Allowances: Dislocation Allowance - Military Pay & Allowances - Military Times

Allowances: Dislocation Allowance

Married service members receive a dislocation allowance when they relocate because other allowances usually fall short of the full cost of moving. It may be paid in advance. The dislocation allowance may be authorized without a PCS in certain cases, such as proximity moves directed by the government.

As of Jan. 1, 2010, rates range from $842.51 to $4,223.71.

Single service members receive the allowance only when they are not assigned permanently to government quarters.

The allowance is not available to service members ordered from home to their first duty station; assigned to government quarters without family members at a new duty station; transferred to a nearby duty station, unless the service has authorized a local move of the member’s household goods as a direct result of the PCS; or separating or retiring.

Contact: www.defensetravel.dod.mil/per diem/dla.html

Stateside

Local finance offices issue advance housing allowances if money is needed for rental housing within the U.S. The allowances are in addition to any advance pay or dislocation allowance already received. Commanders must authorize the housing advance.

Service members moving anywhere in the continental U.S. and requesting this allowance usually draw one month’s worth of the Basic Allowance for Housing, so long as the advance payment does not exceed anticipated rental costs.

Three months’ advance housing allowance is the maximum amount that can be drawn.

To get advance housing allowance, service members must already have found housing and must provide a copy of the rental agreement to document the housing costs. The advance may not be given more than three working days before, or more than 30 days after, the date that payment must be made under the agreement.

Overseas

Service members moving overseas can draw up to three months of Overseas Housing Allowance. In rare cases, larger advances are possible. Homeowners are not entitled to these advances.