How to Get Dislocation Allowance for Lodging and Meals During a Military Move

If you’re in the military, getting orders for a Permanent Change of Station can evoke a mix of emotions. Relocation can be exciting, but changing residences can also feel overwhelming. One day, you’re eating breakfast in the kitchen where you’ve spent months — or even years. The next day, you’re researching hotel and meal reimbursement while you’re surrounded by half-packed boxes.

The good news is that the military provides financial help to ease the stress of relocation, including something called the Dislocation Allowance. The DLA is designed to offset the extra expenses of uprooting your household. Lodging, meals, and utility deposits can add up quickly for military families, but the government doesn’t expect you to foot the relocation costs alone.

In this article, we’ll break down:

• What is Dislocation Allowance?
• How DLA works during a PCS move
• How to get reimbursed for lodging and meals through TLE and TLA
• What documents you need to request DLA funds
• Potential DLA benefit amounts

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What Is Dislocation Allowance (DLA)?

Dislocation Allowance is a one-time payment that helps offset costs associated with relocating your household during a PCS move. This tax-free payment covers miscellaneous out-of-pocket expenses — everything from hotel stays to setting up your new home. Basically, your DLA covers moving-related expenses that aren’t already being reimbursed via other government programs. You can use a DLA with or without dependents.

Here are some expenses your dislocation allowance can cover:

• Temporary lodging
• Utility activation fees and deposits
• Replacement household items
• Meals and incidentals not covered by other reimbursement programs

When relocation occurs due to military orders, all military branches cover the costs of moving for military families.

When you use DLA for your move, you have a few options to get from your current duty station to your new home. You can hire professional moving services or load a moving truck with help from family and friends. No matter how you move, you can ask the military to pay for these moving expenses. However, your Military Housing Option will decide the military move type for you.

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How Does Dislocation Allowance Work for a PCS Move?

When you receive PCS orders, you become eligible for DLA once your move is official and you’re authorized to relocate dependents. These funds help cover non-reimbursable costs that arise during a move. You can use your DLA for qualifying deposit fees, furniture replacement, utility setup charges, and extra food and lodging costs.

Here’s an overview of how DLA for a PCS move works:

• DLA rates are standardized across all military branches — Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard. There’s no difference between them.
• The Defense Travel Management Office establishes DLA rates each year.
• DLA is paid as part of your travel advance or after you file a claim through your branch’s finance office or MyPay.
• This allowance is separate from Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE) or Temporary Lodging Assistance (TLA) programs that reimburse you for temporary lodging and meals, but you can combine DLA with TLE or TLA.

When you use a professional moving company already contracted by the military, you just need to schedule the move and be on-site during moving day. You can also have an authorized representative, such as a spouse or family member, coordinate the move. The moving professionals handle the rest, and the government picks up the bill.

But not everyone qualifies for DLA. Military members are usually not eligible for DLA when moving without dependents into or out of government quarters, such as barracks. You’re most likely to receive the maximum DLA benefit if you’re moving with dependents or into private housing.

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Filing for TLE or TLA for Reimbursement

Temporary Lodging Expense and Temporary Lodging Assistance reimbursements often go hand in hand with DLA payments. You can use these programs alone or combine them with your Dislocation Allowance.

TLE and TLA are nontaxable payments that reimburse military members for meals and lodging during a move. TLE is given to military personnel moving within the continental United States. TLA is for moves overseas or anything outside of the United States.

The daily rates for TLE are based on the location you’re moving to or from. These rates are paid out per diem (per day).

 

“To calculate DLA rates, multiply your rate per day by the number of days eligible. Generally, you can receive $2,500 to $4,000 with dependents.”

 

The government determines how much you receive daily for TLE, which is an amount they deem reasonable to help you cover move-related expenses each day during your relocation. This means there’s no standard dollar amount, so contact your military counselor if you have questions about your award.

For a military PCS overseas, including Alaska and Hawaii, military members can file for TLA for additional reimbursement. The government understands it can be difficult — if not impossible — to make a quick trip overseas to find a home ahead of time. For that reason, the Department of Defense offers additional lodging expense reimbursement for those moving abroad.

What Documents Do I Need to Receive TLE or TLA?

Anyone getting ready for a move should keep a handy file of important documents. This is especially important if you plan to request reimbursement for any of your expenses via TLA, TLE, or DLA.

