PCS During Separation or Retirement: What You're Entitled To

The Move to Your Home of Selection

For separation and retirement moves, eligible service members have the government pay to move them to a Home of Selection (HOS) — a location they choose, anywhere in the contiguous United States (or to certain OCONUS locations in limited circumstances). This is different from your regular PCS, which moves you to a specific duty station. Not everyone qualifies for HOS, though — see the "Separating vs. Retiring" section below for who does and who instead moves to their Home of Record.

The destination you choose must be designated before you begin the move. You can't move to one location and then claim reimbursement to a different destination after the fact. Work with your TMO to designate your HOS officially when you schedule your move.

For retirees with 20 or more years of service, overseas moves to certain locations are also authorized. Talk to your TMO if you're considering retirement abroad — the rules are complex but the entitlement exists.

Your Move Deadline: It Depends on Retiree vs. Separatee Status

This is the detail that catches the most people off guard: the deadline to complete your household goods move at government expense is not the same for everyone, and getting it wrong can mean permanently forfeiting the entitlement. The clock starts on your date of separation or retirement, not on the date you decide to move.

• Retirees: Since a 2022 JTR change (applicable to terminations of active duty on or after June 24, 2022), retirees now have up to three years from their retirement date to complete their government-funded move — a significant expansion from the older one-year rule.
• Separatees with 8+ years of continuous active duty who separate with qualifying severance, separation, or readjustment pay: one year from the active-duty termination date.
• Separatees with fewer than 8 years of continuous active duty: your move must generally be scheduled within 180 days of your active-duty release date — a much shorter window than retirees get.

Many service members delay their final move for legitimate reasons — staying with family, not yet decided where to settle, or waiting for a home purchase to close. None of those reasons pause the clock that applies to your situation. If you need the full window, you can request storage of your household goods while you determine your final destination — up to 180 days for separatees, or up to a year (longer in some cases) for retirees and qualifying separatees. Confirm your specific deadline and storage entitlement with your installation's transportation office, since these rules have distinct edge cases.

DLA Does Not Apply to Separation or Retirement Moves

Dislocation Allowance (DLA) is not authorized for separation or retirement moves. The JTR is explicit: DLA applies to active duty PCS moves between duty stations, not to final moves. This is a meaningful financial difference — DLA for a senior enlisted member or officer can be $3,500–$6,000 depending on grade and dependent status. Plan your budget around not receiving it.

What You Do Still Receive

Despite losing DLA, the remaining entitlements are significant:

• Household goods shipment: Full weight allowance based on your pay grade and dependent status, to your Home of Selection
• MALT (mileage reimbursement): $0.235 per mile as of July 1, 2026 (up from $0.205 earlier in the year) for up to two personally owned vehicles, for the official distance to your HOS
• Per diem: $178/day for the service member during authorized travel days; 75% for dependents 12 and older, 50% for under 12
• Temporary storage: Available at destination while you finalize your housing situation — see the deadline section above for how long this lasts for your situation
• Vehicle shipment: For certain OCONUS separations and retirements, one vehicle may be shipped at government expense

Separating vs. Retiring: Is There a Difference?

For move entitlement purposes, the structure is essentially the same — both receive a move to HOS with the same weight allowances and travel entitlements, and neither receives DLA. Home of Selection eligibility isn't limited to 20-year retirees — separating members with at least 8 years of continuous active duty (with no single break in service of more than 90 days) who separate with qualifying severance, separation, or readjustment pay are generally also eligible for HOS. Members who don't meet that threshold typically move to their Home of Record (HOR) instead. Confirm which designation applies to you with your finance and transportation offices early, since eligibility has enough edge cases that it's worth verifying directly rather than assuming.

PPM (Personally Procured Move) for Final Moves

You can do a PPM for your separation or retirement move just as you can for any PCS move. The reimbursement calculation is the same: you receive 100% of the Government Constructed Cost (GCC), with your documented moving expenses reimbursed tax-free and only the remaining profit subject to 22% federal tax withholding. On a 1,000-mile move at senior enlisted grade, this can still result in several thousand dollars in your pocket after expenses, even without DLA — but get a specific GCC estimate from your Transportation Office rather than assuming a flat range applies to your move.

Transition Assistance and Financial Planning

The financial impact of separation or retirement hits in multiple places at once — loss of BAH, loss of BAS, potential reduction in base pay, and loss of DLA. The move itself is often the least of the financial concerns. Attend your Transition Assistance Program (TAP) classes early rather than the week before separation.

Schedule your TMO appointment as early as your separation date is confirmed. Peak PCS season (May through August) creates booking backlogs at transportation offices. If you're separating or retiring in the summer, you'll be competing for moving company capacity with hundreds of other families. The earlier you schedule, the better your chances of getting your preferred dates.

Related Articles

• 2026 PCS Reimbursements Guide — MALT, per diem, and HHG shipment all still apply on your final move
• Dislocation Allowance Rates 2026 — Why separation and retirement moves don't generate DLA
• DITY Move vs. Government Move — A PPM on your final move can still net you significant money
• PCS Move Checklist — The standard checklist still applies; add TAP classes and benefit transitions