Dislocation Allowance (DLA) is a military allowance designed to partially reimburse service members for some of the costs incurred when relocating a household. It is authorized for PCS moves, when ordered to move into military housing for the government’s convenience, and when evacuated from a duty station. The Joint Travel Regulations (JTR), Chapter 5, Part A10 contain many pages talking about DLA, and I’ve provided a pretty thorough summary below.
Am I Eligible for DLA?
DLA is authorized in most Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves. It is not authorized for moves TO your first duty station or FROM your last duty station. A service member authorized dependent PCS transportation who relocates dependents is authorized DLA at the “with-dependent” rate. A member without dependents, or who does move their dependents, is authorized DLA at the “without-dependent” rate. A member without dependents assigned to government quarters at the new PDS is not authorized DLA.
DLA is ordinarily only available once within a fiscal year, but there are numerous exceptions to this rule. Exceptions include PCS orders for schooling at courses run by the military, evacuations, orders in conjunctions with a base realignment or closure, orders for the service member to go on an Indeterminate Temporary Duty (ITDY), or any other situation in which the military sees fit.
If you move twice due to the revocation, modification, cancellation, or amendment of orders after the PCS move has physically been made, then you will be authorized a second DLA at the Secondary DLA rate, which can be found here.
A Permanant Change of Assignment (PCA) or change of duty station within a geographic area only warrants DLA if the service member requests and is granted a short-distance movement of Household Goods (HHG.)
Check out my Pinterest Board: PCS Resources/Military Moving!
In What Situations is DLA Not Authorized?
Single service members who occupy government quarters after their PCS move are not authorized DLA.
Service members otherwise eligible for “with-dependents” DLA will not receive it if they do not move their dependents and they occupy government quarters.
You will not be authorized DLA for moves after separation or retirement.
DLA is not authorized for moves within government owned or privatized housing due to a change in family size or the service member’s promotion.
DLA is not authorized if the move is due to divorce or the service member’s misconduct.
Reservists activated to active duty are not generally authorized DLA unless they are activated for more than 20 consecutive weeks at a single location, and are authorized and complete a PCS move.
How Much DLA Will I Receive?
The allowance is based upon rank and dependency status. Here are the 2018 rates:
With-Dependent Rates
E1 through E5: $2,209.67
E6: $2,456.92
E7: $2,658.98
E8: $2,863.84
E9: $3,106.85
W-1: $2,359.47
W-2: $2,728.19
W-3: $2,965.56
W-4: $3,236.84
W-5: $3,530.70
O-1E: $2,711.24
O-2E: $2,934.48
O-3E: $3,252.34
O-1: $2,310.01
O-2: $2,584.07
O-3: $3,026.27
O-4: $3,657.86
O-5: $4,149.50
O-6: $4,304.92
O-7 through O-9: $4,781.07
The rates are a little bit lower for those without dependents.
Without-Dependents Rate
E-1: $953.71
E-2: $1,069.53
E-3: $1,316.76
E-4: $1,342.19
E-5: $1,542.82
E-6: $1,672.79
E-7: $1,848.01
E-8: $2,163.06
E-9: $2,356.65
W-1: $1,792.88
W-2: $2,141.89
W-3: $2,411.72
W-4: $2,869.47
W-5: $3,231.15
O-1E: $2,011.89
O-2E: $2,339.67
O-3E: $2,752.20
O-1: $1,702.48
O-2: $2,021.79
O-3: $2,548.76
O-4: $3,180.31
O-5: $3,431.80
O-6: $3,563.1*
O-7 through O-10: $3,883.92
(Verify my numbers here; typos happen!)
If you’re travelling near the end or beginning of the calendar year, be aware that you will receive the rate for the PCS travel order effective date. The rates typically change on 1 January of each year. You can learn more about this in Appendix A1 of the JTR.
How Do I Get DLA?
DLA must be requested, or it will not be paid. DLA can be requested in advance, on your pre-PCS paperwork, or in arrears, on your travel claim. I have not seen every type of paperwork, but the types I have seen have a check-block for DLA.
As the services gradually move to an all-government travel credit card system, the way DLA is being paid is changing. Advance DLA may not be available if you have the use of a government travel credit card for your PCS expenses. During this time of transition, you need to ask a lot of questions of your payroll folks to ensure that everything is being paid properly.
When Will I Receive The DLA Payment?
The JTR authorizes the payment of DLA in advance of your move. This would be requested on your pre-PCS paperwork. However, many readers are reporting that with the move to using government travel credit cards for PCS moving expenses, they are not receiving DLA advances. What makes it even more frustrating is that different people are having different experiences, so there’s no “normal” right now.
If you do not receive a DLA advance, then you can request DLA on your travel claim. The payment will be made into the same account that you have designated for your regular pay.
Often, DLA is paid in conjunction with other PCS entitlements such as TLE and/or TLA, or MALT. It can be confusing to keep them straight. You can use my PCS entitlement tracker to figure out what you’ve been paid and what you are still expecting to receive.
What If I Don’t Move At The Same Time, Or To The Same Place, As My Family?
If dependents are authorized a move, but do not physically move, the service member is eligible for DLA at the “without-dependents” rate. If the family subsequently moves to join the service member, the service member may be eligible to receive the difference between the “with-dependents” and “without-dependents” rate.
If PCS orders authorize the movement of the family to a “designated place,” such as when a service member has orders to a location that does not permit dependents, then DLA is payable for that move.
What About Dual Military Couples?
There is a whole chart about DLA and dual military couples. You will find it in the JTR, Table U5G-3. Here’s a quick summary of the most common scenarios:
- Dual military, move from the same Permanent Duty Station (PDS) to the same PDS: One DLA, either with or without dependents, at the higher of the two available rates.
