A dislocation allowance partially reimburses a Service member for expenses incurred when moving a household. A dislocation allowance is a flat amount and may be paid as a primary dislocation allowance, a secondary dislocation allowance, or a partial dislocation allowance, depending upon the circumstances of the household move. Only one dislocation allowance payment is permitted in a fiscal year, unless the situation qualifies as an exception in JTR, par. 050501.
A Service member’s grade and dependency status on the PCS travel order’s effective date determines the amount of the dislocation allowance. See the definition of “Effective Date of PCS Order” in the JTR, Appendix A, and see the DTMO website for current and past dislocation allowance rates.
A Service member may receive a secondary dislocation allowance if the PCS travel order is amended, modified, canceled or revoked. See the JTR, par. 050507 for more information. Contact a servicing Finance Office with additional questions.
No, a Service member may not receive a dislocation allowance when moving from the home of record or the place from which entered active duty to the first PDS, unless dependents also move to the first PDS.
No, as mandated by law, a Reserve Component or National Guard member entering and leaving active duty is not eligible for a dislocation allowance. However, if a Reserve Component or National Guard member enters active duty for more than 20 weeks at one location, is authorized PCS allowances, and moves dependents from the home to the new PDS or a designated place, then the Reserve Component or National Guard member is eligible for a dislocation allowance.
Yes, a Service member relocating without dependents receives a dislocation allowance at the without-dependent rate. However, if the Service member occupies Government quarters at the new PDS, then the Service member does not receive any dislocation allowance. See the JTR, par. 050504 for more information.
A Service member ordered to occupy or vacate family-type Government quarters due to privatization, renovation or any reason other than PCS receives a partial dislocation allowance. See the DTMO website for the current partial dislocation allowance. A Service member who moves from family-type Government quarters upon separation or retirement does not receive a partial dislocation allowance.