ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) —
UPDATED JAN. 4, 2024
ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS)–The Department of the Air Force has established documentation necessities for Airmen and Guardians planning to request reimbursement pet journey bills resulting from everlasting change of station strikes. The Defense Travel Management Office announced a brand new coverage to cowl pet journey bills, together with pet transportation and quarantine charges, in June 2023. Starting Jan. 1, 2024, service members might be reimbursed as much as $550 within the continental U.S. for one family pet, both cat or canine, and as much as $2,000 for strikes to or from a location exterior the continental U.S. to cowl prices associated to the transportation of a pet which is outlined by the Joint Travel Regulations as a cat or canine. Members can request reimbursement together with their PCS journey voucher, however they have to meet eligibility necessities and embody all required documentation. Documentation necessities embody:
• Service members should be on PCS orders, and all journey and bills should take place on or after Jan. 1, 2024.
• Members should present receipts for all prices.
• Receipts should be itemized, point out they’re for one pet and embody the title of the pet if potential (particularly for specialised care the pet receives, comparable to vaccinations).
• If the pet is flying cargo as a result of it exceeds the load restrict to journey through authorities or government-procured transportation, the receipt should embody the load of the pet.
• If a member self-procures a ticket at a location serviced by the Patriot Express, they will need to have a non-availability letter and applicable remarks on their orders. Otherwise, the transportation portion of the reimbursement might be restricted to the cost of delivery the pet through the Patriot Express. All documentation used to acquire a non-availability letter should be included when the member information their PCS journey voucher. Costs eligible for reimbursement embody obligatory microchipping, boarding charges, lodge service expenses, licensing charges on the new main responsibility station (PDS), and pet delivery charges if the member flies reasonably than drives or if the pet is shipped individually from the member. For PCS to or between OCONUS strikes, quarantine charges and testing titer stage (antibodies) for entry are additionally eligible for reimbursement. For extra data, go to the DTMO FAQs webpage and the DAF FAQs webpage. In addition, please contact your native finance workplace in the event you want help with requesting reimbursement.
