Does the Military Pay for Moving Expenses?

The United States military provides substantial financial and logistical support to service members and their families during relocation. This assistance recognizes that frequent moves are an inherent part of military life, aiming to alleviate associated burdens. The Department of Defense establishes allowances and services for smooth transitions between duty stations or out of service. This support covers expenses from household belongings transportation to temporary living costs, reflecting a commitment to service members and their dependents.

Eligibility and Types of Moves

Eligibility for military moving expense coverage primarily extends to active duty service members. However, certain allowances may also apply to reservists, National Guard members on active duty orders, and those separating or retiring from service. The specific entitlements vary based on the type of move and the service member’s status, as outlined in the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR).

The most common relocation is a Permanent Change of Station (PCS), which involves a reassignment to a new duty station for a period generally exceeding 20 weeks. PCS moves are fully supported, covering household goods and personal travel.

Temporary Duty (TDY) assignments are shorter-term relocations, typically under 180 days, where service members return to their permanent station. While TDY moves usually involve more limited personal effects, allowances cover travel and temporary lodging. If a TDY assignment is later converted to a PCS, entitlements may adjust to reflect the permanent nature of the move.

Service members separating or retiring are generally entitled to one final move at government expense. This move typically covers transportation to their home of record or place of entry into service. Depending on the circumstances, such as voluntary separation with less than 20 years of service, this final move must often occur within 180 days of separation.

Understanding What’s Covered

The military covers various categories of expenses and property during a relocation, aimed at easing the financial strain of moving. This comprehensive support includes household goods transportation, personally owned vehicles, and temporary lodging expenses.

Household Goods (HHG) encompass furniture, clothing, and other personal items necessary to establish a home. The weight allowance for HHG varies significantly by service member rank and number of dependents. For instance, junior enlisted personnel without dependents might have an allowance of approximately 5,000 to 8,000 pounds, while senior officers with dependents could be authorized 18,000 pounds or more. Any weight exceeding the authorized allowance becomes the service member’s financial responsibility.

Beyond standard HHG, service members may ship professional books, papers, and equipment (Pro-Gear) separately. This allowance can be up to 2,000 pounds for the service member and 500 pounds for a spouse, without counting against the primary HHG weight limit. Empty gun safes up to 500 pounds can also be shipped. Professional packing and unpacking services are typically part of the covered HHG move.

Assistance with Personally Owned Vehicles (POVs) is also provided, particularly for overseas moves. The government generally covers shipping one POV to an overseas duty station. For moves within the Continental United States (CONUS), transporting a POV is usually the service member’s responsibility, though mileage reimbursement is provided. Specific preparation, such as maintaining a fuel level under one-fourth of a tank and removing personal items, is required before vehicle shipment.

Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE) and Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA) are designed to partially reimburse service members for housing and meal costs incurred during the transition period. TLE applies to moves within CONUS, typically covering up to 14 days, though this can extend to 60 days in areas with designated housing shortages. The daily TLE reimbursement rate is capped at $290, calculated based on local per diem and eligible family members. TLA is the equivalent allowance for moves to or from Outside the Continental United States (OCONUS) locations, providing coverage for up to 60 days, with potential extensions. While generally non-taxable, service members should consult tax guidelines, as some benefits might be considered taxable income.

Storage provisions are also included, offering both temporary and long-term options. Temporary storage, known as Storage in Transit (SIT), is typically authorized for up to 90 days if there is a delay in moving into permanent housing. Non-temporary storage (NTS) provides long-term storage, often for the duration of an overseas tour, when a service member cannot or chooses not to take all HHG to the new duty station due to space limitations or other factors. Additionally, a Dislocation Allowance (DLA) is provided to help offset miscellaneous out-of-pocket expenses incurred during a PCS move, which is generally paid as a lump sum. As of January 1, 2024, service members may also be reimbursed for pet relocation expenses, up to $550 for CONUS moves and $2,000 for OCONUS moves.

Navigating Your Moving Options

Service members have distinct options for executing their military move, allowing for varying degrees of personal involvement and potential financial benefits. The primary methods are government-arranged moves and personally procured moves.

A government-arranged move, often referred to as a “full-service” move, involves the military’s transportation office managing the entire relocation process. This includes selecting moving companies, coordinating packing, shipping, and delivery of household goods. This option minimizes the logistical burden on the service member, as the government directly contracts and pays for the services.

Alternatively, service members can opt for a Personally Procured Move (PPM), formerly known as a Do-It-Yourself (DITY) move. Under this option, the service member takes responsibility for arranging and executing their own move. This could involve renting a truck, performing the packing themselves, or hiring a commercial moving company directly.

The financial incentive for a PPM is that the service member is reimbursed up to 100% of what the government would have paid a contracted mover for the same services. This reimbursement amount is calculated based on the weight of the household goods and the government’s contracted rates for that specific move. If the service member’s actual expenses for the PPM are less than the calculated reimbursement amount, they retain the difference, which can result in a financial gain. While PPM reimbursement is considered taxable income, active-duty military members may deduct certain unreimbursed moving expenses on their federal income tax returns. These deductions generally apply to the direct costs of moving household goods and travel, but not typically to meals incurred during transit.

Initiating and Managing Your Relocation

Once a service member understands their entitlements and has chosen a moving option, the next steps involve initiating and managing the relocation process. This phase requires proactive engagement with military resources and careful documentation to ensure a smooth transition and proper reimbursement for eligible expenses. The process typically begins by contacting the local transportation office.

The transportation office provides official counseling and guidance tailored to the service member’s specific orders and chosen moving method. Following initial consultation, service members will typically use the Defense Personal Property System (DPS), an online platform, to manage their move.

DPS serves as the central hub for submitting move requests, scheduling services, and tracking shipments. Service members create an account and upload their official orders to begin the process. Through DPS, they can schedule professional packers and movers for government-arranged moves or register their intent to perform a PPM.

Before the actual packing and moving day, pre-move surveys and inventories are conducted. These steps are important for documenting the condition of household goods and creating a comprehensive list of items being moved. Taking photographs of belongings, especially high-value or fragile items, is a recommended practice to provide additional documentation.

After household goods are delivered to the new location, service members must inspect the items for any loss or damage. It is important to provide notice of any issues to the transportation service provider within 180 days of delivery and to file an itemized claim within nine months through DPS. Maintaining thorough documentation, including receipts for out-of-pocket expenses for PPMs or temporary lodging, is essential for filing claims and seeking reimbursement. Final reimbursement claims, often submitted using a travel voucher like DD Form 1351-2, require all supporting documentation. Some reimbursements may be subject to income tax, and a Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA) may be provided to offset this tax burden.