- Dual military, no dependents, move from the same PDS to different PDS, or from different PDS to the same PDS, or from different PDS to different PDS: each member is authorized their respective DLA, with- or without-dependents, as appropriate.
Partial DLA
If you are ordered to occupy or vacate family-type government quarters (not privatized housing) due to privatization, renovation, or any other reason that is the government’s convenience and NOT a PCS move, a partial DLA ($718.08 in 2016) may be paid.
DLA is one of the most-frequently unclaimed PCS moving allowances, and it is a significant amount of money. Everything you have read here comes directly from the Joint Travel Regulations. If you have further questions, please let me know and I’ll find the answers.
Wondering how you’ll pay for your security deposit without advance DLA? Look into Advance BAH.
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The base housing at my base is getting demolished and new base housing is being built. Will we get paid DLA or partial DLA for this move? The housing is base housing, just privatized now.
According to the Joint Travel Regulations, Chapter 5, Part A, Section 10, you should be eligible for a partial DLA payment if you are being ordered to vacate government quarters to move into privatized quarters.
5446 PARTIAL DLA ELIGIBILITY
A. Partial DLA Authorized for Housing Moves at a PDS for the Gov’t’s Convenience. A partial DLA of $701.84 (effective 1 January 2014) must be paid to a member who is ordered to occupy/vacate family-type Gov’t Qtrs due to:
1. Privatization,
2. Renovation, or
3. Any other reason for the Gov’t’s convenience other than PCS.
I hope that helps!
Im lost a bit but why is this saying 2017 when post are almost 3 years ago???does any of this post is right now?….my Q is tho i been told so many time DLA is a thing in the past now and im about to pcs next week with no travel card so in being told im out luck….what im a to do pay $$$$ out of my own money??
or should i get IG on this so called sorry unit.
While the original post is almost 3 years old, this post is updated regularly. DLA is definitely not a thing of the past. It is still authorized under the same conditions listed in the Joint Travel Regulations. However, DLA is not travel funds. If you require advance travel pay, and you are not authorized a Government Travel Card (GTC), then you should apply for advance travel pay.
I just moved to Camp Vilseck from JBLM, WA. I have an acquired dependent, as I got married while on PCS leave. My dependent now lives in Beaverton, OR as I am on a 2 year tour now. How does DLA work in this situation? What do I need to do in order to receive DLA?
Hello, I am inquiring about receiving a DLA for an upcoming PCS. My husband is finishing AIT this month and we will be going to our first duty station with out daughger. My daughter and I are both listed on his orders and I am not sure if I read your post correctly. Is it possible to receive a DLA for our first move? From what I read it sounds like you can’t qualify if it’s your first duty station but I wanted to double check, thank you
Caroline, the Joint Travel Regs specify that DLA is not payable for a first move if the service member DOES NOT have dependents moving with him/her. This is found in Chapter 5, Part A, Section 10, Subsection 5444. Therefore, I believe that DLA IS payable for a first move if the service member DOES have dependents moving with him/her. It is important that you ask about this because DLA is not automatic and must be requested. Good luck to you, and welcome to the crazy and confusing world of military moves!
Are you authorized a partial DLA when being forced from one barracks to another that is still on post?
To the best of my knowledge, DLA would not be authorized in that situation. I’d double check the Joint Travel Regs to be sure.
I put in my DLA for PCsing 2 Thursday ago and I pcs’d from Korea who do I contact about the issue.
Christopher, if you have already left your old command, you will have to wait until you check into your command to inquire with your finance office.
You can call DFAS: 18883327366. You’ll have to go through 2 or 3 prompts, and maybe wait 15-20 min on hold, but you’ll get a live person to talk to Mon-Fri.
I am going to Alaska with my family. How long will the DLA cover the hotel expenses? I am on the waiting list for housing.
Mike, DLA is not meant to cover temporary lodging expenses. Temporary lodging is covered by TLE or TLA, depending on your location. The housing office at your gaining command can help you with the specific rules for your location. The length that TLA will cover your temporary lodging is based upon the unique situation at your base. If you are on the waiting list for housing, and the housing office anticipates that they will be able to assign you to quarters in a timely manner, your temporary lodging may be covered in full. However, you need to find out the situation for YOUR base.
https://www.katehorrell.com/temporary-lodging-entitlement-tle/
https://www.katehorrell.com/temporary-lodging-allowance-tla/
Is an E7 authorized DLA when he/she PCS from CONUS to OCONUS (in this case Korea) I did not move my family in the states and live in on post housing (not the barracks).
Thomas, if you live in govt quarters in Korea and serving an unaccompanied tour (1 yr) you will not be entitled DLA. My question is, if you are unaccompanied and living on base but not the barracks, where do you live?
I am doing a PCS to what is now my third PDS. My first PDS and my second PDS did not require a PCS claim as they were within commuting distance to my HOR. My third PDS doesrequire a PCS. My spouse is also an active duty service member, however, she is not PCSing with me to my new PDS. Am I authorized DLA at the without dependant rate even though I have not filed a previous PCS claim?
JB, I can not imagine any reason why you should not be authorized DLA. Good luck on your move!
We are PCSing in about 6 weeks from Europe to TX, if he gets the DLA in advance about when will he receve it? Trying to buget rental car and extra pet expenses.
If the paperwork is processed properly, he should receive it just under 10 days before leaving. That’s when my husband received his advance DLA when we PCSed in July. However, MANY readers have told me that they haven’t received their DLA until after they arrived at their new location, even though they had requested an advance.
I’d recommend having another plan for those expenses just in case DLA doesn’t come through. Good luck on your move!
