October 28, 2008 
Ever wondered why some people make money and others lose out when they relocate to a new duty station? Here's why.
Relocation is difficult enough without worrying about money. Yet the average military family loses $800 in the process of moving. Fortunately, the Department of Defense has set up a sweet deal to prevent hardship -- you just have to know what you deserve and where to go.
Advanced Basic Housing Allowance (Advanced BAH)
DoD will give you an advance on your pay as a loan to cover the costs of moving in, such as deposits on a new apartment and utilities (not government housing). You then pay back this interest-free loan over twelve months through an allotment. Ask your service member to check with his personnel office or visit the Relocation Counselor at your base family support office.
Our tip: Get Advance BAH to cover deposits on your new location, but pay it back immediately upon receiving your security deposits back from the old location. Also, ask your utilities to send you letters of reference to avoid paying security deposits with your new utilities.
Dislocation Pay
When you relocate to a permanent duty station, you are entitled to 2.5 times BAH Type II (not your regular BAH) to cover the cost of moving. So, for example, if you are an O3 with dependents moving to Camp Pendleton, California, you are entitled to 2.5 X $729.30 (not $1,297) or $2,594. You can find the Type II rates at http://www.dfas.mil/travelpay.html. You do not pay the money back -- it's yours!
Our tip: Many people forget this one or there commands forget to add it. You don't get the money unless you ask for it, so visit your command at least one month before relocating to arrange for dislocation pay.
Temporary Lodging Expenses (TLE)
Your command's administration unit will arrange for you to be paid a maximum per diem rate of $110 per day in advance based on your travel plans. If you are traveling within CONUS, you are limited to 10 days of TLE, and overseas is five days. You may also receive an additional flat rate of $37.50 per day if you have dependents over 12 years of age, and $25 per day if your dependents under 12.
The other option is to be reimbursed upon arrival, but most people don't take this route since admin requires you to save all your receipts and wait for repayment. In addition to saving receipts, you must calculate your mileage exactly since you will be reimbursed $.15 - $.20 per mile depending on the number of dependents and how many cars.
Additional info from : Margy Pracchia, Relocation Specialist at MCAS Yuma (Thanks Margy!)
TLE cost is based on the Max Locality Rate at your current or future PCS site. TLE may be paid for not to exceed the number of days authorized, regardless of how those days are otherwise labeled. For example, If a member is authorized TLE has 8 days elapsed time (proceed, delay, travel, etc.) between PDSs and the allowable travel time is 7 days, the member may be paid for one day. If a member has 22 days elapsed time between PDSs and the allowable time is 7 days, the member may be paid the maximum TLE allowance.
There is no entitlement for first or last PCS. Receipts have to be provided to be reimbursed, even if they receive an advance. Without receipts and not claimed on their final voucher, the pay can be withdrawn from the service members pay.
Our tip: Take the per diem rate in advance and hope they calculate it right. It's too complicated to save receipts and hope for reimbursement. Or contact a Relocation Specialist like Margy to help figure it out.