US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Gillibrand Secures Commitment From Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin To Expand Basic Needs Allowance Eligibility For Military Families
After meeting with military families facing food insecurity last year, Senator Gillibrand called on the Department of Defense (DoD) to reassess eligibility calculations for the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA) and to accelerate the implementation of the expansion of eligibility for the BNA program to service members earning up to 150% of the federal poverty line, up from the current 130%. Today, she secured a commitment from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to expand eligibility up to six months early. This expansion will help ensure that service members have the necessary income to afford basic household items and keep food on the table.