Hello Kate, in 2012 I have orders to go to Korea and was authorized to move my dependents at a designated location of my choice. I requested and received DLA for that move. Subsequently after relocating my dependents, my orders were amended authorizing my dependents to move with me under command sponsorhip to Korea. Was I supposed to be eligible for a secondary DLA as an exception? If so, can I still request a claim for the second move, 3 years after? Thank you..
That’s a tricky one, Eddie. I’m pretty sure that you should have been permitted a secondary DLA based upon the way that the Joint Travel Regs are written, but I have no idea if you’ll be able to go back and claim it now. I would be surprised if you can make it work, but it is certainly worth a try. Good luck!
Hello,
I’ll start by saying this is a very informative page and thank you for spending your time helping all of us with questions. I was wondering if you knew who I could contact about receiving the DLA because my wife and I were told it was supposed to come in last month, then they said in two weeks, then they said for sure last week, and we are still waiting on the allowance. Is it normal for this to be happening?
Enrique, when is your wife PCSing, and what branch of the service is she in? Some branches are no longer offering advance DLA, and it can only be claimed after the move as part of the travel claim.
If your wife’s branch still authorizes advance DLA, it should be paid just under 10 days prior to her actual detach date from her previous location.
DLA payments, like all PCS allowances, are notorious for getting held up. I hope you won’t have to wait much longer.
My wife and I are dual military, Army and Navy. We are stationed at two separate bases. (Texas and Georgia) We married while we were stationed at those bases. Now, my wife is being PCS’d to my location. She has dependents, full PCS move, HHG shipment, etc… She is being told that she is not eligible for DLA because we are dual-military and I am the ranking member. This doesn’t sound right to me because we are not moving together, this is tearing down one household and moving it to my household. My interpretation of table 5g-3 (even though there is no example for married, stationed separately) is that Rule 11 would apply. Please clarify this for me.
Chris, I can’t guess what the official interpretation would be. If I were asked to make a determination, I would not think that DLA would be authorized because it is intended for the costs of setting up a new household. As I understand your situation, you’re not setting up a new household, so it doesn’t seem that DLA would be appropriate.
I am curious to hear what ends up happening!
I believe you are entitled to it. Different PDS to same PDS….Table 5G-3 rule 7
Assuming you don’t live in base housing
I am a reservist stationed at Scott AFB, I have been there for 6 years in a traditional reservist capacity. I was activated for 20+ weeks and PCS’d to Eglin to crosstrain. I moved with my family to Eglin. TMO did a full move for us. I am still owned by the reserve unit at Scott but my duty assignment is to the AF unit here at Eglin to train. Finance is telling me that DLA is not authorized because this is my first duty station. I do not understand why they view this as my first station and are denying my claim. Do you have any input on this? Thanks!
Ma’am, do you have any advice on my situation?
Mr. Meyer, I’ve spent a significant amount of time reading through the Joint Travel Regs while considering your situation, and I do not see anything that would prevent the payment of DLA to you. However, I do not have the vested interest in the outcome, and I suspect you will read more carefully than I have. If you do an internet search for the Joint Travel Regulations, and then do a search (ctrl-F) for DLA, it will pull up all the occurrences of DLA in the Joint Travel Regs. There are specific instructions that authorize you a PCS move, but I do not see specific instructions that authorize you DLA. I also don’t see any instructions that make you ineligible for DLA.
Good luck to you.
Hi,
I’m recently divorced but have joint physical custody and pay child support of my two children. I am scheduled to PCS this summer to a location where dependants are authorized. Do I qualify for the “with dependant” rate DLA?
Hi… This is my 3rd pcs move…I moved from Fort Stewart, Ga to Hawaii….I have va spouse who couldn’t come because I have a all others tour and they made ne a geographic bachelor…Are we entitled to dla?
Tobbie, I’m afraid that I do not know what an “all others tour” is, and how that might impact your eligibility for DLA.
All others tour is basically me moving to Hawaii without my dependents
Hello,
Can we apply for DLA once we arrive at our next base ?
If you did not request advance DLA prior to the move, then the DLA request is made as part of the travel claim after the PCS move. I hope that helps.
I am leaving my sea duty in camp pendleton and will be PCS’ing to Balboa with my wife(not military) is this enough distance between the two duty stations to request DLA?
Hi my husband is not separated yet and didn’t get separated per court martial however his seperation date does come in may. He has been Conines for 18 months and I’m moving now to st louis which is our final move technically but not with him. His orders state he was pcs to confinement. Do I qualify for dla. Although it’s oup final move it’s also because we are not allowed at his duty station
Briana, I’m not completely understanding your situation, and I’m pretty sure I can not answer your question. In general, there is no authorization for DLA for final moves while leaving the military. However, it is possible (I’m not sure), that if your husband was PCSed to confinement, that you are authorized a move to the location of your choice, and may qualify for DLA. This is an unusual situation, and I’m not who would know the answer for sure. Good luck to you!
Sorry typos like crazy. His orders state he is pcs to Fort Bragg with confinement in SC and according to a lot of what I read I am in the same category as spouses of deceased
Although I know his orders are reading not as a seperation …I don’t know the answer
Hello. I just arrived to Korea 2 weeks ago. I live off post and my dependents are back in the states, so I requested DLA by checking the box on my travel pcs form. I just received a travel deposit that definitely did not include the DLA payment. Is DLA usually deposited separately or is it deposited all together with the rest of the travel pay?
Hi Kate, our family will be PCSing soon and I ask my husband if he applied for DLA and he said we can’t get it because we’re moving into military housing on the base. We are currently living in military housing and before we came here we received DLA so I’m not understanding why we wouldn’t be able to get it for this move. Can you tell me if the rules have changed?
Do you usually receive DLA prior to leaving your duty station? I did the last time I pcs’d, but my current duty station acted like it might take a while.
