1. The following
information is provided to assist personnel in a TLA status to
understand what is required of them and highlight major points of
TLA.
2. TLA is an
earned entitlement approved and paid in fifteen day increments.
Because it must be earned no advance payments are authorized.
3. TLA is
designed to help offset the extraordinary expenses of residing in
temporary quarters upon arrival/departure. It is not to pay for
other expenses arising from your PCS move or other preexisting
obligations.
4. The
established period to locate and move into permanent quarters is
30 days for Okinawa and 60 days for Iwakuni. This does not mean
that you are automatically entitled to receive 30/60 days of TLA,
it simply means that this is sufficient time for a family to find
and move into quarters. Adherence to TLA regulations will enable
personnel to receive reimbursement for their expenses while
residing in temporary quarters.
5. An aggressive
search must be conducted during the initial fifteen day
entitlement period; however, no documentation is required.
6. Second and
subsequent periods require a minimum of 20 searches in each
fifteen day period; searches should be conducted throughout the
fifteen day period, not limited to one or two days in the period
and must be documented.
7. A bona fide
search is a physical visit to a local housing agency (off base)
or inspection of available quarters. Phone calls do not
constitute a bona fide search. Coordination of quarters
inspection may be conducted by phone, agencies do not view phone
requests for quarters as serious.
8. An acceptable
search requires that an inspection of a residence be consistent
with the family's requirements, looking at a residence that is
too small for the family's size as determined by Housing Office
standards is unacceptable. An example would be a family of 5
looking at a residence with only 2 bedrooms.
9. Permissive
TAD (PTAD) for the purpose of house hunting in the vicinity of
the permanent duty station is authorized by reference (d), its
use is highly encouraged.
10. Available
housing cannot be rejected as being too far from the duty
station. The local commuting area for the purpose of this order
is 60 minutes one way during peak traffic hours.
11. Prior to
making a deposit on a residence you must ensure the residence has
a current base inspection and will enable you to move in during
the allotted period. Quarters that cannot be readily moved into
should be avoided. Inordinate delays between the time from
identification until move-in are not acceptable. Ask your unit
coordinator if there is any doubt as to what is acceptable prior
to making any deposit. Random checks are made with local agencies
to ascertain the validity of move-in delays.
12. Submit your
TLA claims for arrival within three working days after the end of
each and every TLA period. Claims are not to be held for the
entire period and submitted all together at the TLA status.
Submission of two or more claims at one time must be explained in
writing as to the reasons for late submission.
13. Claims for
departure can be submitted prior to the end of the TLA period
provided sufficient documentation is attached. Required documents
include: AF Form 594 for moving out of government quarters, lease
termination documents, and paid receipts or authenticated bill
for lodging. Coordinate movement of any household goods and
government furniture within one day of identifying and reserving
a residence. Normally furniture can be delivered within 3 to 4
days, delays caused by personnel who fail to coordinate their
move or request delivery beyond the date the quarters could be
occupied will not be authorized TLA beyond the date the quarters
could have been occupied.
14. Requests for
extension beyond the maximum period must fully justify the need
for an extension and document circumstances beyond your control
which prevented occupancy of quarters in the allotted time.
Requests must be submitted as soon as it becomes apparent an
extension will be necessary. See enclosure (4) for a sample
extension letter.
15. When the
temporary lodging facility contains adequate kitchen facilities
for the preperation and consumption of meals members will be
reimbursed one half the meals portion of TLA in additon to their
Cost Of Living Allowance (COLA).
16. TLA is
payable for 15 days from family arrival date when the member and
family travel non concurrently. The member must arrange for and
schedule a move into permanent quarters prior to the arrival of
the dependents. This is applicable to both Okinawa and Iwakuni.
When the member's family arrives within the initial TLA period
(30 days in Okinawa, 60 days in Iwakuni), the member may be
authorized TLA for the number of days remaining in the initial
entitlement period or 15 days whichever is greater.
17. Remember
that TLA claims are claims made against the government and are
subject to review and verification. Any attempt to misrepresent
the information contained in the claim to extend the TLA period
beyond what is necessary will be subject to investiga- tion and
prosecution for fraud if appropriate.