The Defense Department's new policy for a pet PCS reimbursement benefit created by Congress will slash the maximum benefit in half for overseas trips — and won't cover the costs of transporting any furry friends until next year.
Citing the “important role” of the military's household pets, the department on Wednesday announced how it will pay for some of their travel costs incurred during a permanent change of station move. The reimbursement as it was passed by Congress in December allowed up to $4,000 to transport a household pet on a PCS move to or from a duty station outside the continental U.S.
In its new policy, however, the DoD has set the maximum reimbursement for such OCONUS moves at $2,000 — half the maximum allowed under the law — and families moving this PCS season won't be able to get it. And while the law doesn't specify animal types — only “a pet” — the new policy says the DoD will pay the costs of transporting only a cat or dog.
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Military households PCSing within the continental U.S. will be able to receive the law's maximum reimbursement of up to $550.
Troops have typically paid out of pocket to move their pets, aside from a $550 reimbursement for mandatory quarantining of a cat or dog.
The COVID-19 pandemic made transporting pets more expensive for families who needed to fly from one duty…