Kayan, I’m not familiar with any reason why you shouldn’t receive DLA. The Joint Travel Regs contain the full instructions – refer there for more information.
We are in Alaska and live on base . We are PCSing to
Virginia and want to try and live on base but were told we would not get DLA if we move from one base housing to another base housing . Is this correct?
Hello Kate,
I am going back on active duty this July, my husband is already in Guam unaccompanied orders. Because he is the one on active duty at the moment, he claims our children as his dependents. We will be collocated once I finish school. How will the travel work for my children being that they are undergone as dependents but are with me because he had unaccompanied orders? Will I be entitled to DLA with dependents since they are traveling with me under my orders. This whole dual military thing and our pay entitlements are really confusing.
Thanks in advance for the help.
Hello,
I am PCS’ing to South Korea, Garrison Yongsan, and my dependents are authorized to move with me. We have the approved sponsorship memo, and my dependents are listed by name on my orders. I went to finance just to ask for the DNA. We are moving out a civilian rented home off post and plan moving on post for housing due to our children’s school requirements. Finance told me we do not get DLA sine we are moving into government quarters. Is this correct?
Will
That should not be correct…however, it is possible that you will not receive DLA until you arrive at your new location. Good luck on your move!
Kate,
I’m about to PCS from Colorado to Alabama this summer. I’m accostomed to receiving my DLA in advance and had made plans for those to help with the move. I’m now being told by finance that a DLA advance is no longer authorized and I’m to use my government travel card for expenses. Sure enough, I get it activated and attempt to use it for the carpet cleaners so I can clear my house only to find out it’s an “unauthorized merchant”. The rumor is I’ll get my DLA on the back end, but that doesn’t do much good when I need that money now. What do you know about this? Thanks!
Doel, some branches are now moving to the travel card only system for PCS expenses – it sounds like you’re in one of those branches. It might be possible to have the carpet cleaners authorized. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay out of pocket and wait for DLA at the far end. I’m sorry this is coming as a surprise to you! Good luck.
Hi Kate. This website demystifies so many things! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
I am PCSing with my family and naturally we have incurred several expenses getting ready for the move. My question is: what types of expenses can be used to claim our DLA? Or do we simply apply for our DLA and get it – without the requirement for receipts?
Thanks!
Hi! My husband, daughter, and I are moving (not currently living in housing) and plan to take advantage of military housing at our next duty station. Are we eligible for DLA?
Do you get the whole pay even if you don’t use it? If it costs you $100 to rent a U-haul and another $100 to drive to the new location, but they give you E-3 pay with dependents, so 2086. do you keep the other 1886 for whatever you want to use it for?
Yes and no. Yes, you get your entire DLA when authorized, regardless of how you use it. DLA is not the allowance used to move your household goods. If you choose to use yourself (a PPM, personally procured move, formerly known as a DITY, do it yourself, move), you will receive reimbursement for the weight and distance that you move. Regardless of whether you let the military move you or do a PPM, you are eligible for Mileage in Lieu of Transportation (MALT) for the distance travelled by your family and you, including mileage and lodging if appropriate.
Good Evening,
My husband applied for DLA and other travel expenses on June 27, 2016. We left the 29th to head to our new duty station and were told that our DLA would be deposited in 10 business days. I considered the holiday (4th of july) to be a four day that no one would be in, but we still have not received our money. Is this normal? Should we contact his last duty station to see what is going on or just reapply where we are stationed now.
Thanks,
Skye
If you’re stationed overseas & are reassigned to a post within the same country, can you request DLA? I’m specifically asking about an Intratheater Transfer (ITT), not a Consecutive Overseas Transfer (COT). Thank you!!
Hi Kate, thanks for providing this service.
In my situation, I have been in the military for 32 years (13 active and 19 Reserve / National Guard). I just received ADT orders for over 300 days and did a PCS move to the school. I am eligible for a full PCS move even though I did not move all my personal belongings. This is not my first PCS as I’ve PCS’d before. For this move, I left my dependents at our home in the midwest.
If I read the JTR Ch. 5 Part A10 / 7444 correctly, I am eligible for DLA at the “without dependent rate” because this is not my first PCS AND I am authorized to move the full 17500 lbs.
Any ideas?
Thanks,
V
Hi we are getting ready to PCS from Hawaii. The finance office has a sign that says no DLA allowed. Does this mean we don’t get it at all or we have to request it on the receiving duty side? We are told they are only using gov credit cards and you aren’t entitled to it if you have one. This isn’t our first or last pcs move
Erin, I suspect that there was a miscommunication. DLA is still authorized, but the idea (as I understand it) is that you would put DLA-type expenses on the government travel credit card, and then the DLA would be paid as part of your travel claim. You’re not the only person getting confusing information from the finance people. I hope that it all got straightened out. Good luck on your move!
We are PCSing to Washington DC and my husband was also told that he is to use his Gov travel card for PCS expenses. Will we get reimbursed for taking a cash advance to pay our security deposit as long as it does not exceed the allowed DLA amount? My husband is saying this is allowed but I can not find any documentation of approved uses for the travel card during a PCS. Is there a list of approved spending?
Lauren, you’ve hit on a tricky part about using the government travel card for PCS expenses! I haven’t found any list or regulation saying that you can use it for DLA-type expenses, but plenty of people are doing it. I would recommend that your husband email his finance folks with this exact question, and then keep their written reply. Another option is to apply for advance BAH to cover your security deposit: https://www.katehorrell.com/advance-bah/
I requested dla on my travel claim. How long does it typically take to receive and is it deposited separate or included on my pay?????????
DLA is typically deposited alone or as part of the travel claim. I’ve not heard of it being included with pay, but I suppose it could happen. DLA can take anywhere from 2 days to a couple of months, unfortunately.
