PCS Advance Pay and Advance Allowances

Service members who need cash up front to pay for a move

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.

How to use it

Request it through your finance office or unit admin with a copy of your orders, ideally a few weeks before the move, and choose the shortest repayment you can afford.

Go to the official source

Last checked 2026-10. Rules and amounts change; your installation's finance, transportation or family center office has the final word.

Related in Money & Entitlements

• Dislocation Allowance (DLA)
  Service members relocating a household on PCS orders
• Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE)
  Families who need a hotel or short-term rental while moving within the U.S.
• Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA)
  Families arriving at or leaving an overseas (OCONUS) duty station
• MALT and PCS Per Diem
  Anyone driving to a new duty station on PCS orders