PCS Entitlements You Should Know About in 2026

Military life means moving to a new home every few years, and while each PCS brings new opportunities, it also comes with plenty of stress. Costs of packing, traveling, and setting up a new home all add up quickly. Fortunately, the military provides several entitlements designed to make the process easier. Understanding these PCS benefits in 2026 can help you budget effectively, avoid costly mistakes, and utilize available resources for a smoother move.

From purchasing packing supplies and protecting your personal goods to paying for a moving company and driving across the country, there’s a lot to do and even more to pay for along the way. In addition to the obvious costs, items such as coffee, fast food, and gasoline can quickly add up. That’s why it is so important to stay organized, make a plan, and keep your receipts.

Since the military may require you to PCS every 1-4 years, they offer helpful programs and financial benefits to ease the transition process. To help even more, we’ve compiled information about the latest PCS entitlements you need for your upcoming orders.

One of the most important PCS entitlements is the Dislocation Allowance (DLA). DLA is a flat sum intended to cover secondary expenses associated with moving on PCS orders, such as security deposits, utility setup, replacing household goods, or non-reimbursable expenses, including cleaning fees, pet deposits, or replacing small household items after unpacking.

Your DLA depends on several factors, including your current rank and whether you have any dependents. In 2026, DLA rates increased slightly across most ranks. The exact amount depends on your pay grade and whether you have dependents.

This can make a real difference as you settle into your new home. DLA is not automatic; you must submit a claim through your travel office. You can request DLA as an advance before your move or receive it as a lump-sum payment after arriving at your new duty station.

You may also want to consider an additional benefit called a Secondary DLA. If your PCS orders change after you relocate, you may be eligible for a Secondary DLA to cover the additional costs of relocating again.

Settling into a new duty station often doesn’t happen overnight. You may arrive before your permanent housing is ready or spend extra time waiting for household goods to be delivered. That’s where Temporary Lodging Entitlements come in.

Temporary Lodging Entitlements (TLE) apply to moves within the continental United States, while TLA covers overseas relocations. Both help offset temporary lodging and meal expenses during a PCS transition. Most service members qualify for up to 14 days of TLE. Extensions up to 30 days may be approved in certain cases, such as housing shortages or base renovations. TLE reimburses lodging and meals, but does not include expenses such as local transportation, pet boarding, or storage fees.

For overseas moves, Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA) serves a similar purpose. The difference is that TLA is often more flexible, since finding housing abroad can take longer due to market conditions or limited availability. TLA can be authorized for weeks or even months, depending on the situation, where reimbursement depends on lodging receipts and local per diem rates. Members usually must submit updated receipts every 10 to 15 days to stay eligible.

Both TLE and TLA ensure your family isn’t left paying out of pocket while you wait for more permanent accommodations.

Driving your own car during a PCS? If you drive yourself or your family in your own vehicle during your PCS move, those miles and gas start to add up. Luckily, the Department of Defense will reimburse you for the distance traveled on PCS orders. Mileage reimbursement is based on the official distance between duty stations, not the route you drive.

For 2026, the monetary allowance in lieu of transportation (MALT) rate is set at 20.5 cents per mile. Over long distances, this can add up to hundreds of dollars. You must report how far you travel, so tracking odometer readings ensures you receive the right amount.

However, this rate differs for temporary duty assignments (TDY). If you are on a TDY, the rates for 2026 are $0.72 per mile for driving a car, $0.70 per mile for a motorcycle, and, in rare cases, $1.78 per mile for traveling in a privately owned aircraft.

For those who prefer more control, a Personally Procured Move (PPM), also known as a Do-It-Yourself (DITY) Move, enables you to manage every aspect of the moving process.

You’ll be reimbursed up to 100% of what the government would have paid for a household goods move. So if your PPM ends up costing you less, you keep the difference. You can request up to 60 percent of your PPM payment in advance to help cover upfront costs, such as truck rental, fuel, and moving supplies. Keep all receipts and weigh tickets to receive full reimbursement.

