Authorized Housing Flexibility Options for Service Members and Families During PCS Moves

Eligible service members and their families have housing flexibility options when they receive PCS orders within the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii.

Eligibility for authorized housing flexibility options

Service members who meet requirements are eligible for authorized housing flexibility options before and during a PCS move.

Service members who qualify include those with:

• One or more dependents enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program, or EFMP
• A spouse who is currently employed or enrolled in a degree, certificate or license-granting program
• An immediate family member with a chronic or long-term illness under their care
• One or more children attending an elementary or secondary school

Authorized housing flexibility options

Eligible service members may request flexible housing arrangements for their family from 180 days before to 180 days after their PCS date. These include:

• Continuing to stay in their government-owned or -leased family housing as long as it doesn’t impact the housing arrangements of other service members assigned to that duty station. Note that this option does not cover public/private venture housing, or PPV, otherwise known as privatized military housing.
• Early housing at a new duty station within the flexible housing period if housing is available, even if the service member has not yet arrived.
• Unaccompanied government housing or barracks for the service member if their spouse or dependents relocate at a different time. This will be offered on a “space-available” basis that doesn’t displace unaccompanied service members with no dependents.
• Equitable basic allowance for housing, or BAH, based on prescribed criteria. The service member may request BAH at the old or new permanent duty station or at the dependent’s location before the covered relocation period began.

The military service branch reserves the right to adjust the timing and general availability of these flexible moving options depending on mission needs.

Requesting authorized housing flexibility options

For more information about housing flexibility options, contact your installation personnel support office.

For comprehensive moving support and resources, visit PCS and Military Moves. You can also contact your installation’s Military and Family Support Center for an array of relocation assistance services. EFMP Family Support providers can help you navigate the housing process by connecting you to the installation housing office and the medical treatment facility to address your housing needs.