Programs and benefits for your move
What each allowance, program and nonprofit actually does, who qualifies, and the first step to use it. Amounts change every year, so each entry links to the official source.
Money & Entitlements
Dislocation Allowance (DLA)
DLA is a lump-sum payment meant to offset the many small costs of setting up a new household, such as utility deposits, cleaning supplies and replacing items that did not make the move. The amount depends on pay grade and whether you have dependents. For calendar year 2026 the primary rates range from $1,870.58 (E-1 without dependents) to $6,385.58 (O-7 and above with dependents), a 3.8% increase over 2025. A separate partial DLA ($1,002.71 for 2026) can apply when you are ordered out of government family housing without PCS orders.
Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE)
TLE partially reimburses lodging and meal costs when you have to stay in temporary housing near your old or new duty station during a CONUS PCS. Under current rules it can cover up to 21 days, split between the losing and gaining locations as needed. The daily amount is tied to local per diem rates and your family size, so it varies by location. Keep every receipt, since reimbursement is based on actual lodging costs up to the cap.
Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA)
TLA is the overseas counterpart to TLE. It helps cover hotel and meal costs while you wait for permanent housing after arriving overseas, or after you move out of your overseas home before departing. It is paid in increments that must be approved and is based on the local per diem rate and family size. Unlike TLE, the number of days is not fixed and depends on how long housing takes to secure, subject to command approval.
MALT and PCS Per Diem
When you drive your own vehicle on a PCS, you are paid a mileage rate (Monetary Allowance in Lieu of Transportation) based on the official distance between stations, plus a flat per diem for each authorized travel day. Dependents traveling with you earn a share of the per diem. The number of authorized travel days is set by the official mileage, so extra days for sightseeing are on your own dime. Rates are set by the Defense Travel Management Office and change periodically.
PCS Advance Pay and Advance Allowances
Advance basic pay is an interest-free loan of up to three months of basic pay to cover move-related expenses, repaid through payroll deductions, usually over 12 months or longer if approved. Separately, you can request advances on travel allowances such as DLA and per diem. Advance pay is a loan, not free money, so it lowers your paychecks for the repayment period.
Moving Logistics
Household Goods Weight Allowances
The government will move a set weight of household goods based on your pay grade and whether you have dependents. Going over the limit means you pay for the excess, which can be expensive. Professional books, papers and equipment (and, for spouses, their professional items) can be declared separately so they do not count against your weight. Many overseas locations restrict how much you can ship because government-furnished furniture is provided.
Personally Procured Move (PPM / DITY)
In a PPM you move your own belongings (rental truck, trailer, your own vehicle or a hired mover you pay) and the government reimburses you based on what it would have cost to move that weight. As of the 2026 moving season, reimbursement is 100% of the government constructed cost; a temporary 130% incentive used in summer 2025 has ended. You need certified empty and full weight tickets and receipts for expenses, and any amount above your costs is taxable income.
Move.mil and the Defense Personal Property System (DPS)
DPS is the online system used to request household goods and PPM shipments, track them and file damage claims. You log in with a CAC or a DPS account, complete counseling and submit your shipment request, after which a transportation office approves it and a mover is assigned. DPS is down for weekly maintenance from Friday evening to Saturday morning Central time. A modern replacement is in development, but DPS remains the system of record in 2026.
Personal Property Activity (who runs military moves now)
The Global Household Goods Contract with HomeSafe Alliance was terminated in June 2025 after widespread missed pickups and deliveries, and moves went back to the traditional system in which transportation offices book government-approved moving companies. A permanent DoD organization, the Personal Property Activity, took over management of the household goods program in 2026 and is based at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Separately, DoD has directed cuts to discretionary PCS budgets beginning in fiscal 2027, so some families may see fewer or longer tours.
Household Goods Loss and Damage Claims
Movers in the government program are liable for full replacement value of items they lose or damage, up to set limits. You must report loss or damage to the mover within 75 days of delivery, then file the full claim in DPS within the deadline shown there; 2026 reports indicate the filing window was lengthened. If the mover denies or underpays, you can transfer the claim to the military claims office.