A PPM has benefits and drawbacks. On one hand, you don’t have to rely on someone else to safely transport your household goods across the country to your new station, and PPM reimbursements are not taxable as long as you provide complete documentation. On the other hand, relocating your household by yourself across the country every few years requires significantly more time, effort, and planning.

Another option is a Partial DITY move. A Partial DITY move combines a government household goods move with a personal property move. You can move some items yourself for extra pay while the government transports larger items such as furniture or appliances.

This type of move is often advantageous for those who want to earn a little extra cash by executing the move on their own but don’t have the capabilities or desire to deal with those heavy or awkward items. Many service members opt for a Partial DITY to keep essential items with them during travel, thereby managing the entire move alone. Sometimes, you can even request an advance to cover upfront costs, such as truck rentals or supplies.

The next set of PCS entitlements is a daily allowance. When traveling to your new duty station, per diem covers meals, lodging, and incidentals. Whether driving cross-country or flying to an outside the continental US (OCONUS) location, this daily allowance ensures you won’t pay out of pocket for basic travel costs.

Whether you move across the state to the nearest base or head off for a few years at an OCONUS station, you’ll receive a daily allowance for each day you’re on the road (or in the air). So your meals, snacks, and other incidental expenses will be covered while you and your family are on the go. Per diem rates are set by the Defense Travel Management Office and vary by location. Service members receive 100 percent of the rate, while dependents receive 75 percent for the first dependent and 50 percent for each additional one. Keep receipts and travel records for each day on the road to ensure full reimbursement. Your travel office will calculate per diem based on your official travel days.

Moving overseas can be exciting, but it also has higher expenses. Everyday items, such as groceries, clothing, and utilities, can be more expensive than in the United States, and housing markets vary significantly from one country to another. To balance these differences in CONUS vs. OCONUS, the military provides additional entitlements.

The Overseas Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) is designed to cover the higher costs of essential goods and services in specific locations. The amount depends on your duty station and is adjusted regularly based on surveys and price comparisons. COLA ensures that service members and their families don’t see their paychecks stretched thin simply because of where they are assigned.

In addition to COLA, many overseas duty stations also qualify for Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA). This benefit is separate from your basic housing allowance (BAH) and is intended to cover rent, utilities, and other housing-related expenses when living off-base abroad. Together, COLA and OHA help families maintain a consistent quality of life, even in regions with significantly higher costs. Understanding how these benefits work and checking updated rates before you move can help you plan ahead and avoid surprises once you arrive.

COLA and OHA rates may change during your tour due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates or updates to the cost-of-living data. The Defense Travel Management Office updates COLA rates regularly based on local price surveys. OHA rates are set by country and rank to reflect current rental markets.

While many entitlements are reimbursed after your move, some can be advanced to cover immediate costs. You can request advance payment for certain entitlements, including DLA and PPM reimbursements, to cover immediate costs such as fuel, lodging, or truck rentals. Ask your finance office what qualifies before your move.

Going over your PCS weight allowance can quickly turn into an expensive mistake. Even a small overage can mean hundreds of dollars in charges. Downsizing before your move by selling, donating, or storing items you don’t need is the best way to avoid these costs. Planning ahead also makes unpacking easier upon arrival.

Regardless of your mode of transportation for a PCS, ensure you know your PCS weight allowance, which is the amount of weight military movers will transport for you without additional fees during an HHG move.

Additionally, please note the items on the PCS prohibited list that military movers are prohibited from moving. Service members often exceed their PCS weight allowance when they move gym equipment, large furniture, or stored items. Selling, donating, or storing what you do not need can prevent costly overage fees.

By now, you probably know that PCS moves are anything but easy. However, knowing your entitlements can make them far less financially overwhelming. In 2025, updated rates and expanded options, such as TLE, COLA, and OHA, ensure that military families have the necessary support to navigate change. Understanding your PCS entitlements before you move helps you plan, prevent surprises, and make a smooth transition to your next duty station.

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