air force pcs travel entitlements

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Paying for PCS: Know your Entitlements

When moving you will be given a list of the amount and type of items you are allowed to move. this is generally referred to as your entitlements. your  local transportation office  will talk you through your specific entitlements during your individual counseling session, but the information below provides an overview of what will be covered..

Note: First time movers, separating service members and retirees must contact their local personal property office to obtain information on their specific entitlements.

Your moving allowance

Moving allowance generally refers to the overall weight of your household goods. The rank specified on your job/travel orders will be used to determine your total weight allowance. In general, as your rank increases, your moving allowance also increases. Any cost to move additional items/weight above your moving allowance will be charged to you after delivery, so work hard to make sure you stay within your weight allowance.

Permanent Change of Station, or PCS, weight allowances

The average weight allowances for a PCS are based on rank, dependency status and move type. Special circumstances, like moving overseas/OCONUS, a retirement move, or a separation move may have extra entitlements and/or limitations. Each branch of service may also offer different allowances too, so be sure to check with your  local transportation office  to confirm these amounts. Use the MilitaryINSTALLATIONS tool to find your  local transportation office  contact information. View the  PCS and NTS Weight Allowances  (Table 5-37).

Temporary Duty, or TDY, weight allowances

If you are going on a TDY, your approving official may authorize you to ship a small amount of household goods, to include some of your professional gear and medical equipment. The weight allowances in the chart below are in addition to any unaccompanied or accompanied baggage. Furthermore, in the event the TDY location becomes the permanent duty station, this would mean that the TDY weight allowance would also be an additional allowance to any PCS weight entitlements. View the  TDY HHG Weight Allowances  (Table 2-25).

Note: Civilian employees with authorization from the approving official on an extended TDY assignment may ship up to 350 pounds. This unaccompanied baggage is limited to additional clothing, personal effects and equipment directly related to the mission, locality or unusual conditions of the assignment.

What am I allowed to bring?

In addition to weight, there are guidelines or allowances for special items/things. The information below is designed to help you understand these allowances and provide more direction.

Special entitlement information

While a considerable effort was taken to ensure the following information is accurate, ultimately, the Joint Travel Regulation is the authority for entitlements for all service members and civilians. Check with your branch of service or agency for supplemental regulations or guidance in addition to the JTR. If you run into a situation where you need clarification on any of these points, or just want to make sure you understand the official rules, you should reach out to your  local transportation office .

For OCONUS moves: Certain OCONUS locations have additional restrictions due to customs restrictions or base policy. If you are traveling OCONUS, contact your  local transportation office  to double check this guidance.

Definitions:

TLE - Temporary Lodging Expense

TLA - Temporary Lodging Allowances

MALT - Mileage Allowances

DLA - Dislocation Allowances

Overseas COLA - Overseas Cost of Living Allowance

CONUS COLA - Overseas Living Expense

Per Diem Allowances - Per Day Allowances

Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE)

TLE is designed to offset the cost of lodging and meals when a service member and dependents need temporary housing in connection to a PCS.

The service member (with dependents) will receive reimbursement for temporary lodging and meal expenses, up to $290 per day.

If the member is moving from one CONUS base to another, he/she is authorized up to 10 days TLE.

**TLE is not paid for lodging during the actual travel days from one duty station to another (that's entirely different, called "per diem,") rather it's for temporary lodging (in the states) at the old duty station, before departure, or at the new duty station, after arrival.

Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA)

Applies to a special allowance for service members when they first depart or arrive OCONUS (outside the Continental United States) to offset the expenses for temporary housing needs.

What TLE is to CONUS, TLA is to overseas. Up to 60 days (can be extended) may be paid for temporary lodging expenses and meal expenses after a military member (family) arrive at a new overseas duty station, while awaiting housing. Up to 10 days of TLA can be paid for temporary lodging expenses in the overseas location, prior to departure.

Mileage Allowance- MALT

When a service member elects to drive their POV (privately owned vehicle) to a new duty station, this allowance is based on mileage.

Monetary Allowance in Lieu of Transportation (MALT)

MALT is used as mileage reimbursement for service members and their dependents during a PCS move. When a member and dependents relocate on a service member’s PCS move, MALT reimbursement is authorized for two POCs, if used. MALT is paid on a per-mile basis for the official distance of each portion of the travel. The MALT Rate per authorized POC is $.18/mile for PCS travel beginning on or after January 1, 2022.

Dislocation Allowance- DLA

The purpose of DLA is to partially reimburse a member for the expenses incurred in relocating the household on a PCS, ordered for the government's convenience, or incident to an evacuation. this allowance is in addition to all other allowances authorized in this Joint Federal Travel Regulation (JFTR) and may be paid in advance.

http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/otherratesDLA.cfm

Overseas Cost of Living Allowance- CONUS COLA

The cost of living allowance or COLA, is paid to service members to partially offset high cost when stationed overseas (including Alaska and Hawaii). COLA helps maintain purchasing power, so you can purchase the same goods and services overseas as in CONUS. It does not reimburse expenses, but is designed to offset higher overseas prices of goods and services. It does not compensate for remoteness, hardship, or non-availability of goods and services.

http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/colaCalc.cfm

This is a daily allowance to service members and their families traveling to a new duty station. Rates can range from a standard CONUS rate of $99 per day to over $400 per day for OCONUS rates.

