PCS Money: What the Military Pays When You Move

The short version

PCS orders do more than move you, they switch on several payments. The big ones are a Dislocation Allowance (a flat lump sum to offset move-in costs), travel reimbursement for the trip (per diem plus mileage), and, if you move your own household goods, a Personally Procured Move (PPM, still called a DITY) payment that can leave money in your pocket.

Most of this money is not automatic. You claim it through your transportation and finance offices, and some of it, like DLA and travel, can be advanced before you ever load the truck.

The PCS money, in one place

Four payments do most of the work in a typical move. Know what each one is before you start out-processing.

1. Dislocation Allowance (DLA). A flat lump sum based on your grade and dependents, meant to offset the cost of setting up a new household. Usually one per fiscal year.
2. Travel per diem. A daily amount for you and your dependents for the authorized travel days between duty stations.
3. Mileage (MALT). A per-mile payment when you drive your own vehicle, set at $0.205 per mile for 2026.
4. PPM / DITY payment. Move some or all of your stuff yourself and get paid based on what the government would have spent to move it.

Claim it, do not wait for it: DLA and travel allowances can often be advanced through your finance office, which helps cover deposits and the drive before reimbursements land.

Source: DTMO · DoD

Dislocation Allowance (DLA)

DLA partially reimburses the cost of relocating your household on a PCS. It is a flat amount set by your pay grade and dependency status on the effective date of your orders, and in most cases you can receive only one DLA per fiscal year. It can be paid in advance, which is the part people miss, ask your former installation finance office before you move. One caveat for the reserve component: Guard and Reserve members coming onto or leaving active duty generally are not eligible for DLA, with limited exceptions. Look up your exact rate on the DTMO dislocation allowance table.

Travel pay: per diem and mileage

For the trip itself, you are reimbursed two ways. Per diem covers lodging and meals for the authorized travel days, and on the first and last days of travel you draw 75 percent of the meals-and-incidentals rate. Your dependents also draw per diem, at a percentage of your rate based on age. Mileage, called MALT, pays you for driving your own vehicle: $0.205 per mile in 2026, calculated on the official distance between duty stations, not your odometer. One MALT payment covers everyone riding in that vehicle.

A quick example

• The drive. A 700-mile move in one vehicle
• Mileage. 700 × $0.205 = $143.50 in MALT
• Travel days. The JTR formula works out to about two days for 700 miles
• Per diem. Paid for those travel days, at 75% of M&IE on the first and last day

Driving a second authorized vehicle, or moving with dependents, changes the math. Your transportation office can give you the exact numbers for your orders.

Source: DTMO

The DITY move (PPM): get paid to move yourself

A Personally Procured Move lets you move some or all of your household goods yourself, by rental truck, your own trailer, or a hired company, instead of using the government mover. In return, you are paid based on the Government Constructed Cost: what it would have cost the government to move that weight. Move it for less than that, and the difference is yours. Reimbursement now runs through DFAS SmartVoucher, which has cut the typical payout to a few days. Two habits protect your wallet: keep every receipt and certified weight ticket, and remember that any part of a PPM payment above your documented costs is treated as taxable income. Ask finance how yours will be reported before you spend it.

What changed recently

The military has reworked the moving system, and a few changes matter for your money and your planning.

• One move manager. Under the Global Household Goods Contract, HomeSafe Alliance acts as a single point of contact for many moves, the largest overhaul of the system in two decades.
• More lead time. Army PCS orders now aim for a 120-day lead time, up from 90, giving you more runway to plan.
• Pet reimbursement. You can be reimbursed for relocating one cat or dog, up to $550 for a move within the U.S. and up to $2,000 for an international PCS, with documentation.

Programs and rollout dates shift. Confirm what applies to your move at MilitaryOneSource.mil and with your transportation office.

Source: DoD · Military OneSource

Do this now

1. Start at your transportation office as soon as you have orders, and schedule your move in DPS.
2. Look up your DLA rate on the DTMO table and ask finance about advances for DLA and travel.
3. If you will do a PPM, book a counseling appointment, keep receipts, and get certified weight tickets.
4. File your travel voucher promptly through SmartVoucher after you arrive.

Where to get help

Your installation transportation office handles entitlements, counseling, and your DPS move; reach the Personal Property hotline at 833-MIL-MOVE (833-645-6683). For pay questions, start with your servicing finance office or DFAS. Military OneSource offers free, 24/7 PCS and financial support for service members and families. All of these are linked below.

FAQ

Is DLA taxed?

No. Dislocation Allowance is a nontaxable allowance, like most of your PCS travel payments.

Can I get money before I move?

Often yes. DLA and travel allowances can usually be advanced through your finance office, which helps with deposits and the drive.

Is a DITY (PPM) profit taxable?

The part of a PPM payment that is more than your documented moving costs is generally taxable income. Keep receipts and weight tickets, and ask finance how it will be reported.

How many travel days do I get?

The JTR sets them by official distance, roughly one day per 350 miles after the first 400. Your orders and transportation office confirm the exact number.

Sources & links

• DoD Military Compensation, Dislocation Allowance (DLA): militarypay.defense.gov
• DTMO, Dislocation Allowance rates: travel.dod.mil
• DTMO, Mileage Rates (MALT): travel.dod.mil
• DTMO, Per Diem: travel.dod.mil
• Military OneSource, PCS Entitlements: militaryonesource.mil
• Military OneSource, Moving Your Personal Property (DPS): militaryonesource.mil
• DFAS, SmartVoucher: smartvoucher.dfas.mil