Military Dislocation Allowance

Any service member moving their household on PCS orders and not assigned to live in single-type government housing — such as the barracks — is typically eligible to receive a DLA.

As a basic rule of thumb, if you typically receive a Basic Allowance for Housing — or are above pay grade E-5 and choose to not stay in single-type government quarters — then most likely you’ll receive a DLA.

Generally, if your pay grade is below E-5 and you are assigned to live in single-type government housing, you may not be eligible.

You also will not receive a DLA when you are moving from your civilian home — where you lived when you signed up for active duty — to your first duty station unless you’re allowed to move there with dependents.

Finally, you cannot receive a DLA when you are leaving active-duty service, though other moving services may be available.

How much DLA you receive depends on your pay grade and whether you are allowed to move with dependents. You can get the latest DLA rates from the Defense Travel Management Office, which lists rates based on pay grade and dependent status.

File reimbursement forms with your installation’s finance office and request an advance through your former installation’s finance office for DLA and other moving payments.

You can request an advance of your DLA and some other moving payments, however, there is no guarantee that you will receive it before you move. You will need to visit your installation’s finance office 10 to 15 days before your move and file a request for your commander’s approval.

If approved, you’ll receive 80% of your estimated payment in advance, with the rest paid after you file for reimbursement at your new installation, following your move.

Normally, you can only get one DLA per fiscal year. However, when your command changes or cancels your PCS orders, you may be able to receive a second, smaller DLA.

To receive a secondary DLA, you will need to complete your move to the new installation before the command changes or revokes your original PCS orders.

Yes, in both cases, you may be eligible to receive a DLA.

• Forced to leave base housing — service members who have to leave government family-type quarters may qualify for a partial DLA without PCS orders.
• Moving due to base realignment and closure — service members ordered to move from family-type government housing due to a BRAC may receive a full DLA.

However, moving after leaving military service doesn’t qualify for any form of DLA.