Allotments are amounts of money you designate to be withheld from your pay and paid directly to someone else.  You  may  authorize  many  types  of  allotments, including the following: C (charity  drive  donation)—allotments  to  a charity  such  as  the  Combined  Federal Campaign D (dependent)—allotments  directly  to  your dependents H (housing)—allotments to a lending institution to pay home-loan payments I (insurance)—allotments  to  a  commercial insurance company for life insurance premiums S (savings)—allotments directly to an account in your name at a savings institution such as a bank or credit union For information on making allotments and rules governing their use, see your disbursing office. OVERPAID You aren’t responsible for calculating your pay, but you are responsible for questioning anything that isn’t normal.  If  you  don’t  question  something  that  isn’t normal with your pay, you could be at risk for being charged with larceny. Computerized systems, equal pay periods, and Leave and Earnings Statements (LES) have made budgeting your pay easy. You should be getting the same amount every payday. But computers are only as smart as their operators and the electricity they run on. When you notice a large difference in your pay from last payday and you aren’t due for a longevity raise, promotion, or annual pay raise, there may be an error in your pay. Sailors who haven’t reported the difference to their disbursing offices have found themselves held liable for stealing. Even if you do notice and report a questionable payday and nothing changes, you are still liable for the overpayment.  Regular  disbursing  audits  balance payments made with those due. Eventually, you’ll have to  reimburse  (give  back)  that  amount,  so  bank  the overage. Look at it this way: You would rush in to your disbursing office and insist on knowing why you were paid too little—right? So—rush in if you’re being paid too much, too. LEAVE AND EARNINGS STATEMENT Based on the Navy’s Joint Uniform Military Pay System  (JUMPS),  the  Navy  must  provide  you  a monthly Leave and Earnings Statement (LES). JUMPS is a computerized pay and leave accounting system located at the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Cleveland,  Ohio.  The  monthly  leave  and  earnings statement provides you with a complete and accurate record of the following: Pay Allowances The type and amount of each allotment requested The amount deducted for withholding tax, Social Security,  and  Servicemen’s  Group  Life Insurance 17-3 Student Notes: