Military Move Entitlements 2026: DLA, Per Diem & TLE Explained
When orders arrive, four financial entitlements kick in alongside your household goods move: Dislocation Allowance (DLA), per diem for travel days, Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE) at the old or new duty station, and Monetary Allowance in Lieu of Transportation (MALT) for mileage. Each covers a different phase of the move, has its own eligibility rules, and is claimed through a different system. Understanding all four before your move-out date prevents the most common PCS reimbursement errors.
This guide explains each entitlement in plain terms, cites the governing authority for current dollar amounts, and outlines exactly where to submit your claim. Dollar figures change each fiscal year or when the Department of Defense issues revised travel rates -- every specific rate referenced below is sourced from the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) at defensetravel.dod.mil or the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) at travel.dod.mil. Verify current figures at those sources before filing.
Quick-Reference: The Four PCS Entitlements
The table below maps each entitlement to its purpose, who qualifies, and where to file. Details follow in the sections below.
| Entitlement | What it covers | Who qualifies | Where to claim |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dislocation Allowance (DLA) | One-time lump sum for the costs of uprooting and re-establishing a household | Active duty members with dependents (and some without) who receive PCS orders | myPay at mypay.dfas.mil or via your Finance Office / servicing payroll |
| Per Diem (travel days) | Daily lodging and meal costs during authorized travel between duty stations | Active duty member and each dependent traveling on PCS orders | Defense Travel System (DTS) or manual travel voucher submitted to your Finance Office |
| Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE) | Hotel or short-term housing costs while waiting for permanent quarters at the old or new duty station | Active duty members with dependents (CONUS only; OCONUS has a separate Temporary Lodging Allowance) | Submitted on your travel voucher through Finance; receipts required |
| MALT / Mileage | Mileage reimbursement when traveling by POV instead of common carrier | Active duty member and dependents traveling by privately owned vehicle on PCS orders | Travel voucher submitted to Finance; odometer or map-based mileage required |
Dislocation Allowance (DLA)
Dislocation Allowance is a one-time lump-sum payment designed to offset the out-of-pocket expenses that are unavoidable when a service member uproots and re-establishes a household. It is not tied to receipts -- you do not submit utility deposits, truck rental charges, or hotel bills to claim it. DLA is paid as a flat amount determined by your pay grade and dependent status under JTR Chapter 5.
What DLA covers (in intent, not by receipt). The DTMO's explanation of DLA at defensetravel.dod.mil frames it as compensation for costs such as utility connection fees, lease break penalties, child-care disruption, and incidental moving expenses not covered by other entitlements. The government does not ask you to prove any specific expenditure.
Who qualifies. Under JTR Chapter 5, Part C, DLA is payable to:
- Active duty members with dependents who receive PCS orders requiring a change of permanent duty station
- Active duty members without dependents who are ordered out of government housing or who vacate private housing
- Members who move twice in the same fiscal year due to a second set of PCS orders may qualify for DLA on both moves (verify eligibility with your Finance Office; conditions apply)
Reserve component members on active duty for 90 days or more who receive PCS-style orders may also qualify; see JTR Chapter 5 for reserve-specific conditions.
DLA is not payable when the member moves within the same commuting area, when the move is due to a disciplinary action, or when the member elects not to move dependents.
Current rate and where to find it. DLA rates are published by DFAS at dfas.mil/MilitaryMembers/payentitlements/Pay-Tables and updated when DoD changes the schedule. As of fiscal year 2026 the rate schedule ties DLA to the member's pay grade and whether dependents are traveling. Do not rely on any figure in this guide -- pull the current DFAS table at time of your move.
How to claim. DLA is typically initiated through your Finance Office, which submits it via the Integrated Personnel and Pay System-Army (IPPS-A), Marine Corps Total Force System, or service-specific pay system. Some branches allow direct claim via myPay at mypay.dfas.mil. Your Transportation Office (TO) or installation Finance Office will confirm the submission path for your branch. DLA is generally paid after the member reports to the new duty station and orders are confirmed.
Per Diem for PCS Travel Days
Per diem covers the daily cost of lodging and meals while you travel between your old and new duty stations under PCS orders. It accumulates over the authorized travel days for your route and party size -- it is not a single flat payment.