Important documents to keep when relocating in the military:

• TLE form DD1351-2 (PDF). This form lists your contact information, family members, travel itinerary, and expenses.
• DFAS form 9098 (PDF). This is how you officially claim your temporary lodging expenses. You must complete this form as part of your overall travel claim through the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, the military’s pay system.
• Official permanent change of station orders. Anytime you move in the military, you should keep a hard copy (or two!) of your official orders showing your transfer from one area to another. You will need this document for everything, from getting free checked luggage on airlines to checking into a government hotel. PCS orders are also required when filing your TLE or TLA reimbursement.
• Lodging receipts. Since the TLE and TLA are for reimbursement of lodging costs, the military wants to know that you actually need to stay in a hotel or other temporary accommodations. At checkout, make sure to get a receipt that shows you paid your bill in full. Lodging receipts are sometimes called a zero-balance receipt, meaning you owe $0.
• Meal receipts. The cost of meals during a move can add up. You may not be asked for receipts, but tucking them into a file folder is worth the peace of mind.
• Proof of actively seeking lodging. To continue receiving TLA during an overseas move, you have to show you’re actively seeking lodging. You’ll need to submit proof, such as copies of applications or appointments with property managers, to your new command every 15 days to continue receiving TLA.

You may also want to keep copies of claims you’ve submitted for TLE, TLA, or DLA in case you run into any issues. That way, you can quickly resubmit your reimbursement documents.

How Do I File for TLE or TLA?

After completing a PCS military move, meet with a counselor at your local military housing office. This representative can help answer questions about assistance and reimbursement procedures, including TLE and TLA claims. You can submit claim documents, such as the DFAS form 9098 for TLE, at your assigned housing office.

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What Are the DLA Rates?

To calculate DLA rates, multiply your rate per day by the number of days eligible. Generally, you can receive $2,500 to $4,000 with dependents. Military members without dependents may qualify for $1,000 to $2,500. You can check current allowance rates on the DTMO’s official site.

• TLE reimbursement is authorized for up to 10 days during a move within the continental United States. Look up the daily lodging rates for your area during your pre-move counseling, as they can vary by location and time of year.
• TLE reimbursement is authorized for up to 5 days during a move to or from outside of the continental United States.
• TLA is authorized for up to 60 days when arriving outside of the continental USA and for up to 10 days when departing.
• Lodging rates typically have a location-based cap. Check with your local housing office before booking that ultra-swanky beachfront suite!

Tip: Some hotels offer a special government rate that falls within the local TLE or TLA limit. Ask the property manager for more details.

How TLE/TLA Works for Food

When it comes to food, the government uses a per diem rate based on your location and number of dependents. This per diem meal rate is used for TLE and TLA.

Here’s a quick rundown of daily meal rate reimbursement:

• 1 person (military member or dependent): 65% of the daily meal rate
• 2 people (military member and dependent or 2 dependents): 100% of the daily meal rate
• Each additional dependent over the age of 12: add 35%
• Each additional dependent under the age of 12: add 25%

Ask your housing assistance office if you have questions about daily meal rates.

How TLE/TLA Works for Lodging

To receive TLE or TLA, you must provide receipts that show you’re staying in temporary living quarters. This can be a standard motel room, an extended-stay hotel, or even an Airbnb.

 

“…[N]ot everyone qualifies for DLA. Military members are usually not eligible for DLA when moving without dependents into or out of government quarters, such as barracks.”

 

Staying with family members or friends is also an option. You can still receive the per diem portion of TLE or TLA to help pay for additional meal expenses during your move. To do so, you must provide a written statement from your host outlining the dates you were without your own home.

What If My Stay Exceeds My Allotted Days?

Like most people going through a military relocation, you probably hope to be back in your own home as soon as possible. Unfortunately, sometimes move-in dates get delayed.

You’re normally responsible for the additional expenses incurred when this happens. However, if the extra time in temporary lodging is due to unavailable military housing or a delay in your household goods arriving, you have options. You may qualify for additional reimbursements.

To get started, speak with your base’s transportation office or finance office as soon as possible. They can walk you through whether you qualify for extensions or extra allowances and help you submit the necessary forms.

Relocation is a natural part of military life, but it doesn’t have to be a financial strain. Applying for TLE, TLA, and DLA can help ease the burden of moving-related expenses.