With the summer PCS season right around the corner, you need to know your pay and entitlements. There are tons of allowances and benefits, but we’ll touch on the most important.
A quick note on the Joint Travel Regulations
Before we get too deep, if you ever have a question about entitlements for your military move, the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) is the main source document you should reference. For the latest changes and link to the full document, check the JTR changes page at www.travel.dod.mil.
Dislocation allowance
The dislocation allowance (DLA) is a major military move staple. DLA helps reimburse you for expenses incurred during a PCS. It’s a flat, one-time payment. Generally, you can only receive one DLA payment per year per move. However, you may be eligible for partial DLA or an exception as outlined in the JTR. You can check your DLA rate on the Defense Travel website.
Check DLA request procedures for your service
Each military service processes pay and entitlements a little differently. In many cases, you’ll have to remember to request DLA. This is generally a significant chunk of change, so don’t miss out!
Personally procured moves
You might remember when personally procured moves (PPM) were simply called do-it-yourself (DITY) moves. Regardless of what you call it, it’s a valuable resource. As the name implies, a PPM is when you move yourself and request to be reimbursed for your expenses.
It’s important to understand that there is a significant amount of cost and headache involved with doing a PPM — especially when you’re moving across the country. Every mile is another chance for something to go wrong (or not). You can request an advance of up to 60% of the PPM costs, so you may not need to pay out of pocket.
You can’t receive more than the “best value” cost of moving up to your allowed weight limit. It’s possible you might not get all your money back, so be aware of what you’re authorized. Once again, checking the JTR is a good idea.
Partial PPM
Many service members may not be aware of the option to complete a partial PPM. We’ve done this during every CONUS PCS we’ve completed. If you’re going through the time and trouble to cram your cars full of essentials and move your own stuff, you may as well get a little reimbursement.
Paperwork and organization required
If you try out a PPM, create a system to stay organized. You’ll need copies of weight tickets, receipts, and more. Portable accordion folders and a dedicated folder to save digital copies are a great combination.
For the list of required documents and other information, the PPM page on the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) website is a great place to start.
Temporary Lodging Assistance and Temporary Lodging Expense
Two of the most misunderstood PCS entitlements are Temporary Lodging Assistance (TLA) and Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE). For the most part, they are similar in what they provide: reimbursement for temporary lodging during a permanent move.
One key thing to remember is that you cannot receive TLA/TLE and per diem (received during set travel days and proceed time) for the same days. TLA is OCONUS, and TLE is CONUS. There are a ton of rules for TLE and TLA. You’ll need to research for your individual situation.
Final plug for the JTR
If you remember nothing else, make sure to research the JTR and ask about these important entitlements. Good luck on your next move!