What per diem covers. The JTR's per diem methodology (Chapter 2 for CONUS, Chapter 8 for OCONUS) reimburses lodging costs up to the applicable cap plus meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) at a flat daily rate. M&IE does not require receipts; lodging does.
Authorized travel days. DTMO authorizes one day per roughly 350 miles of official distance (current figure: verify at defensetravel.dod.mil). Dependents traveling on the same orders also receive per diem at reduced rates; current rates are published at defensetravel.dod.mil/site/perdiemRates.cfm. OCONUS moves use country-specific Foreign Per Diem Rates from the same DTMO site.
How to claim. File DD Form 1351-2 (or the DTS electronic equivalent) within five business days of reporting. Attach lodging receipts. Common errors: omitting dependents named on orders; using the wrong city rate; missing receipts for the lodging portion.
Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE)
TLE is separate from travel per diem. It covers the cost of temporary lodging at the old duty station before departure and at the new duty station before permanent quarters are available. It applies only to CONUS moves; OCONUS moves use Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA), which has different rates and rules.
What TLE covers. TLE reimburses actual lodging expenses, up to a daily cap, when the member and dependents must live in temporary quarters (hotel, short-term rental, or similar) because they have vacated their previous permanent quarters or have not yet moved into permanent quarters at the new station. Both ends of the move can qualify.
Duration limits. Under JTR Chapter 5, Part D, TLE is authorized for up to 10 days total (combined old and new duty station), though this can be extended in exceptional circumstances with command approval. The 10-day ceiling is not per location -- it is across the full PCS move.
The daily cap. TLE reimburses lodging at actual cost up to a maximum daily rate, which is set as a percentage of the applicable BAH rate and is adjusted when housing rates change. The current cap is published by DTMO at defensetravel.dod.mil. Meals during TLE are covered by per diem (M&IE), not TLE -- do not double-claim.
Who qualifies. Active duty members with dependents. Members without dependents do not qualify for TLE (they receive government quarters or BAH). Guard and Reserve members on active-duty PCS orders may qualify under specific conditions -- verify with Finance.
How to claim. TLE is claimed on the same travel voucher as per diem. Submit hotel receipts showing the lodging address, nightly rate, and dates. If the lodging is a short-term rental, a receipt or lease agreement showing the same information is required. Submit within five business days of reporting to the new duty station, or as soon as the TLE period ends if it extends past your reporting date.
Key TLE planning consideration. Many installations have wait times for on-post housing. If you know the wait is likely to exceed 10 days, plan accordingly: TLE only covers the first 10 days. After that, your BAH is expected to cover your housing costs. Identifying temporary housing options near the installation before your move-out date reduces the risk of gaps. For help sourcing short-term housing options on either end of a military move, our concierge can be part of that coordination; visit /concierge to discuss your timeline.
MALT: Monetary Allowance in Lieu of Transportation
MALT reimburses mileage when you drive your privately owned vehicle (POV) between duty stations instead of using a government-arranged flight or common carrier. It is calculated per mile at the MALT rate, which DoD sets and which changes when the IRS updates the standard mileage rate or when DoD issues a revised JTR table.
What MALT covers. MALT covers one vehicle per authorized traveler (member plus dependents on the same orders). If the member and spouse drive two vehicles from the old duty station to the new one -- a common scenario when household goods are not moving immediately -- both vehicles may qualify for MALT provided both are occupied by authorized travelers named on the orders.
Rate and distance. Current MALT rates are published by DTMO at defensetravel.dod.mil/site/PCSTransportation.cfm -- the rate has recently tracked the IRS standard mileage rate but confirm before filing. Reimbursement uses the official distance between duty stations, not necessarily actual odometer miles, though you must record odometer readings at origin and destination.
How to claim. MALT is claimed on the same travel voucher as per diem. No receipts required -- enter vehicle type, official distance, and number of authorized travelers per vehicle. Fuel, tolls, and parking are bundled into the per-mile rate and not separately reimbursable (some JTR versions allow a separate toll line -- verify with Finance).
Filing Your PCS Travel Voucher
Per diem, TLE, and MALT are all claimed on a single travel voucher through your service branch's finance system or the Defense Travel System (DTS). DLA is processed separately through your pay account.
