A military move can come with a whole host of hidden expenses. From getting a hotel while you wait for housing to getting condiments for your mini fridge, things add up and are hard to work into your budget. The military provides temporary lodging expense (TLE) and temporary lodging allowance (TLA) to help offset these costs. But what exactly are these funds, and how do you get them?
TLE covers costs when you move from one duty station to another on military orders in the continental United States (CONUS) . TLA covers the same things but applies to overseas moves outside the continental U.S. (OCONUS) , including Alaska and Hawaii.
Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE)
Most families prefer to set up housing before they move, but this isn’t always an option when the needs of the military dictate when and where you go. You might find yourself in temporary lodging, such as a hotel, while you wait for your home to be ready.
If this happens when moving within the continental United States, TLE helps cover the costs of temporary lodging, but this coverage has restrictions on what it includes and how long you can receive it.
Generally, TLE is authorized for up to 21 days when moving from one CONUS duty station to another. It is not given as a lump sum but provided for specific days when temporary lodging is needed based on submitted receipts. So, if you are only in temporary accommodations for 2 days, you will only receive 2 days of TLE.
Reimbursement Eligibility for TLE
To receive a reimbursement for your expenses through TLE, you must submit:
- A completed travel voucher on form DD1351-2 showing everyone traveling, your itinerary, and reimbursable expenses
- A copy of your official military PCS orders
- A claim for TLE on DFAS form 9098
- An itemized lodging receipt with a zero balance
TLE Requirements
To get TLE, you must submit the required paperwork and fall within the window of authorized TLE based on your type of move.
- For all moves from a CONUS location to a CONUS location, up to 21 days is authorized.
- For moves to an OCONUS location while still in the continental US, up to 7 days is authorized.
- For moves from an OCONUS location to a CONUS location, up to 21 days is authorized.
The amount of TLE you receive is based on the per diem rate at your location and the number of your dependents and their ages. TLE is calculated as a percentage of daily per diem but caps at $290 per day .
Lodging Locations
TLE is only authorized in the location of your current duty station or your new duty station. It provides for required temporary housing and not house-hunting.
If available, you must use government quarters as your temporary lodging. If there are no vacant rooms, you’ll need to get a certificate of non-availability from the government hotel before getting authorization to go to a privately-run hotel. You can’t use TLE for rental properties, even short-term rentals. Instead, you have to stay at a managed facility, like a hotel.
Extension Request
A TLE extension can be authorized in a few locations, bumping the maximum number of TLE-covered days up to 60. However, this authorization is not guaranteed and has a very narrow window of places.
Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA)
Additional benefits are authorized for those working to get housing overseas through a temporary lodging allowance (TLA). This allowance is only provided to those making an OCONUS move and helps cover the costs of hotels, meals, and other incidental expenses unique to these situations.
You can get TLA longer than TLE, for up to 60 days, and even longer in some individual cases if permanent housing is in short supply.
Learn everything required to use TLA through the DoD 7000.14-R Financial Management Regulation, Volume 7A, Chapter 68 .
TLA Authorization
There are a few conditions for TLA to be authorized. You can get TLA when:
- You arrive at your OCONUS duty station and are actively looking for permanent housing
- After you vacate permanent OCONUS housing but before you move back to the U.S. at the end of an overseas tour
- During OCONUS house-hunting as part of a PCS
- When you are temporarily assigned to an OCONUS duty station for more than 90 days without dependents and have vacated your previous permanent residence
- For dependents, when a service member is hospitalized during an OCONUS move
- Special situations as approved by an appropriate official when permanent OCONUS housing is not available due to circumstances beyond the service member’s control
The Bottom Line
As you prepare for a military move, make sure to understand how to get reimbursed for TLE or TLA, which can ease the financial burden of military life. Be sure to save your receipts, submit your paperwork, and focus on the adventure of a military move. For more insight into your military move make sure to sign up for our in-depth PCS Toolkit that will help you navigate every step of the way.