Allowance rises in parts of mainland Japan, Okinawa

Allowance rises in parts of mainland Japan, Okinawa
By Vince Little, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Friday, January 9, 2009

Post allowance rates shot up for Department of Defense civilians in parts of mainland Japan and Okinawa, according to new figures posted this week on the State Department’s Office of Allowances Web site.

The allowance also resurfaced across South Korea after being eliminated in November.

The increase for U.S. civilians follows another significant cost-of-living allowance boost for U.S. troops in mainland Japan, Okinawa and a few South Korea locations in the new year.

Post allowance jumped eight points on Okinawa and some areas in mainland Japan, including Yokota Air Base, Camp Zama, Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Sasebo Naval Base, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and Misawa Air Base. The rate held steady in Tokyo and at Yokosuka Naval Base.

In South Korea, it went back up to 5 percent of expendable income, which is considered pay left over after housing, savings and health care costs.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=59872