Is it true you cannot receive DLA if you are under 3 years of service ? because i cannot find that anywhere in that regulation.
Miguel, I have never seen a rule saying that you can not receive DLA if you are under 3 years of service. Is someone telling you that?
We PCS’d overseas about 6 weeks ago. My husband requested DLA, and we received a direct deposit from the disbursing office (not DFAS) last week. The amount is “close” to what our DLA is rated, but a little bit short. Why would it not be the amount in the tables on the JTR? Is it taxed? Something else being deducted? Thanks!
DLA is non-taxable, so it’s not that. I would recommend that your husband check with his finance folks. They should be able to look up each payment and see what it is for. It could also be travel money, a temporary lodging allowance, or any other number of things. OCONUS PCSes are challenging. I hope you figure it out!
My husband was active in the USMC and got out in 2007. We are currently in the process of him going back into the Army. (He goes Wednesday to be sworn in) He will not be attending school as he is entering in his same field. We have 2 kids that we will be moving to base with us. Will he get DLA? His recruiter has been giving us mix answers on everything and told us we only get DLA if we move ourselves. Is that true? Thank you!
I PCS on the 1 Dec when am I able to appl for DLA?
Application for advance DLA usually occurs as part of the travel and move set-up and would occur when you apply for advance travel pay, etc. Be aware that the trend is towards paying DLA later in the process, and some branches are not paying it in advance.
I have CONUS-CONUS PCS orders. I was told that DLA can only be paid within 10 days of the departure date. My only dilemma is that i’m trying to ship one of my vehicles as soon as I can and not wait until I’m 10 days out. Do you know if their is an exception to receiving the DLA earlier than the 10 days. I am currently around 45 days out from my departure date. Thanks.
Matt, I have never heard of an exception to the ten day rule. In fact, the trend is in the opposite direction. Depending on your branch, many people are not receiving DLA until after their move, or are being instructed to used their Government Travel Credit Card for DLA-type expenses and to have DLA applied to the card. I wish I had better news for you! Good luck on your move.
Hi Kate,
I recently graduated from AF OTS and PCS’d to my first duty station. My wife is AF Enlisted, still in tech school and will eventually be PCSing to my base (join spouse).
I filled out a travel voucher along with all other finance related in-processing paperwork.
Do you imagine I will receive DLA?
Thank you for your time.
Hi Arthur, I suspect not, but I would ask for clarification. DLA is typically not to be paid when reporting to a first duty station without dependents. Since your wife is not your dependent, I don’t think you’ll qualify.
You will qualify on future moves 🙂
Welcome to the military!
I have pcs orders conus to conus that state with dependents because I have a daughter whom I pay child support for but I reside in the barracks am I eligible for DLA
If my husband is leaving active duty for active guard reserve on a 3 year active assignment and we are pcsing for the active guard reserve orders how do we ensure that we receive DLA? Because technically if he is separating active duty can they say they won’t pay us? He is separating and reenlisting the next day for a 3 years but I just feel like they will get us if we aren’t careful :/
That’s a tricky one, and I don’t know the answer. My gut feels like you will not get DLA, because you aren’t authorized DLA on a last active duty move. But are you authorized DLA for an active guard assignment? I’m not sure. Readers, can you help?
My gut feels the same. Even though we are moving from one assignment to the next it won’t be looked at that way because of the separation from one entity to another although the service won’t lapse. I wasn’t counting on it so I’m not too disappointed if we aren’t getting it! Thank you mam!
Kate, I PCSd within 50 miles to a new base and the orders stated it was a low-cost move but I was entitled to ship my HHG. I requested DLA on my travel claim but they only paid me per diem for one day. Should I have received DLA even though it was a low cost move?
My family and I moved into on-post housing (balfour beatty)
Patrick, I think you are authorized DLA. The Joint Travel Regs, Chapter 5, Part A, Section 10, Number 5442, subsection F, specifically states, “A DLA is payable when the old and new PDSs are in proximity to each other or when a member is reassigned between activities at the same PDS (see par. 5260-B), only when a member is authorized a shortdistance HHG move at Gov’t expense.”
Of course, people interpret the JTR all different ways.
Good luck!
Hey! I’m not sure if you’re still on this post. But I have a question. My husband is going to a school for 23 days I believe. So he’s checking out of his command(navy) on March 3rd ’17. Then is going to a school in the same city March 6th-29th. Then once he checks out there we will be heading to our new location. My question is, who do we request DLA from? His current command is saying once you request it, you have 30 days to check into the new command or they will take the money back. But he will be at the school during that time. So they said for him to request DLA and all travel costs at the school. So will that 23 days be enough time to get advanced DLA and travel costs?
That’s a new one… I’ve not heard about the 30 day rule. I know that my husband has gone to many schools and even done just 30 days of straight-up leave en route between duty stations. I would suggest that your husband verify everything with the school. Readers, can you help?
Do you have to pay a DLA back weather you requested for advance or regular? Or is it additional pay provided by military for movement under official pcs?
Following. I have the same question.
Dual military, no dependents, move from the same PDS to different PDS, or from different PDS to the same PDS, or from different PDS to different PDS: each member is authorized their respective DLA, with- or without-dependents, as appropriate.
The way I read the JTR, my wife and I won’t each receive DLA individually but the snippet from your post says otherwise. I just want to make sure I’m getting this right. We’re both PCS’ing from one PDS to a new PDS. It’s a PCS to attend a school and then stay there.
Marc, I’m not sure what you’re reading and what I’m reading are the same thing. If you and your wife are currently co-located, and are moving together to the same new duty station, you are only eligible for one DLA. That is clearly written just above the part you quoted: “Dual military, move from the same Permanent Duty Station (PDS) to the same PDS: One DLA, either with or without dependents, at the higher of the two available rates.”