Plan My Move
Plan My Move is a free Military OneSource planning tool that builds a moving calendar and checklist based on your move date and situation. It also links to installation overviews and contacts for your gaining base, so you can research housing, schools and services before you arrive. It works for CONUS and overseas moves and can be saved and revisited.
Relocation Assistance Program and Loan Closets
The Relocation Assistance Program at each family center offers pre-move counseling, welcome information about the new area and sponsorship help. Most programs also run a lending closet that loans basic household items such as dishes, pots, irons, folding tables and air mattresses while your goods are in transit. Items are free to borrow for a set period, usually around a month.
Housing & Home Buying
BAH (CONUS) and OHA (Overseas Housing Allowance)
BAH pays for off-base housing in the U.S. and is based on your duty station ZIP code, pay grade and dependency status. 2026 BAH rates rose an average of 4.2% on January 1, 2026, and rate protection means your BAH will not drop while you stay at the same station. Overseas, OHA reimburses actual rent up to a local cap plus a utility and recurring maintenance allowance, and some locations also pay a move-in housing allowance.
VA Home Loan Guaranty
The VA guarantees part of a mortgage made by a private lender, which lets most eligible buyers purchase with no down payment and no private mortgage insurance. Most borrowers pay a one-time funding fee, which is waived for veterans receiving VA disability compensation and some others. You still need to meet the lender's credit and income standards, and the home must be your primary residence. The benefit can be reused after you sell or pay off a prior VA loan.
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)
The SCRA is a federal law that protects service members on active duty. It lets you end a residential lease or vehicle lease early without penalty when you get PCS orders or deploy, caps interest at 6% on debts taken out before entering service, and protects against default judgments and some foreclosures. It also contains the federal license portability rule for military spouses.
Spouse Careers & Licensure
Military Spouses Residency Relief Act (MSRRA)
MSRRA and later amendments let a military spouse keep a state of legal residence for tax and voting purposes when moving on the service member's orders. Spouses can choose the service member's state of legal residence, their own, or the new duty station state. This can avoid paying income tax in a high-tax state where you live only because of military orders.
Spouse License Portability, Compacts and Relicensing Reimbursement
Since a 2023 change to the SCRA, a spouse with a valid professional license in good standing can generally have it recognized in a new state for a similar scope of practice while on military orders. Interstate occupational licensure compacts (for nursing, counseling, psychology, teaching, physical therapy, social work and more) offer another route and should be used when one exists for your profession. Each service can also reimburse up to $1,000 of relicensing costs after a PCS across state lines.
SpouseWorks Scholarship (formerly MyCAA)
The former My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) is now called the SpouseWorks Scholarship. It provides up to $4,000 toward licenses, certifications, associate degrees and continuing education needed for a portable career. Eligibility now covers spouses of service members in all ranks and pay grades serving on qualifying Title 10 orders, a significant expansion from the old junior-rank limits.
SpouseWorks (formerly SECO) Career Coaching
The Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program has been rebranded as SpouseWorks. It offers free one-on-one career coaching, resume help, education planning and relocation-focused job search support. Coast Guard spouses are now included. Coaching is available by phone or video through Military OneSource.
Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP)
MSEP is a network of employers that have pledged to recruit, hire and retain military spouses, including many that offer remote work or transfers between locations. Its job board is hosted on the SpouseWorks portal. Partner employers range from large national companies to federal agencies.
Military Spouse Preference and Federal Hiring Authority
Military spouses can receive hiring preference for many DoD civilian positions near the new duty station, and a noncompetitive appointment authority lets federal agencies hire eligible spouses without a full competitive process. Rules on how often and how long preference applies are specific, so read the eligibility language in each job posting.
Hiring Our Heroes
Hiring Our Heroes, a U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation initiative, runs hiring events, networking and fellowship programs that place transitioning service members and military spouses in paid professional internships with companies. Its spouse programs include professional networks in many military communities.
