Entitlements when PCSing
Entitlements when PCSing
While there are countless entitlements the military gives you, the only one you’re really thinking about when PCSing is paying for the move. Listed are most of the entitlements you would need to know about when PCSing. Of course there may be more and we hope you’ll let us know what else should be here.
Dislocation Allowance Frequently Asked Questions from DoD Site
Monetary Allowance in Lieu of Transportation (MALT)
Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE)
Advanced Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)
This benefit was designed to help you pay for miscellaneous moving costs, such as rental and utility security deposits. The amount of your DLA is computed using your Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH). DLA can be paid in advance of the PCSing move. While this benefit is typically paid one time for every PCS move, there are exceptions. Visit the Defense Travel Management Office website (defensetravel.dod.mil) to find your BAH or learn more about DLA exceptions.
Dislocation Allowance (DLA) Rate without Dependents: If you don’t have dependents or you’re not authorized travel or transportation allowances for travel of dependents under a PCSing move, or you have dependents authorized, but the dependents don’t relocate under a PCSing move, you will be reimbursed using the DLA Rate without Dependents.
Determining DLA Rates can be found on the Defense Finance and Accounting Services website http://www.dfas.mil/pcstravel/civentitlements.html
Dislocation Allowance (DLA) Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions from DoD Site http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/faqdla.cfm#Q1
1. I understand that as a uniformed member, I may receive a DLA to help with relocation expenses when moving my household due to a PCS. Is this true?
Yes - generally true. You may be authorized a Dislocation Allowance (DLA) when relocating your household due to a PCS. However, DLA is intended to partially reimburse relocation expenses not otherwise reimbursed and probably will not reimburse all of your relocation expenses.
2. I have a PCS travel order and think I may be eligible for a DLA payment. Where can I find the rules on DLA?
Please see JFTR, Chapter 5, Part G for information on when a DLA is/is not payable.
3. How much DLA do I receive?
Answer: DLA is based on your grade and dependency status on the PCS travel order effective date. To determine the PCS travel order effective date, see JFTR, Appendix A, definition of EFFECTIVE DATE OF PCS ORDER. The current rate information can be found on the website by clicking on 'Dislocation Allowance (DLA)' under ‘Other Rates and Allowances’, and then selecting the applicable rate table OR IN JFTR, Chapter 5, Part G.
4. Can I receive more than one DLA payment in the same year?
Ordinarily members are authorized only one DLA payment per fiscal year. However, there are some exceptions. For more information, please see JFTR, par. U5620. If you still have questions please contact your servicing finance office.
5. Am I authorized DLA when moving from my home of record to my first duty station?
By law there is no DLA when the PCS is from your home (or the place from which you entered active duty) to your first permanent duty station (PDS) unless your dependents actually move in connection with the PCS.
6. May I be paid a DLA when I PCS from my permanent duty station/place of active duty to my home of record or home of selection (HOR/HOS) when I leave the Service?
No, by law there is no DLA authorized when the PCS is from your PDS to your HOR/HOS. In other words there's no DLA authority when leaving active duty.
7. I'm a Reserve Component or Guard member who regularly or repeatedly comes on, and leaves, active duty. Am I eligible to receive a DLA on any of those moves to or from active duty?
No - as mandated by law, individuals coming on/leaving active duty are not eligible for DLA. The exception to this if you come on active duty for more than 20 weeks at one location and are authorized PCS allowances (not TDY allowances) and you move your dependents from your home to your new PDS or a designated place.
8. I'm making a PCS move but not moving my dependent. Am I eligible for DLA?
Yes - as a general rule you receive DLA at the without-dependent rate if you don't occupy Government quarters at your new permanent duty station. Please see JFTR, Chapter 5, Part G for more information.
9. I received a PCS travel order and relocated my family based on that order. That PCS order now has been revoked; however, I have already moved the household to the new duty station. Not only must I return to my prior duty station, now I also must move my family for a second time. Am I authorized only one DLA when I had to move my family twice?
If you moved your dependent from the original place of residence based on the PCS travel order, and the move to the new location was completed BEFORE the date the order was revoked, then a DLA is payable for both moves. The second DLA is payable at the secondary DLA amount. See JFTR, par. U5630-B6.
10. When is a 'Secondary DLA' payable?
If your PCS travel order is amended, modified, canceled or revoked you may be authorized a Secondary DLA. See Q10 above and JFTR, par. U5630-B6.
11. Is DLA payable if I am ordered to move into or out of Government quarters (remembering that privatized housing is NOT Government housing) and no PCS is involved?
A partial DLA of $694.89(effective 1 January 2013) is paid to a member ordered to occupy or vacate Government family-type quarters due to privatization, renovation or any other reason other than PCS. Note: Partial DLA is not authorized for a local move from Government quarters upon separation/retirement.
12. What DLA is paid when a member is forced to move due to a Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC)?
A member and/or dependent who moves as a result of an order to move ICW a BRAC Commission action on a military installation is authorized a full DLA (as opposed to a partial DLA paid when ordered to occupy/vacate family-type Government quarters).