We are doing our first PCS move. We just got our PCS orders and it says DLA is not authorized. We are confused why. I see that you wrote DLA is not authorized to your first duty station. Does that mean we weren’t authorized DLA because this is his first PCS move?
Hi! My husband went to Korea on unaccompanied orders in may and myself and our kids moved home with family. Myself and kids will be moving to his next duty station a month before he leaves Korea. Would we have been eligible for dla for our move home to family or will we be eligible for it on our move from here to his next duty station in a few months?
I recently returned from an unaccompanied short tour. I received DLA to move my family to my follow-on assignment before my short tour. Will I be entitled to any DLA when returning from my short tour? ( I would assume no or at more partial or without dependent rate at most) but just would like some clarity
My wife is AD Air Force and this is our first ever PCS…we are super nervous having never done this before. We are considering a PPM because we do not have much to move.
Hi Kate.
Thank you for this service you are providing.
I recently PCS’d from Oak Harbor, WA to San Diego, CA. I recently got an email from my pay stating my travel claim payment amount is $0. How is this possible? I requested advance travel pay (that I did receive) but I did not request advance DLA. I thought that I would be authorized DLA because I have two children which are my dependents.
Thanks in advance.
Did you request DLA? It must be requested on your travel claim; it is not paid automatically. I’d go back and double check with your finance folks and find out what happened.
I see. I will check with the Personnel Specialist.
Thanks Kate!
My husband requested a travel claim and DLA when he met his ship after we moved , how long does it typically take to receive all of this ?
My wife received orders for her first duty station out of training. They were written for me to accompany her to Anchorage, Alaska. We have only been married just under 3 months and are being told that I can move with her, but our household items cannot be moved for another 20 weeks. I cannot find anything that supports a 20-week waiting period for newleywedsand am confused. Please advise.
Easton, I have no heard this before. Is she going to another school first? Readers, do you have any help?
I’ll try to be as clear as possible because we have a situation that I do not think is normal and I have not been able to find the answer myself. My husband is Active Duty Army, we are currently stationed in Area 1 of Korea, command sponsored, and live off post. We are near the end of our DEROS and my husband has accepted a job offer down in Area 4. So this will not be an extension but a PCS and a new position.(we do not have orders yet) Thing is me and our three kids do not want to stay in Korea for another two years, so we are trying to get it so that he takes the job in Area 4 for 1 year and me and the kids go back to Texas. So my question is will we be able to get DLA? and if so would it be at the with or without dependents rate? When we came they tried not to give us DLA. A bigger question will the Army let us have BAH for Texas? It’s all so confusing and regulations and policy here in Area 1 is so subjective, it is beyond irritating.
Nichole, it is all going to depend on how the are written. If they are written as unaccompanied orders, and you authorized to return to the US, then you will be eligible for DLA and BAH for Texas. The assignments person (we call them detailers in the Navy, but I can’t think right now what they are called it he Army) should be to tell you if he/she has any latitude in how to write the orders to get you what you want.
Thank you for your help. In the Army I think orders are written at the HR level. My husband is always talking about how he has to step bug his HR contact to get some movement on things. I will see what happens! Fingers crossed! : )
Hello! I was wondering if you could help me, we PCS’d from San Antonio TX to Hawaii this year. I’m currently trying to do taxes. My question we incurred about 6,000 dollars in moving expenses in which we weren’t reimbursed such as shipping our second vehicle and pets (to include cost of all the additional tests/supplies required to bring them here), rental cars etc, do I need to deduct the DLA and only claim the remaining amount on our taxes?
I’m working on an article about this. DLA does not have to be deducted, and you can deduct the cost of shipping your car, moving your pets, and rental cars. However, I am not an accountant or a tax lawyer – be sure to do your own research!!
Pcsing from an unaccompanie Korea tour to FT Sill.. my family still resides in Colorado ( last duty station ) am I entitled to DLA?
Hello Kate,
Thank you for all the helpful information on your posts. I am PCS’ing to a 2yr tour aboard a ship that is classified as arduous duty and so I am leaving my spouse at my current duty BAH for the duration of my tour. Not moving the household but should I be eligible for DLA at the non-dependent rate with this situation?
Thank you in advance!
I just PCS’ed from Hawaii back in March and put in for TLE and DLA on my travel claim but still haven’t received anything. Is that normal?
Hello 🙂 Finance here is telling my husband that he cannot request DLA here because he is authorized usage of his government travel card for all relocation expenses. Can you clear that up? We want to request it in advance rather than wait until we get to a new duty station (Japan) next. Any info would help.
Specific branches, commands and units are now requiring that PCS-related costs are charged to the government travel card. If your husband is in that situation, he is probably not authorized advance DLA. I would ask for written verification of the type of charges you are authorized to put on the government travel card.
I have a question on DLA because iam a bit lost. Just got stationed in san diego as my first duty station from bootcamp. My wife and kids are coming down and we are getting base housing. How would I apply or get DLA when my command is out on deployment. Who would i talk to or apply for it ? Thanks
Dear Travis, DLA is not authorized for your move to your first permanent duty station. In subsequent moves, you will apply for DLA as part of your travel claim, unless the process changes between now and then. (It might. Heck, it probably will.) Good luck in your new adventure!
We got a DLA for my wife’s move to her first duty station.
My wife promoted to O4 after she received her orders. Everything for our PCS has said O3 on it. We just received DLA at O3 rates even though our PCS order effective date was after she was promoted to O4. Are eligible for O4 dla even though her orders said O3? It’s a difference of $600 bucks which isn’t a lot but it’s worth going after if eligible.
