DLA Rates by Rank 2026, Full Table + How to Claim
2026 DLA rates for every military pay grade, with and without dependents. Full table, eligibility rules, claim steps, and common mistakes to avoid.
U.S. Army
Army PCS Guide: Entitlements, Orders, and Checklist
An Army PCS lives or dies on IPPS-A now, and finance still does what finance does. Here is what you are owed on a Permanent Change of Station, how HRC and your S1 actually get your orders published, and the moves that leave Soldiers holding money they never had to spend out of pocket.
What a Army PCS actually pays
These entitlements come from the Joint Travel Regulations, so they are set by your rank, your dependents, and your distance, not by your branch. What changes between services is how you claim them.
DLA (Dislocation Allowance)
A flat payment set by pay grade and dependency status, roughly $1,871 to $6,386. No receipts required, but you have to claim it.
MALT (mileage)
$0.205 per mile when you drive, calculated on official distance rather than your odometer.
Per diem (travel days)
Up to $178 per travel day at the standard CONUS rate, with reduced rates for dependents by age.
TLE (temporary lodging, CONUS)
Reimburses actual lodging and meals for up to 21 days, up to $290 per day. Keep every receipt.
TLA (temporary lodging, OCONUS)
The overseas equivalent, commonly authorized up to about 60 days depending on your location.
PPM / DITY incentive
Move yourself and the government pays 100% of what it would have cost them to ship your weight. Certified weight tickets are mandatory.
Run the numbers now with the free DLA calculator and MALT and travel days calculator, or build your Army playbook to see all of it against your actual orders.
How Army orders actually work
01
HRC sends the assignment, you make your elections
After HRC sends the assignment instruction, IPPS-A emails you to log in and make your PCS elections, including which dependents are actually relocating. Get that right the first time: your with-dependents DLA rate depends on it.
02
Your S1 validates the levy packet, orders publish
Your S1 submits the levy packet, the personnel shop validates it, and orders publish inside IPPS-A. Once they are live you pull them from the My Orders tile, usually within about five business days of a complete packet. No more standing at the MPD counter.
03
Out-process, then claim on arrival
Clear the installation on your out-processing checklist (finance, medical and dental records, TMO, housing), then file your DD 1351-2 after you sign in at the gaining unit. That voucher is where DLA, per diem, and mileage actually get claimed.
Army systems at a glance
- Assignments
- HRC pushes assignment instructions; enlisted preferences run through the Assignment Marketplace
- Orders
- Published in IPPS-A, visible on the My Orders tile after your S1 validates the levy packet
- Personnel/pay system
- IPPS-A, which replaced the legacy eMILPO paperwork
- Travel claim
- DD 1351-2 travel voucher, typically through DTS or your servicing finance office
Army PCS gotchas
Request a DLA advance at your losing finance office before you move. It puts the cash in your account when the move is actually costing you, not weeks later.
Start the EFMP screening early if it applies. It can gate the assignment and it does not move fast.
One DLA per fiscal year unless you hit a JTR exception. A second move in the same FY (1 Oct to 30 Sep) usually will not pay a second DLA.
If you are doing a PPM, your weight tickets (empty and full, certified scale) are the whole ballgame. No tickets, no incentive payment.
Working the timeline
Most Soldiers start too late. Household goods, housing, medical records, and finance all have their own lead times, and they do not run in parallel as nicely as you would hope. Start about 90 days out.
Use the free 90-day PCS checklist →Army PCS questions
Where do I find my Army PCS orders?
In IPPS-A, on the My Orders tile, once your S1 has validated the levy packet and orders have published. You get an email when they are available, and you can pull them from a phone with a properly configured device.
How much DLA does a Soldier get for a PCS?
DLA is a flat payment set by pay grade and dependency status, not by branch. It runs from roughly $1,870 for a junior enlisted Soldier without dependents to several thousand dollars with dependents. Your exact figure comes from your rank and whether your dependents actually relocate.
Does the Army pay for a DITY or PPM move?
Yes. A Personally Procured Move pays you 100% of what the government would have paid a mover to ship your weight. Keep certified empty and full weight tickets and all your receipts. The difference between that reimbursement and your actual cost is yours.
Keep reading
PPM Move Guide: How to Actually Profit From Your Military PCS
A PPM move military guide with real math, weight tables, and the exact steps to pocket $2,000-$5,000 on your next PCS. Written by someone who's done it five times.
PCS Entitlements You're Probably Leaving on the Table (2026 Guide)
Most service members miss thousands in PCS entitlements. Here's every dollar you're owed, DLA, MALT, per diem, TLE, and more, with 2026 JTR rates.
Get this for your exact Army move
Your real entitlements in actual dollars, a timeline counted down from your report date, and the checklist for your rank, dependents, and destination. Free preview before you pay.
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Estimates only. Rates and service policies change, so verify every dollar amount and deadline with your servicing finance and personnel office before you count on it. PCS Copilot is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Defense or any branch of the armed forces.