Unexpected Expenses Military Families May Face During PCSs

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.

Related Link: How Military Spouses Can Be Involved In The Family Budget

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.

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.

Related Link: Dormant Debt Epidemic Leaves Afflicted Financially Unprepared

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.

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.