Jason, to the best of my knowledge, your wife should receive DLA based upon the rank for which she was being paid at the time of the move. However, I’ve never run into this situation before. I recommend you read the JTR carefully and then ask a couple of questions of the finance folks. $600 is a lot of money!
My orders state that I am moving on a low cost move….I have dependents and my HHG were moved. Do I get DLA. I moved from Shaw AFB to Fort Jackson…44 miles.
To the best of my knowledge, you are eligible for DLA. The Joint Travel Regs are very thorough and cover pretty much every situation. I’d read through them thoroughly if someone is giving you a hard time.
Someone told me that DLA might be payable if you move onto base housing (privatized) from an apartment? I was authorized a move a gov’t expense, but I’m not too sure where he is getting that information from.
The finance office will not process DLA because I have a Gov Travel Card. There are some people that verified they were entitled to it but it’s not authorized according to the finance office in Europe. It seems unrelated and has nothing to do with having a GTC. Can you provide some info on this please?
Sarah, are they saying that they won’t authorize you DLA, or that they won’t authorize ADVANCE DLA? Advance DLA has pretty much gone away for those who are directed to use their travel cards for PCS moves, but you still get DLA when you file your travel claim.
My spouse checked out of their previous command in July on TDY orders to attend a school in San Diego from July-Aug, then PCS to the same city (San Diego) in September. The orders stated that my spouse wasn’t entitled to per diem during the TDY assignment, but was later told that San Deigo BAH would begin in July (that never happened). There was no gov’t housing available during my spouse’s TDY stay, so we paid the lodging/meal expenses out of pocket (1 month rental). The San Diego BAH has since started, but my spouse is now being told a copy of a lease is required to receive the unpaid BAH and that the rental documentation was not sufficient. Also, my spouse is a geo-bachelor living on the ship, so there is no lease. We have incurred a significant amount of costs during this transition, and with this being my first PCS as a dependent I feel completely lost regarding how any of our expenses can be recouped. Given the situation described, is there an entitlement that we should be requesting DLA, or another?
I’m having a little trouble following the question. Generally speaking, when a servicemember has TAD orders enroute to a PCDS in the same region, BAH should begin effective the date that he checks into his en-route command. However, there may be exceptions that I don’t know about.
DLA is an entirely separate allowance. I suggest you read the Joint Travel Regs and figure out which scenario applies to your particular situation, noting that there are different rules if the dependents do not move with the SM.
Unfortunately, it is not unusual to have out-of-pocket expenses during a PCS move.
Good luck to you!
MY PCS occurred in October. DLA advance was not authorized due to new Travel Card regulations. How were we supposed to use that? Could we have used that money for extra cleaning supplies to prepare a house for sale. Or repaint the walls. Food or coffee while we were packed waiting on shipments? I was not comfortable using the Government travel card before the travel dates and on something other than flights and food during travel dates.
This is a major problem with the Government Travel Card. As I understand it, those type of expenses could have been charged, but of course most people aren’t comfortable with that use of the GTC. I do hope that you filed for DLA as part of your final travel claim!!
Hi my husband and I are both military. We are PCSing to conus. He is the senior person so dependants fall under him. However, he is reporting to a school for 2 weeks before coming to his ultimate duty station. They gave him the DLA and said I don’t get it. Is this true?
I applied for advanced DLA prior to executing my PCS orders and recieved it while i was in a school en route to my new PCS location. I moved my family to the new location but while in school I was placed on medical hold. Now they are creating an orders modification for me to leave here but it is for the same location as before. My question is do i receive DLA again because of it being an orders modification or because it is a new fiscal year, or am I not entitled to it due to receiving it 5 months ago.
Hey Joseph,
Sorry I’m not help on you’re the uestiom, but I was wondering who you submitted your DLA request to? We’re using DFAS Form 9114 because there was no request option on pre-PCS paperwork. We’re going from reserve component to Active Duty for 365, so it’s authorized, but no instructions on who to request from….
My son in law applied to go on active duty Army as part of the recent Call to Active Duty message. First PCS authorized to move dependents. Is he eligible for DLA? One response seems to indicate yes, another no. The finance office at his installation is zero help. He finally received some casual pay after reporting in on the 25th of August. Having a hard time finding the following reference Chapter 5, Part A, Section 10, Subsection 5444. Has the reg recently changed??
Hello, we have lived off base for 18 months and now are moving on base. Is this considered a move for gov convenience? No one has “ordered” us to move on base, we would just like to. Thank you
Sorry, my question wasn’t in the comment, do we receive a DLA for this type of move?
Me and my wife are both active duty military with two kids. I’m wondering can we both apply for DLA being that I will be stationed at Lackland and her at Randolph?
DeMario, the Joint Travel Regs have a very through chart that describes every imaginable situation, including where you’re coming from, where the kids are living, what type of housing you are in, etc. You’ll find your answer there much faster than telling me your details, then me looking it up, then me having more questions, then asking you those questions, then you answering, and so on.
I hope you have a great move!
I’m trying to figure out if I’m eligible. So I am PCS-ing from my second base of Osan with no dependents to my next base of Yokota AB. I have lived on base this whole time. Will I be eligible?
In the beginning of October I did a cross country PCS move from San Diego to Jacksonville with 3 dependents (wife and 2 sons). I only received single rate DLA $1400 at the end of October. I did take 30 days of leave plus travel days which left me filing my travel claim at my new command in the beginning of December. I have yet to receive any other payments since then. It has now been over 45 days. My question is since our cross country move was heavy on our pockets especially with no travel card etc. who would I contact to find out a status of my claim and the remainder of the DLA payment. My Admin Department was able to keep me quite with the pitch line that it takes 30 days to receive payment. Since then on my follow ups with admin they are stating that it is now at PSD level in St Louis Missouri and that they do not have any more control over it. Who would I be able to contact now to at least get a time line or reason for delay?
