TLE during PTDY for House Hunting in connection to PCS: How do you get this paid?

2018-11-01T10:35:22-04:00

TLE for PTDY for house hunting after completion of PCS after arrival at gaining PDS. We have received this additional TLE every time we have PCSed since 2010 and it is not submitted directly to DFAS or the online voucher system. We are not stationed at an actual base, St Louis MEPS, so nobody here knows how or where to submit for the TLE for PTDY for house hunting in connection with PCS. Does anyone here know how? It's been almost a year of everyone trying to figure this out and we do not have administrative offices here.
JTR: para. 5434.B.1.c. When house-hunting is performed after the member completes PCS travel to the new PDS (i.e., in conjunction with a PCS after arrival at the new PDS)

More specification on dates here:

moved out of losing PDS off base rental the morning of 28OCT2017
Traveled 3 days for the move, 28, 29, and 30OCT2017
Stayed in temporary lodging while in a PCS Leave status 10 days 31OCT-09NOV2017 (during this time we made trips back and forth to complete the PPM part of the trip as it required 2 UHAULs and we have several automobiles)
PTDY Leave for house hunting issued by gaining PDS started 10NOV2017 and ended 20NOV2017
Stayed in Temporary housing the entire time. There is a seperate leave form for this and the leave for authorizes entitlements.
Didn't even find a house until 28NOV2017, move in date for lease was 01DEC2017 but HHG were not delivered until 06DEC2017
Moved out of Temporary Housing and into off base rental 06DEC2017

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 1 at 2018 10:42 AM

2018-11-01T10:42:38-04:00

Who do you go through to submit leave forms or regular TDY? Normally it's done through your higher headquarters. I'm at a place that doesn't have an S1 or any admin staff as well.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 1 at 2018 10:57 AM

2018-11-01T10:57:25-04:00

The easiest way is to contact the finance closest to you in any branch. TLE is paid in conjunction with your voucher and you'll have to file an amended voucher for it.

Response by TSgt David Holman made Nov 1 at 2018 11:31 AM

2018-11-01T11:31:38-04:00

You are very close to Scott AFB, I would give their finance people a shout and see if they can help.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 1 at 2018 11:49 AM

2018-11-01T11:49:33-04:00

Short answer is you don't. PTDY/PTAD are no cost orders to the government, meaning everything comes out of the service members pocket. TLE is funded through your PCS orders and is payable for a maximum of 10 days at your current duty station or future duty station for temporary lodging in connection to your PCS, it is not authorized for house hunting. When you did your PTDY request this should have been explained to you.

If you go to the DFAS website under travel, Army active duty PCS, TLE, the process is explained for you.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 1 at 2018 12:41 PM

2018-11-01T12:41:30-04:00

Go on the DFAS website and find the 1-800 for them, and you can either file a voucher for TLE online, or through a finance office. On a side note, I'm surprised there is not a finance office in that MEPS.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 1 at 2018 1:57 PM

2018-11-01T13:57:36-04:00

There has to be a higher HQs that provides administrative oversight for you.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 1 at 2018 3:43 PM

2018-11-01T15:43:32-04:00

No Temporary Lodging Expense is paid for Permissive TDY.
https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/faqtle.cfm
It is only paid:
When temporary lodgings are occupied:
before leaving the old CONUS PDS, designated place (see JTR, APP A), or a member's CONUS Home of Record (HOR) or technical school, if the member is reporting to the first PDS,
after arriving at the new CONUS PDS (including a member's first PDS, if the member is reporting there from HOR or initial technical school), designated place
when house-hunting is performed after the member completes PCS travel to the new PDS (i.e., ICW a PCS after arrival at the new PDS)

Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE) - Frequently Asked Questions

The actual rules for TLE are in JTR, par. 5434. Following are answers to some basic questions concerning TLE and an extract from the JTR (par. 5434-G) indicating TLE computation steps and showing computation examples.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 1 at 2018 11:42 PM

2018-11-01T23:42:56-04:00

So with your new information it looks like you are trying to be paid for a total of 20 days TLE. 10 while on PCS leave 31Oct-9Nov and 10 while on PTDY 10Nov-20Nov. If this is the case you are in a losing fight. You rate 10 days per PCS total no more. Being a JAG as you put it, you should have known this from reading the JTR.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2019 3:20 PM

2019-05-04T15:20:39-04:00

GySGT Mike Warren is correct and it's unfortunate that you are in this situation. Military regulations are similar in that at times 10 people could read the same paragraph and come away with completely different interpretations of said paragraph. I certainly can see how that part of the JTR is a bit misleading, but the key part of your question that is answered in that part of the JTR is the heading that reads "Eligibility Criteria for the TLE Authorization". Hence those are all the examples in which TLE will be granted and not necessarily authorized if at the same time you fall under more than one category. However, there is a situation in which a family could and will if claimed receive a total of 20 days of TLE (technically there is two if you are relocating in a recognized disaster area) and that situation would be if a service-member is married to another service-member. Per the JTR each member can claim a separate 10 day block and receive a total of 20 days. For example: if two service-members married to each other with two children PCS to and from a CONUS PDS you are authorized to claim the following - first service-member with two dependents (children) claims first 10 days, second service-member with two dependents claims next 10 days. Now I'm not sure if you and your spouse are both service-members and I know this thread is six months old, but I felt I should provide some information in case others see this or you are actually a dual military couple.