2026 PCS MONEY GUIDE: YOUR BAH, 21 DAYS OF TLE, AND HOW TO FIGHT A SHORTFALL

Fluctuations in housing markets, accumulating hotel taxes and fees, and unpredictable PCS timelines can impact relocation costs. In 2026, the Department of Defense (DoD) will increase Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE) days for most CONUS moves and clarify the daily cap. Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) remains based on local market data and rate protection policies. Familiarity with these regulations and escalation procedures can help service members avoid financial losses.

BAH in 2026: What to Expect and How It’s Set

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is a tax-free benefit designed to offset housing costs within a Military Housing Area (MHA). The allowance is determined by ZIP code, pay grade, and dependency status.

The Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) of the DoD annually samples rental listings and utility costs across numerous MHAs. Rates are calibrated to reflect typical off-base housing that meets minimum quality standards for each pay grade.

New BAH locality tables are typically published in mid-December and become effective on January 1. The actual allowance amount is determined by MHA, pay grade, and dependency status.

BAH rate protection ensures that, once eligibility is established at a duty station, service members receive any increase in rates but are shielded from decreases, provided their status remains unchanged. Rate protection ends if there is a PCS to a different MHA, a reduction in pay grade, or a change in dependency status.

Published locality rates for a given ZIP code cannot be appealed. However, pay-record errors, such as incorrect ZIP code, grade, or dependency status, should be corrected promptly. Finance offices can provide guidance regarding rate protection if a decrease from the previous year's table is observed.

TLE in 2026: The New Baseline and the Hard Cap

• DoD expanded standard TLE from 14 to 21 days for CONUS-to-CONUS moves. If you move OCONUS, check your orders and ask your finance office for your specific rules.
• A firm cap of $290 per day for the entire family remains in effect for TLE reimbursement, which is calculated as a percentage of the locality per diem.
• Lodging taxes and mandatory fees count toward the $ 290-per-day cap, as stated in the Joint Travel Regulations.
• You must submit itemized, zero-balance lodging receipts. You cannot get reimbursed more than you actually paid for lodging.
• Per diem backdrop for FY 2026: The General Services Administration (GSA) kept FY 2026 CONUS per diem base rates at the same level as FY 2025. That means your TLE math (percentages of lodging and M&IE) rides on familiar base figures unless you’re traveling to a Non-Standard Area with a higher local rate.
• Commands and finance offices may approve TLE extensions beyond the standard limit in specific circumstances and locations. In cases of genuine housing shortages, the housing office and finance team can provide information on local extension options and required documentation.

Quick Checks Before You File Anything

1. Make sure the grade, dependency, and MHA ZIP match your orders and current situation. Many BAH shortfalls result from common entry errors.
2. For TLE, confirm your hotel dates match the authorized PCS window for your old or new PDS. House-hunting trip rules are different.
3. For TLE reimbursement, include each night's room rate, taxes, and mandatory fees on the receipts, and ensure the receipts show a zero balance. If you claim dependents, submit proof of their presence.

If Your BAH Looks Too Low

• Correct data errors by giving orders and supporting documents, like marriage or birth certificates for status changes, to your finance or MPO. Update grade, dependency, or ZIP info as needed.
• If the new-year table for an MHA is lower but status remains unchanged, rate protection may allow retention of the previous year's higher amount.
• If you provide current rental listings and utility data to the housing office, you will help improve data for future rate calculations, but your current year's rate will not change.

If Your TLE is Denied or Underpaid, Here’s How to Appeal

• TLE is an adjudicated travel entitlement associated with PCS. Re-adjudication may be requested, and appeals may be filed if necessary.
• Start with a fast re-check
• Ask the finance office to re-adjudicate your claim. Give complete documents: orders, amendments, DD 1351-2, itemized zero-balance receipts, proof of dependents, and TLE day authorizations.
• Confirm that taxes and mandatory fees are within the $290 cap, and that the reimbursement does not exceed your actual costs.

If the finance office denies an entitlement in error, an appeal may be submitted to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). DFAS can issue determinations and, when appropriate, forward claims to the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA) for a final decision.

Your appeal packet should include orders, vouchers, denial notices, nightly receipts, proof of dependents, and a short memo outlining JTR errors and the correction you want.

Planning Tips for 2026 PCS Moves

• Budget using official rules, not assumptions. Wait for the December BAH table for your MHA. Always check for rate protection if rates drop.
• Book lodging with providers who list room rate, taxes, and fees separately on receipts. Keep every receipt from every night as documentation.
• Track TLE days ahead of your move. For CONUS moves, plan for up to 21 days. If needed, ask the housing office for an extension early.
• Ask the housing office to verify market shortages and help gather documentation if you need an extended TLE or additional housing support.

FAQs

Will my BAH definitely go up in 2026?

Not in all cases. While many MHAs increase, some may remain unchanged or decrease annually. Rate protection ensures that, if status remains unchanged after arrival, any increase is received, but decreases are not imposed.

Is TLE really 21 days now?

For most CONUS-to-CONUS moves, you can get up to 21 days. Rules are different for some OCONUS moves. Follow your orders and the finance office guidance.

What’s the most I can get per TLE day?

The maximum reimbursement is $290 per day for the entire family, inclusive of lodging taxes and mandatory fees. Reimbursement cannot exceed the actual lodging cost.

Can I appeal a low BAH rate?

You cannot appeal the locality rate. You can fix pay-record errors, claim rate protection, and give rental data to the housing office for future rates.

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