The PCS move is perhaps the most chaotic part of military life, next to deployment. Whether you Do It Yourself (DITY), a Household Goods (Government moves you) move, or a combination of the two, PCS moves have a way of unfolding in a way that makes your “to-do” list seem like a wasted effort. And don’t even get me started on the financial implications of any of these!
Did you know, though, that many families miss out on entitlements that they have a right to – all because they don’t know to ask for them? These entitlements can help ease the burden of the PCS move by providing more of a financial safety net, as well as more time to get settled. Here are some important changes to PCS entitlements that every military family needs to know about:
1: Dislocation Allowance (DLA)
This is probably the entitlement that is most underutilized for two reasons:
- It is not often talked about during move briefings.
- The servicemember has to ask for it to get it.
DLA is a tax-free fixed amount based on a servicemember’s rank and dependent status that can be used to cover the upfront costs of a move. Servicemembers can file for DLA before they leave to cover the move, or they can file for DLA when they get to their new station to cover a deposit plus first month’s rent on a new home, or whatever else they may need to get on their feet. The government has seen fit to increase the rate of DLA that can be requested. To see how much DLA you may qualify for, you can visit http://travel.dod.mil/travel-transportation-rates/dislocation-allowance/
2: Temporary Living Expense(TLE)
TLE is an entitlement given to servicemembers and their families who are PCSing CONUS that is meant to help the servicemember and their family (if applicable) pay for lodging while in search of housing at a new station. The allotted time for this entitlement has increased from 10 days to 14 days, allowing military families a little more time to get settled and find a place to live at their new station.
3: Mileage
While many PCS entitlements have been raised, this one, unfortunately, has gone down. When my husband and I PCS’d cross-country in 2017 doing a DITY move, the military paid us $.55/mile. Now, the mileage entitlement is $.22/mile. Something to think about if you and your family are moving CONUS and considering a DITY move.