PCS Moving Allowance: What the Dislocation Allowance (DLA) Covers and Who Gets It

Short answer: The main PCS moving allowance is the dislocation allowance, or DLA. It partially reimburses you for household moving expenses when PCS orders require you to move your household. The amount depends on your pay grade and whether you are allowed to move with dependents. Most members get one DLA per fiscal year, and you can ask for 80% of it in advance if you visit your finance office 10 to 15 days before your move.

Jennifer Rodriguez is a Realtor® and Military Relocation Professional (MRP®) in Northwest Las Vegas helping military families plan PCS moves to and from Nellis AFB.

If you have orders to Nellis, you are probably building a budget for the move and the house at the same time. DLA is one of the pieces of that budget. Here is what it is, who gets it, and how to use the timing to your advantage.

What is the PCS dislocation allowance?

Military OneSource describes DLA as a payment that partially reimburses service members for household moving expenses they incur. The household move has to be required by a PCS, an evacuation, or in some cases a move ordered for the government's convenience.

The word partially matters. DLA is not meant to cover every cost of a move. It is help with the costs a move creates, not a full reimbursement. The Army has also described it as an allowance that does not have to be paid back.

DLA is one piece of PCS pay. Temporary lodging expense (TLE) and a personally procured move (PPM) are separate programs with their own rules. Do not mix them up when you build your budget.

Who gets the PCS moving allowance?

According to Military OneSource, any service member moving their household on PCS orders who is not assigned to single-type government housing, such as the barracks, is typically eligible. Members receiving Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) or at pay grade E-5 and above generally qualify.

Who does not get DLA?

Military OneSource lists three common situations where you will not receive it:

• Below E-5 in single-type government housing. If your pay grade is below E-5 and you are assigned to single-type government housing, you may not be eligible.
• Your first move onto active duty. You will not receive DLA for the move from the civilian home where you lived when you joined to your first duty station, unless you are allowed to move there with dependents.
• Leaving active duty. DLA is not paid when you separate. Other moving services may be available.

How much is the PCS moving allowance?

There is no single number. DLA amounts depend on your pay grade and whether you are allowed to move with dependents. The Defense Travel Management Office publishes the current rate tables at travel.dod.mil.

Look up your rate there before you plan around it. Older articles online quote figures from past years, and rates change. Your finance office can confirm the exact amount for your orders.

Can you get DLA before you move?

Yes. Here's what most people don't realize. You do not have to wait until after the move to see this money. Military OneSource says that if your advance is approved, you receive 80% of your estimated payment up front. The rest is paid after you file for reimbursement at your new installation, following your move.

To use the advance, plan for these steps:

1. Get your rate. Pull the current DLA rate for your pay grade and dependent status from the Defense Travel Management Office.
2. Visit finance early. Go to your current installation's finance office 10 to 15 days before your move to request the advance.
3. File after you arrive. Complete your reimbursement paperwork at your new installation's finance office to receive the remaining amount.

How many times can you get DLA?

Normally, one per fiscal year. Military OneSource notes an exception. When your command changes or cancels your PCS orders, you may be able to receive a second, smaller DLA.

There are also situations where DLA is paid without standard PCS orders. Members ordered out of family-type government housing because of a base realignment and closure (BRAC) may receive a full DLA.

How should a home buyer plan around DLA?

Let's make this simple. DLA helps with the move. It is not a down payment plan. If you are buying near Nellis with a VA loan, keep these points in mind:

• Ask your lender before counting it toward cash to close. Your lender decides what funds can be used and how they need to be documented.
• Time the advance to the trip. The advance arrives before the move, which can help with costs while you are between homes.
• Keep your paperwork together. Orders, finance documents, and receipts help with both your reimbursement and your loan file.
• Budget the gap. Only 80% comes in advance. The rest waits until you file at your new installation.

You don't have to know everything. That's what I'm here for. When I work with a family on orders to Nellis, we build the house plan around the move timeline, so the money pieces line up instead of overlapping.

Common mistakes with the PCS moving allowance

• Assuming DLA covers the whole move. It partially reimburses expenses. Plan for costs beyond it.
• Using an old rate from the internet. Rates depend on pay grade and dependent status and come from the Defense Travel Management Office. Check the current table.
• Waiting too long to request the advance. Military OneSource says to visit finance 10 to 15 days before your move.
• Forgetting the second half. The remaining 20% is paid only after you file for reimbursement at your new installation.
• Confusing DLA with TLE or a PPM. They are separate entitlements with separate rules.

More for families moving to Nellis

• VA loan pre-approval process: what you need and what happens next
• What does a VA loan cost at closing in Las Vegas?
• Can you use your VA loan again while you still own a home?

Frequently asked questions

What is the PCS moving allowance called?

The main one is the dislocation allowance, or DLA. It partially reimburses household moving expenses when a PCS, an evacuation, or in some cases a move for the government's convenience requires you to move your household.

How much is DLA?

It depends on your pay grade and whether you are allowed to move with dependents. The Defense Travel Management Office publishes the current rates at travel.dod.mil.

Can I get my DLA before I move?

Yes, if approved. You receive 80% of your estimated payment in advance. Military OneSource says to visit your installation's finance office 10 to 15 days before your move. The rest is paid after you file at your new installation.

Do junior enlisted members get DLA?

It depends on housing. Members below E-5 who are assigned to single-type government housing, such as the barracks, may not be eligible. Members receiving BAH generally qualify.

Can I get DLA twice in one year?

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

Do I get DLA when I leave the military?

No. DLA is not paid when you leave active duty, though other moving services may be available.

Have orders to Nellis? Send me your report date at homesbyjrod.com, and I will help you line up the house search with your move timeline.

The DLA rules in this article come from Military OneSource and the U.S. Army, checked on October 5, 2026. Rates and rules can change, so confirm your entitlement with your finance office. This is general education, not financial advice.