You can can check COLA and Per Diem rates at http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/perdiemCalc.cfm

*some information was adapted from  https://www.militaryonesource.mil/moving-housing/moving/planning-your-move/military-pcs-entitlements/

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Military Travel (PCS) Move Services And Allowances

Military Service Members Enjoy a Number of Benefits When Moving

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House Hunting Prior to a Move

• Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE)
• Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA)

Dislocation Allowance

Per diem for pcs travel, travel by poc, dependent travel within conus, dependent travel outside conus, household goods transportation, limited hhg transportation overseas.

• Non-Temporary Storage

Additional Consumables Allowance

Mobile home transportation, transportation of povs, pov storage.

Rod Powers was a retired Air Force First Sergeant with 22 years of active duty service.

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When a member of the U.S. military makes a permanent change-of-station (PCS) move from one duty station to another, they are entitled to a number of services and monetary allowances.

The list of all of those benefits are too numerous to list here, but below you'll find a quick guide to the major entitlements authorized in conjunction with moving from one duty assignment to another.

A few months before the move to your next duty station , military members are allowed a permissive TDY (temporary duty) for up to 10 days in conjunction with a PCS move within the 50 states and the District of Columbia. You must travel and stay in temporary lodging on your own dime (no transportation or per diem paid), but you will not be charged for up to 10 days leave.

You can select when you prefer to take these 10 extra days of leave. You can choose to travel months in advance of your PCS move and see the local options for living arrangements, or you can take the extra 10 days of house-hunting leave and take your normal leave as you make this transition. However, if you are still living in the barracks, dorms, or on ship, you cannot take house-hunting leave.

Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE)

TLE is an allowance given to partially offset lodging and meal expenses when a member and/or dependents need to occupy temporary lodging in CONUS (continental United States) in connection with a PCS. The member receives reimbursement for temporary lodging and meal expenses.

If the member is moving from one CONUS base to another, he or sshe is authorized up to 10 days TLE, either at the former duty station or at the new duty station (or any combination, up to 10 days total). Typically, the base has temporary quarters in the form of a Navy Lodge or Air Force Inn, but if not the local hotels will have to be used and the full amount of TLE can be authorized.

TLE is not the same as per diem. Per diem is actual pay and reimbursement for lodging made during the actual travel days from one duty station to another. TLE is pay and reimbursement for temporary lodging in CONUS at the old duty station, before departure, or at the new duty station once the service member arrives.

Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA)

TLA is for OCONUS (outside the continental United States) or overseas PCS moves. Up to 60 days—which can be extended—may be paid for temporary lodging expenses and meal expenses after a military member and family arrive at a new overseas location while awaiting housing. Up to 10 days of TLA can be paid for temporary lodging expenses in the overseas location prior to departure.

Military members may be entitled to a dislocation allowance (DLA) when relocating their household due to a PCS. DLA is intended to partially reimburse relocation expenses not otherwise reimbursed. DLA amounts vary by rank and dependency status.

Military members receive a per diem allowance, which is designed to partially reimburse for lodging and meal expenses when traveling from one duty station to another.

When traveling by what is referred to as "privately owned conveyance" (POC), military members are paid a flat rate per day for each day of authorized travel used. When the member travels by commercial means, they are paid the established per diem rate for the new permanent duty station (PDS), or the rate for the delay point if the member stops overnight.

Per diem for dependents is 75% of the member's applicable rate for each dependent 12 years old or older and 50% of the member's rate for each dependent under 12 years.

When members elect to travel to their new duty station by POC (such as with their own automobile or motorcycle), they are entitled to receive a mileage allowance. The reimbursement rate depends on the number of authorized travelers in the vehicle.

Dependents who travel within CONUS may use commercial means, unless they elect to travel by POC. The military member can be reimbursed for this travel up to what it would have cost the military to purchase an airline ticket.

Dependents can travel to overseas assignment locations, either via military aircraft or by commercial means. However, if a service member purchases their own commercial airline tickets for travel to an overseas assignment location, the military may only reimburse if the aircraft is a U.S. flag air carrier. The only time one can be reimbursed for flying on a commercial foreign carrier is if Air Mobility Command does not service that overseas location.

Military members can ship up to 18,000 pounds of household goods (HHG) from their old duty station to their new duty station. In addition to allowing the military to arrange for movement of household goods, the member can elect to move it themselves , and receive reimbursement if the move is within CONUS.

