The Short Version
Dislocation Allowance (DLA) is a one-time, tax-free payment for setting up a household on a qualifying PCS. It is not BAH, it is not temporary lodging, and it does not repeat every month.
Primary DLA depends on pay grade and whether you have dependents. In the CY 2026 table this site uses (effective 1 January 2026), an E-5 with dependents is $3,548.02 and an E-5 without dependents is $2,389.42. Finance is the final word.
DLA vs the other PCS checks
| Payment | What it covers | How often |
|---|---|---|
| DLA | Setting up a household after the move | Usually once per qualifying PCS (typically one primary payment per fiscal year) |
| BAH or OHA | Rent or on-base housing at the duty station | Monthly while assigned |
| TLE or TLA | Temporary lodging near the old or new station | A limited number of days, with receipts |
| MALT | Driving your own vehicle on official miles | The travel leg of the PCS |
If you are still comparing housing pay, read how BAH actually works and OHA vs BAH overseas.
CY 2026 primary DLA by grade
These are the primary rates coded into the PCS planner from the CY 2026 table effective 1 January 2026. They are here so you can walk into finance knowing the number to ask about. A later memo can change a dollar. Do not treat this page as a pay document.
| Grade | Without dependents | With dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $1,870.58 | $3,548.02 |
| E-2 | $2,025.26 | $3,548.02 |
| E-3 | $2,355.48 | $3,548.02 |
| E-4 | $2,389.42 | $3,548.02 |
| E-5 | $2,389.42 | $3,548.02 |
| E-6 | $2,389.42 | $3,548.02 |
| E-7 | $2,468.19 | $3,551.31 |
| E-8 | $2,888.97 | $3,824.94 |
| E-9 | $3,147.54 | $4,149.51 |
| W-1 | $2,394.55 | $3,151.31 |
| W-2 | $2,860.70 | $3,643.75 |
| W-3 | $3,221.08 | $3,960.78 |
| W-4 | $3,832.45 | $4,323.11 |
| W-5 | $4,315.51 | $4,715.58 |
| O-1 | $2,273.82 | $3,085.23 |
| O-2 | $2,700.31 | $3,451.28 |
| O-3 | $3,404.11 | $4,041.88 |
| O-4 | $4,247.61 | $4,885.43 |
| O-5 | $4,583.51 | $5,542.06 |
| O-6 | $4,758.96 | $5,749.63 |
| O-7 and above | $5,187.33 | $6,385.58 |
Partial DLA in the same table is a flat $1,002.71. It is the smaller payment when you do not qualify for primary DLA, including some moves into government quarters. Ask finance which line your orders support. Do not assume partial if you are relocating a household off base.
Who usually qualifies
- Primary DLA: a PCS that relocates your household. With-dependents and without-dependents are different rates.
- Once per fiscal year: a second PCS in the same fiscal year often does not generate a second primary payment. Ask before you plan on it.
- Separation and retirement: some final moves qualify and some do not. Do not budget DLA into an ETS plan until finance says yes. The ETS housing checklist covers the house decision separately.
How to get it in your account
- Open the PCS planner and enter rank and family size so the entitlement card shows your line.
- Ask finance for an advance if deposits and utility startups hit before the voucher pays.
- File DLA on DD Form 1351-2 (or your service’s voucher system) with MALT, per diem, and lodging.
- Keep the advance and the final claim in one folder. An advance you do not reconcile becomes a debt.
The Joint Travel Regulations are the authority: DTMO Joint Travel Regulations.