As you travel to your new location, you are provided a per diem allowance for meals and lodging. The amount of your per diem allowance is created using three factors:
1. How many days you’re travelling
2. The Continental United States (CONUS) standard per diem rate
3. Age of the travelers
To calculate per diem for the contiguous 48 states and for Non-foreign and Foreign areas outside the contiguous 48 states, visit the Per Diem Rates Query page at: http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/perdiemCalc.cfm
Per Diem - First and Last Days of Travel
Frequently Asked Questions From DoD Site http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/faqflday.cfm
- Are the M&IE rates for the first and last days of my travel different from my non-travel days?
- Is the rate affected by the time of day that I leave or return?
- Does the Government Meal Rate (GMR) or Proportional Meal Rate (PMR) apply on the first and last days of my travel?
- How do I determine what the applicable M&IE rate is for my travel?
- What M&IE rate applies when I have a stopover going to or returning from my TDY destination?
- What M&IE rate applies when my return travel requires more than 1 stopover?
- What M&IE rate applies when I'm traveling but don't need lodging for the night?
- How is the M&IE rate for the first and last days of travel computed?
- Why was the M&IE computation for first and last days of travel changed to 75%?
- Can I get an exemption or waiver to the 75 percent rule?
- Does the 75 percent rule also apply for PCS travel?
1. Are the M&IE rates for the first and last days of my travel different from my non-travel days?
Yes. When you are assigned to temporary duty, 75 percent of the appropriate M&IE rate (see the Per Diem Rates section of the DTMO website) is paid for the day of departure from the PDS and the day of return to the PDS.
2. Is the rate affected by the time of day that I leave or return?
No. The rate is 75 percent of the appropriate M&IE rate regardless of what time you depart or return.
3. Does the Government Meal Rate (GMR) or Proportional Meal Rate (PMR) apply on the first and last days of my travel?
No. On these days, the GMR or PMR do not apply.
4. How do I determine what the applicable M&IE rate is for my travel?
The M&IE rate for the day of departure from the Permanent Duty Station is the rate applicable to the TDY location. The M&IE rate for the day of return to the PDS is the M&IE rate (see the Per Diem Rates section of the DTMO website) applicable to the last TDY station, except when return travel requires more than one day and a stopover for the night is required.
5. What M&IE rate applies when I have a stopover going to or returning from my TDY destination?
The M&IE rate for the stopover point applies.
6. What M&IE rate applies when my return travel requires more than 1 stopover?
If authorized return travel to the PDS requires more than 1 day and additional stopovers are required, per diem for the last day of travel is based on the M&IE rate applicable to the last stopover location.
7. What M&IE rate applies when I'm traveling but don't need lodging for the night?
If lodging is not required the M&IE rate for the destination is the applicable rate.
8. How is the M&IE rate for the first and last days of travel computed?
The following is an example of how the M&IE rate on the first and last days of travel are computed:
|
Per diem rate at TDY destination is $70 (lodging) + $46 (M&IE) = $116 (total per diem). |
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Date |
Travel Status |
Per Diem Computation |
Total |
|
10 May |
Depart Residence |
$46 (M&IE) x 75%=$34.50 |
$99.50 |
|
11 MAY |
TDY |
$46 (M&IE) + $65 (lodging) = |
$111.00 |
|
12 MAY |
TDY |
$46 (M&IE) + $65 (lodging) = |
$111.00 |
|
13 May |
Depart TDY Station |
$46 (M&IE) x 75%= |
+34.50 |
|
Total Per Diem Reimbursement = |
$356.00 |
||
9. Why was the M&IE computation for first and last days of travel changed to 75%?
To simplify travel by eliminating times and meal-by-meal construction on vouchers.
10. Can I get an exemption or waiver to the 75 percent rule?
No. There are no exemptions or waivers to this rule.
11. Does the 75 percent rule also apply for PCS travel?
Yes, the 75 percent rule applies to the day of departure from the old PDS and the day of arrival at the new PDS, designated places, or Consecutive Overseas Tour leave locations when lodgings-plus per diem is paid. If travel begins and ends on the same day, and is longer than 12 hours, per diem is 75 percent of the appropriate M&IE rate.
Monetary Allowance in Lieu of Transportation (MALT)
If you are able to drive to your new base, you may be reimbursed with the Monetary Allowance in Lieu of Transportation (MALT) benefit. You will receive a flat rate per mile based on the Official Military Table of Distances and the number of authorized travelers in the vehicle. Visit the Defense Travel Management Office website (defensetravel.dod.mil) for details.
Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE)
This benefit can partially offset the costs of temporary housing and meals incurred while you wait for permanent lodging (in the Continental United States only). The TLE is computed using a formula that uses several factors, including your pay grade, number of family members and more. Your family center relocation manager can help you determine the TLE.
You may request up to three months of basic pay in advance. This is basically an interest-free loan that you must pay back. Typically you’ll pay this amount back in 12 equal installments. If you don’t have enough savings to cover unreimbursed expenses, such as rental or utility deposits, a pay advance might be helpful. Remember, this is a loan that must be repaid and will decrease future paychecks — use this only if you absolutely need it and see no other options to cover PCSing costs.
Advanced Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)
If you choose to live off base at your new location, you could receive an advance against your normal BAH. This advance is usually granted on a case-by-case basis — check with your relocation manager or receiving Command.
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