If the military member's orders state that government furnishings are provided at the overseas location, the member's household good weight shipping allowance is limited to 2,500 pounds or 25 percent of HHG weight allowance, plus non-available items. Additional items (up to the weight allowance) can be placed in non-temporary storage.

Non-Temporary Storage 

Military members can elect to have the military store all or part of their household goods on a permanent basis during the assignment, up to the maximum weight allowance.

This is a separate allowance for annual shipment of up to 1,250 pounds per year of consumable items. This weight is in addition to the household goods weight limit.

When moved by a commercial transporter, reimbursement includes carrier charges, road fares, tolls, permits, and charges for the pilot car. If towed by POC, reimbursement is for actual costs. Reimbursement is limited to what it would have cost the government to transport a member's maximum HHG weight allowance.

Military members can ship POVs in conjunction with many overseas assignments (and, of course, can ship them back to the CONUS, upon completion of the assignment). The military services can apply restrictions on this entitlement. For example, for assignments to Korea, military members must be "command sponsored" (allowed to be accompanied by family members), or must be in the grade of E-7 or above, in order to ship a vehicle.

Members may also be authorized shipment for a replacement POV during any four-year period while assigned overseas.

The military also authorizes mileage reimbursement when driving the vehicle to the authorized port for shipment, and when picking up the vehicle from the authorized receiving port.

There is only limited authority for POV shipment within CONUS. Shipment within the CONUS is authorized only when medically unable to drive, there is a homeport change, or the individual does not have enough time to drive.

A member is authorized storage of a POV either when ordered to an overseas assignment to which POV transportation isn't permitted or the member is sent TDY on a contingency operation for more than 30 days.

Six months prior to making your PCS move, look into all the different services and allowances you are entitled. Do your homework, as you will need to reference the Department of Defense webpages and your personnel support on your local base to set up the move to your new base.

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Figuring Your PCS/OCONUS Travel Expenses

For a PCS move, you may be reimbursed for travel and transportation expenses incurred during the allowable travel days en route from the old duty station to the new. However, if the travel lasts a total of 12 hours or less, you may not be eligible for reimbursement of travel expenses.

Reimbursement of en route travel expenses is calculated using the Standard CONUS per diem rate. Current per diem rates are defined in the  Joint Travel Regulation (JTR), Volume 2  or Department of State's Foreign Per Diem Rates Home Page .

The per diem rate consists of a lodging allowance, and a meals and incidentals (M&IE) allowance. Reimbursement for lodging may not exceed the actual lodging cost up to the maximum lodging allowance. When lodging is obtained from friends or relatives, reimbursement for the lodging portion is not authorized. M&IE is a fixed amount. The M&IE rate, or a fraction of it, is payable without itemization of expenses or receipts.

During the en route travel, you're in a duty status with no charge to your leave account. However, leave may be used in conjunction with the en route travel when approved by the supervisor and documented on the official travel orders.

Transportation expenses for you and your dependents will also be paid. When travel from the old duty station to the new one is via a privately owned vehicle (POV), a mileage allowance for the use of one POV to the port by the most direct route is authorized. You’re responsible for costs for any indirect route for personal reasons. If commercial transportation is used, the costs of the transportation plus reasonable taxi fares to and between terminals are allowed.

Dependent means the following:

• Children of the employee or the employee's spouse who are unmarried and under the age of 21.
• Children of the employee or the employee's spouse who are unmarried and who, regardless of age, are physically or mentally incapable of self support.

Also included is:

• Any illegitimate child, stepchild or adopted child or any grandchild of the employee or the employee's spouse who satisfies the criteria above.
• Any legal ward who satisfies the criteria above. A legal ward is generally defined as an unmarried person who (1) has been placed in the custody of the employee or the employee's spouse by a court of competent jurisdiction either permanently or for a period which lasts at least 12 months from the date of the order, (2) is dependent upon the employee or the employee's spouse for over one-half of the person's support, and (3) resides with the employee or the employee's spouse.
• Any dependent child who is under a legal guardianship of the employee or the employee's spouse and who also satisfies the criteria above. A guardian is an individual who is given the authority by a court of competent jurisdiction to take care of the person, property, and rights of another person. In this case, the person is a dependent child.
• Any child born after the employee's effective date of transfer when travel of the expectant spouse is prevented at the time of transfer because of the advanced stage of pregnancy or other reasons acceptable to the agency.

Procedures for filing En Route Travel

• To file an En Route travel voucher, submit the following:
• DD Form 1351-2 Travel Voucher or Subvoucher (PDF) .
• Provide a detailed itinerary in block 15 showing daily travel, and the cities and states where lodging was obtained.
• Be sure to sign and date. Don’t write below signature block.
• Three copies of Travel Orders including amendments.
• Original and three copies of lodging receipts (claim lodging separately from lodging taxes).
• Copy of advance  DD Form 1351, Travel Voucher (PDF) .

To get more PCS tips or information, visit Military.com's PCS/Home Buying Guide .

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