What to bring: PCS orders (including amendments), lodging receipts for all per diem and TLE nights, odometer readings for MALT, names and ages of all dependents who traveled, and your reporting-date confirmation.
Submit within five business days of arriving at your new duty station. Late vouchers are still payable but create friction. The official PCS resource is move.mil (DTMO). DFAS handles pay questions at dfas.mil/Contact. The full JTR is searchable at travel.dod.mil.
How a Moving Concierge Fits Into a Military PCS
DLA, per diem, TLE, and MALT all flow through your Finance Office and DFAS -- a moving concierge has no role in those entitlements. Where a concierge helps is the civilian carrier side: if you choose a Personally Procured Move (PPM), MovingRated vets carriers, gathers binding estimates, and presents screened options. You contract and pay the carrier directly; the concierge fee is separate from both the carrier payment and your government entitlements.
For how the PPM/DITY path works alongside DPS, see /newsroom/moving-concierge-for-military-pcs. For weight allowances by rank (which determine your PPM reimbursement ceiling), see /newsroom/military-pcs-weight-allowance-by-rank-2026. For a civilian carrier cost estimate, use the cost calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is DLA for a PCS move in 2026? DLA rates are set by DoD and updated by DFAS. The rate depends on your pay grade (E1 through O10/W5) and whether dependents are traveling. DFAS publishes the current rate table at dfas.mil/MilitaryMembers/payentitlements/Pay-Tables. This guide deliberately does not reproduce the dollar figures because they are updated when DoD adjusts the schedule -- always pull from the source before filing.
Is DLA taxable? No. DLA is a military allowance, not pay, and is excluded from gross income under 26 U.S.C. § 134 as a qualified military benefit. DFAS will not issue a W-2 line for DLA. For tax questions specific to your situation, verify with the nearest Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site or a tax advisor familiar with military compensation.
Can I claim both TLE at the old duty station and TLE at the new duty station? Yes, provided the combined total does not exceed the 10-day JTR limit and both periods are properly documented with hotel receipts showing the address, rate, and dates. Both legs are claimed on the same travel voucher. If your old-station TLE was 4 days, your new-station TLE ceiling is 6 days. Command can authorize extensions beyond 10 days in exceptional circumstances -- document the reason in writing.
What if my dependents drive a separate vehicle to the new duty station -- do they get MALT? Yes, provided the dependent(s) are named on the orders and the vehicle is occupied during the travel. Each occupied vehicle driven by an authorized traveler is eligible for MALT at the official distance between duty stations. Both sets of odometer readings should be documented on the travel voucher.
My TLE exceeded the 10-day limit because on-post housing was not available. Am I stuck paying out of pocket? After 10 days, your BAH takes over regardless of whether permanent quarters are available. If BAH does not cover local off-post rates while you wait for on-post housing, that gap is not covered by any entitlement -- your command and housing office may be able to expedite your assignment. For help identifying off-post short-term options as part of a broader move, the /concierge can assist.
Can I claim per diem and TLE for the same night? No. Per diem covers lodging during travel days (moving between locations). TLE covers lodging at a stationary location while waiting for quarters. The two do not overlap on the same night. If you are driving and stop overnight en route, that is per diem. If you have arrived at the new duty station and are living in a hotel while housing is being arranged, that is TLE. Your Finance Office will flag double-claims on the same dates.
Where do I find the current JTR rules for all of these entitlements? The Joint Travel Regulations are the authoritative document. The current version is maintained by DTMO and publicly available at travel.dod.mil. Chapter 5 covers PCS entitlements including DLA, TLE, and MALT. Chapter 2 covers per diem for CONUS travel. The JTR is updated periodically throughout the year; the DTMO website notes the current effective date.
Get the Civilian Portion of Your Move Handled
Filing DLA, per diem, TLE, and MALT correctly is your Finance Office's job -- and the resources above will help you prepare accurate documentation. The civilian carrier side of your move is where MovingRated can help: vetting licensed movers, gathering binding estimates, and presenting screened options so you are not cold-calling carriers between out-processing and reporting dates.
Start at /concierge to tell us your move details. We do the carrier research; you make the hiring decision.