Introduction
Moving to a new home can certainly be an exciting yet stressful and expensive process. From purchasing packing supplies to protecting your personal goods to paying for a moving company or driving across the country (coffee and drive throughs can add up), there’s a lot to do, pay for, and it is important to stay organized. Since the military requires you to PCS every 1-4 years they have dedicated programs and financial benefits to help ease you and your family through the process. So we’ve compiled the latest PCS entitlements and Dislocation Allowance (DLA) Rates that you will need for your upcoming orders.
More like this: Military Move: An In-Depth Guide & Expert Tips
PCS Entitlements
Every couple of years, no matter what, you’ll have to relocate to a new base or assignment. And in order to help ease the financial impact, the military offers a number of PCS entitlements which we’ve outlined for you below.
1. Dislocation Allowance
Often abbreviated as DLA, your Dislocation Allowance is a flat sum meant to cover the incidental and extra expenses of moving on PCS orders. It’s based on your pay grade and dependent status. You don’t receive this automatically, you’ll need to be proactive in submitting a claim to your base travel office as part of your PCS process. There’s also an additional benefit called a Secondary DLA which is for those whose PCS or move orders change after they’ve already relocated.
If you’re wondering how much you’ll be eligible for as part of an upcoming move, check out the current 2020 DLA rates.
2. Travel Per Diem
Any time you travel on government orders, you’re entitled to per diem. And that includes PCS-ing. Whether you’re just moving across the state to the next nearest base or headed 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 incidentals while you and your family are on the go will be covered. Check out the Defense Travel Management Office’s per diem calculator to see what you can expect during your next PCS or trip on orders.
More like this: What is OCONUS and How Do I PCS There?
3. Mileage Reimbursement
If you’re driving yourself or your family in your own vehicle during your PCS move, those miles are definitely going to add up. As will the cost of gas to drive them. Luckily, the DoD will reimburse you for the distance you have to travel on orders. The mileage reimbursement rates offered by the DTMO will really help offset the cost of traveling via your own car or truck. They even offer mileage rates for aircraft, if you happen to be flying a private plane or helicopter to your next station.
4. Personally Procured Move
While you do have the option to let the military hire movers to get your things to your next base/home, a lot of people choose to do the work (or the hiring of movers) themselves. A Personally Procured Move (PPM, also sometimes referred to as a Do-It-Yourself or DITY move) lets you control every aspect of the moving process. And, based on the weight of household goods you’re transporting, the government will reimburse 95% of the estimated cost of your move. So if it ends up costing you less, you get to keep that money.
Expert Tip – don’t get caught with pricey overages for your upcoming PCS move. As of August 2013, the minimum excess cost is approximately $100.00 per hundred pounds over the maximum military weight allowance.
More like this: 5 Tips For A Better DITY Move
Conclusion
While your next PCS move will be anything but easy, these entitlements mean you won’t have to break the bank in the process. You might even come out of it actually making some extra cash. And while many of these, like mileage or per diem, are only paid during or after you complete your move, you may be able to get an advance on your PPM payment or DLA if you qualify. For more information, you can check out the Department of Defense’s moving website and their entitlements overview. Or check with your base’s travel office.
Make sure to visit your new installation’s page on MyBaseGuide – where you can find what’s going on, the best schools to local foodie favorites, and more.
Absolutely awesome post. So informative!
This is good information, but how much of this applies to an overseas PCS?
Roger – an OCONUS PCS is handled a bit differently because of what is often extended time in temporary housing and government funded transportation (flying overseas).
Any links to an overseas list? Im having a hard time finding the entitlements we should receive for our OCONUS move.
Britani – we are actually working on an OCONUS specific worksheet right now! You’re absolutely right, it’s tough information to find!
My husband just attended a Smooth Move seminar this morning and was told that our DLA is considered a loan and has to be paid back. My understanding is that we do NOT have to re-pay the DLA. Some clarification on this would be appreciated – my husband said the person conducting the seminar wasn’t really answering questions and didn’t come across as having the most accurate information. Thanks!
Andrea – that is kind of correct. According the reg, DLA is given to you AFTER your PCS when your service member submits their travel paperwork. But the service member is usually able to take an advance (essentially, a loan based on the estimated DLA you should receive) of a percentage of your DLA. If you choose the advance, when your service member submits their travel paperwork the DLA is disbursed to finance to cover the amount that was advanced (or bay back that loan).
Okay, so as an E5 he gets just over $2000 DLA. For example, would we be able to get $1000 advance and the remaining $1000 post-move? I guess I don’t want to request advance pay if we have to give money back later, you know? Thanks!
Does anyone know where I can find a blank “Advance Pay Form” to fill out?
Savannah – I believe you mean this one but I would verify with your finance office. https://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/forms/eforms/dd2560.pdf
Just in case someone needs this I found a blank fillable "2013 VA 4939" here: https://pdf.ac/2p5xRQ.
My husband and I just completed our pcs move..went to finance..now long does it usually take for us to get reimburse
Mo – it depends somewhat on the finance office as they have to submit and approve the paperwork. Typically, though, it takes 2-4 weeks.
If you are looking for an estimate of your PCS entitlements, visit https://www.PCSCalculator.com. It’s 100% free.
David – was PCSCalculator.com updated? When we originally published this post, there had been some feedback that your site didn’t reflect updated amounts.
The quoted MALT rates are incorrect. You can fine the most current rates here: https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/otherratesMile.cfm
It is $.17/mile for 2017.
Does anyone know if the Travel per Diem rate remains the same as of 2017?