I’m PCSing from CONUS to OCONUS and using my Govt. Travel Card to buy our Ticket (IBA). My Q.. I am eligible to claim DLA?
Do you know where I can find the official information that says DLA is authorized for short distance moves when the service member is authorized a short distance HHG shipment?
I’ve been searching everywhere and can’t find the actual document that states this and would appreciate some guidance since you mentioned it.
Thanks!
Just like all DLA rules, it is in the Joint Travel Regs. Chapter 5, Subchapter 1, Part A, Section 050502 explains the situations where a short-distance HHG shipment may authorize DLA.
Do you get DLA for relocating your family to a place of your choice while you PCs to overseas
Can you get DLA and still have TMO move all your stuff?
Yup, Absolutely! DLA is not related to how you move your household goods.
I am a traditional Guard member who was had to PCS to Columbus AFB for UPT. I am about to PCS back to my home station before I TDY for follow on training. Everything in my gut tells me not to expect being eligible for DLA, but I figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask. i am not going back to an AGR position, and I did not leave one to come here. Thanks for the help!
Hello,
I’m hoping you can help me. I was put on TDRL status almost 10 years ago and reinstated into active duty approx 18 months after being placed on TDRL. Apparently DLA was paid when I got back in and PCSd. I don’t recall requesting DLA. Now they’re saying I wasn’t authorized DLA because it was my “first” duty station. I was active for almost 4 years prior to being placed on TDRL. I was specifically told that I didn’t have a break in service so how is this my first duty station? Any advice on this would be appreciated because I can’t seem to get a straight answer.
Thanks!
I wish I could provide you with an answer, but unfortunately I can not. I have scoured the Joint Travel Regs and several wounded warrior handbooks and forums, and I can’t find any guidance that applies to this situation. I would encourage you to keep looking at these and any other resources, as surely you are not the only person to ever face this situation. Good luck,
Kate
Hello,
I did a PCS to Europe and they moved me into the barracks. I was then told that I had to move out in town (private housing) to make available space for someone lower ranking. Am I entitled DLA or partial due to this move?
Respectfully,
Julius
V
Hi Kate,
My husband and I PCS’d in mid-December. We applied for advance DLA in November and kept waiting on it, only to find out about 10 days after we moved that his request was sent back for a missing piece of information. Instead of pursing advance DLA, we decided to request DLA on his travel claim. My husband checked into his duty station in mid-January and immediately filed his travel claim requesting DLA. It has been over two months, but it has not been disbursed. He has checked on it two or three times, but they just say it’s in process. Any idea how long this should take to be paid out? Are other PCS entitlements (per diem, partial-DITY) paid out at the same time or separately?
Thanks!
Abby, unfortunately, travel claims have been taking longer and longer lately. Sometimes they are paid together, and sometimes they come in separate deposits. I personally prefer separate deposits so that I can figure out what money belongs to what…
Thanks! Yeah we were just thinking it was taking a long time, but it sounds like that is par for the course. Thanks for your insights.
My wife and I are relocating to Hawaii. Report to command on July 5th. We want to go before that date to find housing (not military) see prices around and make decisions. Will the DLA cover the time prior reporting to my new command? And what is the time frame covered ?
DLA can be used for any reason you want, but it won’t be paid out any earlier than 10 days prior to your actual travel date. And I wouldn’t even count on that, because many, many people are reporting that DLA and travel claims in general are taking forever.
To preface this, I am in the National Guard with no dependents. I came on ADOS orders one month ago, and these orders extend from Feb 6, 2018- Sep 30, 2018 (34 weeks). I came from my original unit that I have been assigned to for the last four years. This is my first time being on Active orders (aside from state emergency activation). My orders are for a PCS, and all of my household goods were moved out here with me. Am I entitled to DLA? The finance office here seems to be unsure and said something about it “being your first PDS/PCS you aren’t entitled to it since you just return to your home after the orders are up”. But as a guardsmen, isn’t that always the case? I will always be attached to a unit in my home state that I return to when a set of orders end regardless unless I take an AGR position. And returning to my original unit is also technically a PCS. So if I’m not entitled to it on my first PCS (coming here from home), would I be entitled to it when I PCS (from here) back home, or am I only entitled to it when I PCS (from here) back home and then get another set of ADOS orders to PCS to a new PDS? Sorry for all of the confusion.
Thank you so much for being such an invaluable resource. My husband and I were married before he enlisted this year. He is currently in BMT and we will PCS around August. I had 2 questions, as the rules weren’t quite clear to me. 1) would we qualify for DLA for our upcoming PCS given my husband has a dependent (myself) prior to enlisting/BMT? 2) would he qualify for DLA for tech school given he has had a dependent prior? Many many thanks!
AJ, your husband should be authorized DLA for your move to his first permanent duty station. If his tech school is considered a PCS move, then he *should* be authorized DLA.
I hope that helps!
PCS unaccompanied to Kuwait. Dependents have stayed at previous station. Am
I authorized DLA at the without rate? The way I read JFTR and the article it appears that I may be.
Hey,
I’m supposed to PCS in August to Tripler from JBLM. I am wondering if I am authorized DLA? Also who I would request it through?
A little more information, I have a wife and child that will be PCSing with me and I have GTCC
Hello,
We are stationed oconus and my husband is active duty army. Myself and two children are thinking of heading back a few months before his deros. Since we won’t be traveling together will we still get DLA?
Thank you
I am currently stationed in WA. I am being stationed in Bahrain for a year unaccompanied. My spouse plans to move back home to CA. Will we receive DLA at the with dependent rate? Thanks for any help you can give.