Unexpected Expenses Military Families May Face During PCSs
Rebecca Sheppard
Regardless of your occupation, moving involves stress, time and quite a bit of cash. When your home address is inextricably tied to your job and your superiors can order you to relocate with as little as two weeks' notice, those stresses multiply.
Welcome to the life of over 1.4 million Americans actively serving in the Armed Forces.
Within some MOSs, moves are somewhat predictable; the average military member and his/her family relocate every three to five years – usually given more than a handful of weeks to prepare. However, PCS (permanent change of station) orders can indicate a report date in as few as 14 days. Therefore, it is essential for military members and their families to be ready to uproot and move on a moment's notice.
The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
While the military has programs in place to assist with moving expenses, the amount of documentation necessary and networks the papers have to go through can delay financial assistance beyond the report date.
Travel allowances, per diems and other financial assistance programs all require meticulous documentation and proper forms before approval. Allowances are often provided incrementally, with a portion deposited upfront and the rest paid after arrival at the new duty station. Repayment for PPM/DITY (personally procured moves, or what used to be called do-it-yourself) can take months to be processed after the move is complete.
With the unpredictability of military moves, military families can find themselves in some uncomfortable financial situations and crunched for time in a way that is completely unrelatable in the civilian world.
Prepare As If A PCS Is Always Two Weeks Away
One of the top pieces of preparation advice is to have enough money saved to cover the move plus an extra month of living expenses completely independent of the military's financial assistance.
For a plethora of reasons, the money you anticipate to receive from the military may not be provided before the move, or even shortly after the move. Reimbursement often takes months, so it's better to draft your PCS budget as void of military assistance.
However, being that level of prepared at any given time is not always financially feasible. Therefore, it's best to be aware of areas that are more likely to cause financial distress and acknowledge when other military families have experienced the most difficulties financially.
Below are a few moving expenses that can catch PCSers by surprise, particularly for those who are new to military life.
Expenses From Previous Home
Leaving a home on short notice can lead many people to forget about recurring expenses that are geographically designated.
Contracts: Utilities and other long-term contracts are frequent culprits of money drains during moves. Make sure to cancel utilities, break leases and transfer insurance policies so that when you move to a new state, you are not still paying on your previous home's expenses.
Be aware that many rentals have policies protecting the military from fees associated with breaking leases – always mention that you are relocating on government orders.
Expenses During The Move
Whether the move is a PPM or government-assisted move, relocating a home's worth of personal belongings will be draining.
Tip Your Movers: If you are having movers (military provided, or otherwise), set aside some extra cash to tip those helping you. Not only is it a nice gesture, but movers are prone to do a more efficient job if you extend a sign of gratitude from the onset.
Get Your Car Checked: Car maintenance is necessary, particularly if the PCS is considerably far away, you'll want to get your oil changed and tires inspected before and after the cross-country move. Even if you are having your car shipped, it is important to get it checked before and after transportation.
Baggage Fees: If you are flying to your new duty station, be prepared to dish out a little extra at the airport. While some airlines waive checked bag fees for military, make sure to ask. If you are traveling with pets, be aware of associated pet/cage fees. Ask about fees when you book your tickets so you aren't caught unaware.
Hotel Stays: Again, if traveling with pets, be prepared to pay a little extra in pet fees/cleaning fees.
Pets: Many lodgings require up-to-date records on all pets staying at their facilities. Carry copies of your pet's records.
Storage Units: While storage units during moves are typically reimbursable, the timeframe for repayment can be months long. Be sure to keep meticulous documentation of the length of use and prices.
Travel Allowances: Per Diem and allowances may or may not be provided before you actually need to relocate. Again, keep all receipts during your move, regardless of how small. It's always better to have too many documents that may not be reimbursable as opposed to missing out on repayments because you misplaced receipts.
Expenses Immediately Following The Move/Temporary Housing/House Searching
Once you arrive at your new duty station, you may or may not have housing lined up. Those first weeks of in-processing can vary in expenses depending on whether temporary lodging is provided or move-in is immediate.
Immediate Housing: As soon as orders are dispersed, determine if you will be living on-base or off-base and if temporary housing will be available. If you require temporary housing/lodging, call as soon as you report to make sure housing is available. If possible, make reservations in advance if you know you will be needing temporary lodging. Also, keep in mind that few things in the military are predictable; be prepared to stay in temporary housing longer than anticipated.
Pet Records: Even if temp lodging is only for a few days, they'll require proof that your pet is up-to-date on all vaccinations. If no proof is readily available, you'll be required to get a vet visit before your pet can stay in housing.
Medications: Depending on when your personal belongings arrive at the new duty station, you may need to refill prescription medications.
Meal Planning: Make sure to budget for meals during in-processing. Planning for food during a move is more frequently remembered than planning for food between arrival and settling in to a new home.
New Home Expenses: If you are living off-base, don't forget expenses related to new rentals such as deposits, turning on utilities, installation fees, first and last months' rent.
Job Searches: If there are non-military members of the family, finding a new job can take time. Prepare for extended unemployment of non-military members.
Car: Check local laws regarding having car registration; some states require inspections for cars registered within the state.
Banking: It may be necessary to set up new banking accounts. Some banks/credit unions require a deposit to open an account, adding to those moving expenses.
Setting Up Home: Restocking a new home can be expensive. With the unpredictability of when personal belongings will be delivered/unpacked, expect to spend more than your monthly budget at the onset of moving in to pay for pantry items, toiletries and cleaning supplies.
The Most Important Advice
Above all, the best way to have a successful move is to be as prepared as possible before it happens.
The above list is in no way exhaustive. Set aside savings just for PCSing. Once you know where you'll be moving, do your research on the new base and surrounding areas. Call housing if you are interested in on-base living. When packing, be meticulously organized. When traveling, methodically save every receipt.
The military prides itself of fiercely protecting and providing for their own. However, financial assistance is often unpredictable. Being proactive can make any move run more smoothly. Be financially prepared not to receive reimbursement any time soon.
It is highly recommended to be precisely organized and prepared for all possibilities. Take advantage of financial services and advisors available through military services and affiliated organizations such as USAA.
