COLA, or cost of living allowance and BAH, or basic allowance for housing are effective on the day the service member signs in. Its important to know that you can not sign in and be on leave. The Monday following the service members sign in date, they will be expected to begin in processing (this many vary by branch).
To see how much the service member qualifies for in:
TLA or temporary lodging allowance begins when you arrive on the island (again, not on leave) and is generally approved for 30 days but can be extended based on the situation. The rate varies based on family size and dependent age. The TLA paperwork is filed and processed every 10 days and must be submitted to your service finance office. Please reach out to your service housing office for more information.
Some other reminders when booking your TLA stay:
- Use of online booking services is not authorized (sites like Expedia.com, Hotels.com, etc.). Ensure lodging is booked directly through the hotel.
- Vacation Rentals/Timeshares/Bed & Breakfasts are not TLA approved without a valid Transient Accommodation Tax ID#.
- MWR Recreational Cabins are not authorized for TLA.
- Accommodations with kitchens are eligible for only 50% of TLA meal rate.
- Hotels determine the daily room rates at their facility. When making reservations, please ensure the selected hotel’s room rate is within your TLA authorization.
To see some of the TLA approved hotels and rates, click the appropriate link:
Army TLA
SOCOM TLA
