A Guide to Your Dislocation Allowance During a PCS Move

• DLA provides a lump-sum payment to help cover the extra costs of setting up a household during a PCS move, with rates based on pay grade and dependent status.
• Eligibility depends on rank, housing status, and move type, and you can typically receive DLA only once per fiscal year.
• Understanding when and how to apply for DLA can help you reduce out-of-pocket costs and plan your PCS with more confidence.

A permanent change of station (PCS) move often brings added expenses as service members relocate to a new duty station, sometimes across the country or overseas. To help offset these costs, the Department of Defense authorizes a Dislocation Allowance (DLA) to cover the extra costs of relocating a household.

DLA helps cover expenses such as deposits, utility setup fees, and other costs associated with establishing a new household. Whether it’s adjusting to a new military role, finding the right school, securing housing, or the countless other tasks of moving, DLA helps reduce the financial strain of relocation.

The amount of DLA depends on your pay grade and dependent status and is paid as a single lump sum rather than in installments.

Below are the primary DLA rates for 2026.

Service members in pay grades E-5 and above generally qualify for DLA if they do not live in single barracks housing. Service members in pay grades E-1 through E-4 may qualify if they have dependents and are authorized to live off base.

If you receive Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), you are often eligible for DLA. Confirm eligibility with your installation travel or finance office.

You may receive DLA only once per fiscal year unless you receive special approval. Even if you move frequently, you may not qualify for DLA for each move.

DLA does not apply to moves from your home of record to your first duty station or from your final duty station when separating or retiring.

Submit your DLA paperwork through your installation finance office, either before or after your move, depending on local procedures. To complete the application, you will need a copy of your official military orders.

After your move, you must provide your new home’s address, which cannot be in government-issued quarters. If you have not yet secured housing, you may submit a statement confirming your intent to occupy a private residence.

You may qualify for Secondary or Partial DLA if your orders change or if you must move out of government housing locally. These situations require documentation showing the requirement to relocate.

If you PCS more than one time per year or your initial orders change (such as being amended, modified, canceled, or revoked) or require additional stops, you may be eligible for secondary DLA. Below are the secondary DLA rates for 2026

Partial DLA is authorized under certain circumstances, such as when it is required to relocate from government-provided family housing to private housing in the same locality. In this case, you won’t have PCS orders, but should provide documentation showing the requirement to vacate housing. There is a single flat rate for partial DLA, which is adjusted annually. Here are the partial DLA rates from 2002 to 2026.

DLA is paid in a single lump sum rather than installments. Most service members receive DLA shortly before or after their move once finance processes the paperwork. Some commands can help service members with the application process, although individual commands do not approve or process the paperwork.

Some installations allow an advance on DLA before a move. Advance amounts and timing vary, so confirm details with your finance office. You may also choose to submit your paperwork after your move is complete, depending on local procedures.

You will submit DLA documents with your PCS travel claim, which may also include mileage and per diem reimbursements.

Service members in pay grades E-5 and above may receive DLA if they are not occupying military-provided single-occupancy barracks. Service members living in single barracks housing generally do not qualify for DLA unless they have dependents and move into private housing.

Junior enlisted personnel in pay grades E-1 through E-4 are typically assigned to barracks housing and therefore do not qualify. However, if they have dependents who relocate with them and are authorized to live in private housing, they may be eligible for DLA.

Planning for PCS expenses early and understanding benefits like DLA can help reduce financial stress during a move. Taking time to review your entitlements and expected costs makes the transition smoother.

Consider whether a Personally Procured Move (PPM) or a government-arranged Household Goods (HHG) move best fits your situation, and use available resources to compare your options.

Moving isn’t easy or cheap, but allowances like DLA help make the costs more manageable for military members and their families. By understanding DLA eligibility and payment timing, you can plan your PCS more confidently and focus on settling into your new duty station as well as turning your new house into a home.

Check out AHRN’s latest PCS Toolkit to help plan your next PCS move.