Kids & Schools
Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children
All 50 states and DC are members of this compact, which smooths school transfers for military kids. It covers enrollment with unofficial records while official ones are sent, placement in comparable courses and programs, flexibility on graduation requirements for students moving in the later grades, and excused absences around deployments. Each state has a compact commissioner who can help resolve problems.
School Liaison Program
Every installation has a school liaison who connects military families with local schools. They know district boundaries, enrollment rules, school choice options, homeschool requirements and how the military children's compact applies locally. They can also help when a child with special education needs is changing schools.
Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA)
DoDEA operates schools for military children on many overseas installations and at a limited number of U.S. bases. Its schools follow common standards across locations, which can make moves between DoDEA schools easier. Eligibility and space vary, so not every family at a base with a DoDEA school is guaranteed a seat.
Tutor.com for Military Families
Eligible service members, DoD civilians and their dependents can get free online tutoring and homework help around the clock in many subjects, from elementary school through college, plus test prep and career help. Eligibility and availability depend on funding from each service, so check the current eligibility table.
Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC)
MCEC is a nonprofit focused on the education of military-connected children. It provides parent workshops, transition guides, student peer programs at many schools and resources for helping kids manage moves and deployments.
Our Military Kids
Our Military Kids is a nonprofit that awards grants to pay for enrichment activities such as sports, arts, tutoring and camps for children of deployed National Guard and Reserve members and of service members recovering from combat injuries. It helps kids keep doing what they love during a hard stretch.
Child Care Fee Assistance and MilitaryChildCare.com
When on-base child development centers are full, fee assistance programs help pay for licensed community child care. Child Care Aware of America administers fee assistance for the services, and MilitaryChildCare.com is the single site to request on-base care and join waitlists. Waitlists at busy bases can be long, so families should request care as soon as orders arrive. Rules and rates differ by service.
Special Needs & EFMP
Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)
EFMP is mandatory enrollment for active duty families with a member who has qualifying special needs. It has three parts: identification and enrollment, assignment coordination to make sure needed services exist at a new location, and family support to help find resources. DoD has worked to standardize EFMP processes across the services, and the EFMP and Me online tool provides checklists for enrollment, PCS moves and other life events.
TRICARE When You Move
Your TRICARE coverage continues during a move, but your plan options and primary care manager may change. Update your address in DEERS once you arrive; you then have 90 days to change plans if your options are different, and moving to a new region counts as a qualifying life event. Get referrals and prescription refills before you leave, especially for family members with ongoing care.
Pets
Pet Transportation Reimbursement
For orders dated on or after January 1, 2024, the Joint Travel Regulations allow reimbursement of certain pet relocation costs for one cat or dog per household, such as microchipping, required vaccinations, quarantine, boarding and airline fees. The cap is $550 for moves within the U.S. and $2,000 for moves to or from overseas. Pets can also fly on the AMC Patriot Express on some overseas routes, but spaces are limited and fill quickly.
Financial Help & Grants
MilTax Free Tax Services
MilTax is free tax preparation software and expert consultation built for military situations such as PCS moves, spouse state residency elections and combat pay. It covers a federal return and up to five state returns at no cost. Active duty, eligible family members, survivors and veterans within 365 days of separation can use it. The software opens each January for the prior tax year.
Army Emergency Relief (AER)
AER provides zero-interest loans and grants to soldiers and their families for emergencies, including some PCS-related costs such as vehicle repairs, rent deposits and travel. It also offers scholarships for spouses and children. Assistance is requested through the installation AER office or online.
Air Force Aid Society (AFAS)
AFAS is the official charity of the Department of the Air Force. It offers interest-free loans and grants for emergencies, including PCS-related expenses, along with education grants and community programs for families.
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS)
NMCRS provides interest-free loans and grants for emergency needs and financial counseling to Navy and Marine Corps families. It can help with unexpected PCS expenses, and also offers budget counseling and education assistance.
Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA)
CGMA provides interest-free loans, grants and financial counseling to Coast Guard members, retirees, civilians and families. Help can include emergency travel, PCS-related costs, and education programs.
Operation Homefront
Operation Homefront is a national nonprofit that helps military families with critical financial assistance, rent-free transitional housing for some veterans, and recurring programs such as back-to-school supply drives and holiday meals. Eligibility depends on the program.
Mental Health & Support
Military OneSource
Military OneSource is a free DoD hotline and website offering 24/7 help with moving, finances, relationships, parenting and more. Services include confidential non-medical counseling (in person, by phone or video), relocation and transition consultations, financial counseling, special needs consultations and spouse career coaching. It is available to active duty, Guard and Reserve members, their families and veterans up to a year after separation.
Installation Family Centers (ACS, A&FRC, FFSC, MCCS)
Every installation has a family support center: Army Community Service, Airman and Family Readiness Centers for the Air Force and Space Force, Fleet and Family Support Centers for the Navy, Marine Corps Community Services for Marines, and Work-Life offices for the Coast Guard. They offer relocation help, financial counseling, spouse employment support, newcomer briefings and referrals. Their services are free and often the fastest way to find local help.
Blue Star Families
Blue Star Families is a nonprofit that builds local chapters and online communities for military families, runs the annual Military Family Lifestyle Survey, and offers programs like free museum access in summer and spouse career resources. Its chapters can help you make connections quickly in a new town.
USO
The USO runs centers at many airports and installations where traveling service members and families can rest, get snacks and Wi-Fi during a PCS. It also hosts family events, programs for spouses and a transition program for service members leaving the military.
Military and Family Life Counselors (MFLC)
MFLCs are licensed counselors embedded at installations, schools and child and youth programs who provide short-term, confidential, non-medical counseling. They help with stress, relocation adjustment, grief, relationships and parenting. No records are kept except in limited duty-to-warn situations.
Fisher House Foundation
Fisher Houses are comfortable homes near major military and VA medical centers where families can stay at no cost while a loved one is in treatment. The foundation also runs a program that donates airline miles to help families travel to a hospitalized service member or veteran.
Veterans & Transition
DoD SkillBridge
SkillBridge lets service members spend up to their last 180 days of service in civilian job training, apprenticeships or internships with approved industry partners while still receiving military pay and benefits. Participation needs command approval, and partner organizations apply through set enrollment periods. It can lead directly to a job offer near where you plan to settle.
Transition Assistance Program (TAP)
TAP is mandatory training and counseling for service members leaving active duty. It includes individual counseling, pre-separation briefings, VA benefits and Department of Labor employment workshops, and optional tracks for education, entrepreneurship or vocational paths. Starting at least a year before separation, or two years before retirement, is recommended.
Final Move on Separation or Retirement
Separating members are generally moved to their home of record or place of entry, while retirees can usually move to a home of selection anywhere in the U.S. There are time limits on using the final move, and some members also qualify for temporary storage. The details depend on whether you separate or retire, so confirm your entitlements with the transportation office before signing a lease or buying a home.
Post-9/11 GI Bill Transfer to Family
Eligible service members can transfer unused Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to a spouse or children, but the transfer must be requested while still serving and usually requires a commitment to additional service. Once approved, you can change how months are divided among dependents. The transfer cannot be made after you leave the military.
Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E, Chapter 31)
VR&E helps veterans with service-connected disabilities prepare for, find and keep suitable jobs, or live more independently. Support can include career counseling, training or education, job placement help, and help starting a business. It can pay for education and include a monthly subsistence allowance.
VA Benefits When Relocating After Service
When you move after service, update your address with the VA so disability payments and health care follow you, and enroll at the VA medical center near your new home. Many states offer their own veteran benefits, such as property tax exemptions for disabled veterans, tuition waivers, hunting and fishing licenses and hiring preference, and the rules vary widely by state. Comparing state veteran benefits can be part of deciding where to settle.