Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE)
Frequently Asked Questions
Updated: 01 October 2014

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.

1. What is the purpose of TLE?
2. When is TLE Payable?
3. Where must the temporary lodgings be located?
4. May I be paid TLE for the same days that PCS per diem is payable?
5. What will a member's TLE allowance be if the member isn't authorized travel for a 'new' dependent (also known as an acquired dependent) to the current PDS?
6. What are temporary lodgings?
7. Am I required to use government quarters?
8. Am I paid TLE if I am assigned family-type government quarters?
9. Do I have to provide lodging receipts?
10. Will TLE be paid for days I stay with friends or relatives?
11. Will I be paid TLE for my first or last PCS?
12. Can I be paid TLE and my spouse paid Temporary Quarters Subsistence Expense (TQSE) Allowance at the same time?
13. For how many days will I be paid TLE?
14. How much will I be paid per day?
15. How does TLE apply in the case of a member-married-to-member couple?
16. How is TLE computed?

1. What is the purpose of TLE?

To partially offset lodging and meal expenses when a member and/or dependents need to occupy temporary lodging in CONUS ICW a PCS.

2. When is TLE Payable?

When temporary lodgings are occupied:

1. 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,
   
   Note: TLE is payable incident to a move when entering active duty to the first PDS.
   
   
2. 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
3. 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),
4. for the elapsed time between PDSs at the old or new PDSs when PCS per diem is not payable, and
5. when the member's PCS authorization/order is cancelled/revoked after the member occupies temporary quarters, the member is authorized TLE reimbursement up to the maximum number of days allowable.
6. upon initial arrival at the CONUS PDS while waiting for government quarters assignment, or while completing arrangements for other permanent living accommodations when government quarters are not available.
   
   Note: The days covered must have been spent in the vicinity of the old/new PDS, designated place, and/or the member's CONUS HOR, or initial technical school if ordered to active duty.

3. Where must the temporary lodgings be located?

The temporary lodgings must be in the vicinity of the old and/or new PDS; and/or in the vicinity of the designated place.

4. May I be paid TLE for the same days that PCS per diem is payable?

No, you may not be paid TLE on any day that you are being paid PCS per diem for travel time. If per diem for travel time is not being paid, TLE may be paid for NTE the number of days authorized (ordinarily 5 or 10 days), regardless of how those days are labeled (e.g., leave, proceed, etc.). For example, if you are authorized TLE, have 8 days elapsed time (e.g., proceed, delay, travel, etc.) between PDSs and the allowable travel time is 7 days, you may be paid for one day. If you have 22 days elapsed time between PDSs and the allowable travel time is 7 days, you may be paid the maximum TLE allowance.

5. What will a member's TLE allowance be if the member isn't authorized travel for a 'new' dependent (also known as an acquired dependent) to the current PDS?

Upon subsequent PCS the member may be paid TLE for temporary lodgings occupied by the member and/or 'new' dependent in the vicinity of the place the person became a dependent.

6. What are temporary lodgings?

Temporary lodgings are lodgings (including Temporary Lodging Facilities as defined in JTR, APP A) used as a temporary place of residence. Lodgings occupied upon initial arrival at a new PDS and/or designated location which are permanent-type residence quarters which you continues to occupy indefinitely are not temporary lodgings.

7. Am I required to use government quarters?

Yes, you must use available government quarters including temporary lodging facilities in the area of the old and/or new PDS. If there are government quarters, you must provide a signed statement indicating that government quarters were not available, to support your TLE claim.

8. Am I paid TLE if I am assigned family-type government quarters?

Yes, if the assigned quarters are not occupied because:

1. HHG have not been shipped from the old PDS;
2. HHG have not been received at the new PDS;
3. the quarters are undergoing repair/renovation, etc., or
4. the HHG have been packed, picked up and/or shipped from the old PDS.

9. Do I have to provide lodging receipts?

Yes, receipts for lodging are required to support the lodging costs.

10. Will TLE be paid for days I stay with friends or relatives?

Yes, but the lodging cost for those days will be zero.

11. Will I be paid TLE for my first or last PCS?

The law authorizing TLE does not permit TLE payment to you when moving from a PDS when leaving active duty. However, you may be paid TLE incident to a move when entering active duty to the first PDS.
Note: TLE is payable incident to a move when entering active duty to the first PDS beginning 5 October 1999 for enlisted members, and for officer members with orders issued on or after 1 January 2002.

12. Can I be paid TLE and my spouse paid Temporary Quarters Subsistence Expense (TQSE) Allowance at the same time?

Yes and No. TLE and TQSE both may be paid as long as TLE and TQSE payments cover different expenses. Duplicate payment for the same expenses is not authorized.

13. For how many days will I be paid TLE?

The time limitation for TLE is:

1. 10 days ICW a PCS to a CONUS PDS, (you may split the days among old CONUS PDS, new CONUS PDS and CONUS designated place ), or,
2. 5 days ICW a PCS from CONUS to an OCONUS PDS, (you may split the days among old CONUS PDS and CONUS designated place). There's a separate allowance called TLA at the OCONUS site, or
3. 10 days if you report to the first CONUS PDS from the HOR or initial technical school (you may split the days among CONUS HOR, initial technical school, CONUS designated place, and CONUS PDS);
4. 5 days if you report to the first OCONUS PDS from the HOR or initial technical school. (you may split the days among CONUS HOR, initial technical school, and CONUS designated place)
5. IAW JTR, par. 55434-E (TLE is limited to 60 days for a PCS to a CONUS PDS for which the Secretaries Concerned have collectively prescribed a temporary increase due to:

1. a major disaster (PDS must be located in a Presidentially-declared disaster area), or
2. the PDS is experiencing a sudden increase in number of members assigned.

See JTR, par. 5434-E2 for locations at which TLE reimbursement has been temporarily increased to 60 days.

14. How much will I be paid per day?

You may be paid or reimbursed up to $290/day. This maximum applies if you and your dependents occupy temporary lodgings on the same and/or different days. When you and your dependents occupy temporary lodgings on different days, you may elect the days for which TLE is claimed. For example, you occupy temporary lodgings for 12 days during the period 1-12 April at the new PDS. Your dependents also occupy temporary lodgings at the old PDS for 12 days but for the period 18-29 April. The period 1-10 April (member) and 18-27 April (dependents) could be selected for TLE purposes. Reimbursement for the combined total expenses incurred for the first days you claim TLE (1 April for you and 18 April for your dependents) may not exceed $290 per day. The same limitation applies for the remaining days.

15. How does TLE apply in the case of a member-married-to-member couple?

1. When both spouses are members, each is authorized TLE.
2. Each member is authorized TLE whether or not temporary lodgings are jointly or separately occupied.
3. Each may be paid or reimbursed up to $290/day.
4. One member may not claim the other member for TLE payment.
5. Both members may not claim the same dependents on the same days for TLE purposes.
6. Each member must certify, IAW Service regulations, that temporary lodgings were occupied for the number of days for which TLE is claimed.

16. How is TLE computed?
Please see the following document: Computing TLE.