Defense Finance and Accounting Service > CivilianEmployees > Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) > Civilian PCS Entitlement Guide (2024)

FAQs

What is a permanent change of station for federal employees? ›

A PCS is the transfer of an employee from one official work site to another or the assignment of a new employee to their first assignment site on a permanent basis. The majority of Government relocations are PCS.

Definition of Miscellaneous Expense Allowance

MEA is payable when a PCS is authorized/approved, the employee moves out of the old residence and establishes a new residence, and signs an appropriate transportation agreement.

In the United States Armed Forces, a permanent change of station (PCS) is the assignment, detail, or transfer of a member or unit to a different duty station under competent orders which neither specify the duty as temporary, nor provide for further assignment to a new station, nor direct return to the old station.

The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) oversees payments to Department of Defense servicemembers, employees, vendors and contractors. The Defense Finance and Accounting Services also provides Department of Defense decision makers with business intelligence, finance and accounting information.

Summary. There are numerous steps in the Permanent Change of Station (PCS) process. Through various agencies the Army provides guidance and counseling to assist Soldiers and their families in making the best choices.

Temporary Change of Station (TCS) Orders:

Your TCS orders will name your TCS location, duration and proceed date. Travel days to the TCS location will be reimbursed. Most TCS orders authorize government transportation, quarters and meals, at no cost to the traveler.

Starting in January of 2021, the military decided to increase the reimbursem*nt amount for moving expenses from 95 to 100 percent. This means that the government will pay 100 percent of your expenses in the event of a PCS.

Final answer: During a permanent change of station (PCS), security deposits, salary, and temporary lodging may not be covered.

The goal for PCS orders issuance is 120 days or more prior to report date (14 days for IET Soldiers), and no later than 10 days after the receipt of required documents and information.

Usually, DFAS debt occurs due to specific situations. According to the out-of-service debt DFAS webpage, overpayments are a potential reason for the debts. For instance, if your military or retirement pay from the DoD exceeds the amount you were or are eligible to receive, that creates a debt.

Who does DFAS fall under? ›

The United States Department of Defense is the parent agency of DFAS. Defense Finance and Accounting Service Garnishment Operations Center and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service Out-of-Service Debt Management Center are subordinate agencies of DFAS.

The quickest and most convenient way to manage your retired pay is with myPay. myPay provides convenient access to your Retiree Account Statement, and lets you easily update your contact information, your federal tax withholding, your Arrears of Pay beneficiary, or download your tax documents.

Unlike temporary duty assignments, permanent change of station orders are a longer-term assignment, generally two to four years. Broadly speaking, your orders will tell you where you'll be moving to – either CONUS or OCONUS. OCONUS: Outside the continental U.S. Includes Alaska, Hawaii and U.S. territories.

A change in duty station occurs when an employee's >current< work site or station is moved to a new geographic location (a change in city/town, county, or State) and no other change occurs.

Firing a federal employee is significantly more difficult than firing an employee in the private sector. Whereas private sector employers can often fire their employees without any cause whatsoever, federal employers must abide by federal law and regulations.

Internal Placement. Under certain conditions federal government employees may request reassignment from one organization or geographic location to another.