A Guide to Your Dislocation Allowance During a PCS Move

A military move comes with extra expenses to make a house a home, no matter where you’re stationed. When a member of the military goes through a permanent change of station (PCS), they move from one duty station to another, often crossing the country or even the globe.

The government recognizes the financial burden this can place on the family and authorizes a dislocation allowance (DLA) to offset these costs.

The exact amount of DLA provided depends on your pay grade and the number of dependents claimed in your official military record, but no matter the amount, you receive it as a single lump sum.

DLA makes the entire moving process easier by alleviating some of the financial strain on military families, allowing them to focus on getting acclimated to their new homes. Whether it’s adjusting to a new military role, finding the right school, securing housing, or the numerous other tasks of moving, DLA covers at least some of the costs. Below are the primary DLA rates for 2026.

To receive DLA, you must meet specific criteria. For pay grade requirements, only those in pay grades E-5 and above can receive DLA. The exception to this rule is when those in the E1-E4 pay grades have dependents and are authorized to live outside barracks-style single housing.

As a general rule of thumb, if you receive a housing allowance (BAH), you are also likely eligible for DLA. You can check your eligibility with the travel office at your current or new installation.

All military moves are eligible for DLA, but you can only receive this allowance once per fiscal year without special permission. Therefore, even if you move frequently, you may not be eligible to receive DLA for each move. DLA-eligible relocations also do not include moves from your home of record to your first duty station and from your last duty station to your final location when transitioning out of the military.

To receive DLA, you must complete and submit paperwork to your installation’s financial office, typically around two weeks before moving. To complete this application, you need a copy of your official military orders.

After your move, please provide the address of your new home, which must not be in government-issued quarters. If you do not have housing arranged yet, you can sign a statement stating your intention to occupy a personal residence.

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 one lump sum rather than installments or over time and is generally issued around 30 days after paperwork is filed and processed with the installation. Some commands can also help service members with the application process, although individual commands do not approve or process the paperwork.

You can request an advance of your DLA before your move or submit your paperwork after your move is complete. If you request an advance, you’ll only receive 80% of the total amount before the move, and you’ll need to submit your receipts for the remaining amount after you arrive in your new city.

After your military move, when you file your travel claim, you will submit all DLA-related documents through your command or the installation financial office, which processes the paperwork. In addition to DLA applications, travel claims can include reimbursement requests for mileage, per diem, and other expenses related to the move ; any schools or training attended en route to the new command; and other travel-related events.

Those ranking E5 and above can get DLA if they are not occupying military-provided barracks meant for single occupancy. Junior military personnel from ranks E1 through E4 are usually assigned to live in single barracks housing. If so, they cannot receive DLA when completing a PCS. The exception to this rule is when the service member claims dependents who also move with them. With dependents, service members can live in personal housing and so receive DLA.

There are lots of expenses with a military move. Planning for these costs and taking advantage of benefits, such as DLA, can help you remain financially stable as you transition from one duty station to another.

Numerous resources are available to help plan a military move and compare various options, such as a personally procured DITY move versus a traditional HHG move.

What are the current DLA rates?

Your pay grade determines your DLA rates. More senior military members receive a higher allowance, but the amount also increases for those with dependents. The Defence Travel Management Office publishes updated rates each year in January.

For military families with two military member spouses, only one (the more senior of the two) is entitled to the DLA with dependents rate.

Do you get Dislocation Allowance when you retire?

No, you will not get DLA when you retire or separate from the military and move to your home of selection (HOS).

Do you have to pay back your DLA?

No, you don’t need to pay back your DLA. If your orders are changed, you typically do not have to pay back your DLA either, since, in most cases, DLA is not sent until right before or after the move to reduce the chance you’ll receive your DLA payment and later have your orders canceled.

Moving isn’t easy or cheap, but allowances, such as DLA, help make the costs more manageable for military members and their families. By taking advantage of this benefit, you can focus on the more important parts of your move and turn your new house and installation into a true home.