TLA Rate Calculator – Temporary Living Allowance Estimator
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Understanding the TLA Rate Calculation
Temporary Living Allowance (TLA) is a financial allowance provided to U.S. Service members to partially reimburse the costs of lodging and meals when Temporary Lodging facilities are necessary during a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move to or from an OCONUS (Outside Continental United States) location.
How the TLA Percentage Works
The total TLA reimbursement is based on the local Per Diem rates for the specific OCONUS location and the composition of the service member's family. The Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) generally stipulate the following percentage multipliers:
- Single Occupancy: 65% of the local Per Diem rate.
- Member + 1 Dependent (or 2 Claimants): 100% total (65% for the first, 35% for the second).
- Additional Dependents (Age 12+): 35% each.
- Additional Dependents (Under Age 12): 25% each.
Lodging vs. M&IE
TLA consists of two distinct calculations:
-
Lodging: You are reimbursed for your actual lodging costs, up to a ceiling. The ceiling is calculated by multiplying the Local Lodging Rate by your family's Total Percentage. If your actual cost is lower than the ceiling, you only get the actual cost. If it is higher, you only get the ceiling amount.
-
Meals & Incidental Expenses (M&IE): This is paid as a flat rate based on your family percentage and the Local M&IE Rate. However, if your temporary lodging has adequate cooking facilities (kitchen), the M&IE portion is typically reduced by 50%.
Example Calculation
Consider a Service Member with a spouse and one child (under 12) moving to a location with a Lodging Rate of $200 and M&IE Rate of $100.
- Total Percentage: Member (65%) + Spouse (35%) + Child (25%) = 125%.
- Lodging Ceiling: $200 × 125% = $250.
- M&IE Entitlement: $100 × 125% = $125.
- Scenario: If actual lodging is $210, the member receives $210 for lodging (actual cost is below ceiling) plus $125 for meals, totaling $335 per day.
Note: This calculator is for estimation purposes only based on standard JTR formulas. Official reimbursement amounts are determined by the finance office and current DTMO tables. Always retain receipts for lodging.
function calculateTLA() {
// 1. Get Input Values
var localLodging = parseFloat(document.getElementById('localLodgingRate').value);
var localMeals = parseFloat(document.getElementById('localMealsRate').value);
var countOver12 = parseInt(document.getElementById('countOver12').value);
var countUnder12 = parseInt(document.getElementById('countUnder12').value);
var actualLodging = parseFloat(document.getElementById('actualLodgingCost').value);
var hasKitchen = document.getElementById('kitchenFacilities').value;
var numDays = parseInt(document.getElementById('numDays').value);
// 2. Validation
if (isNaN(localLodging) || isNaN(localMeals) || isNaN(countOver12) || isNaN(actualLodging) || isNaN(numDays)) {
alert("Please enter valid numbers for all rate and cost fields.");
return;
}
if (countOver12 < 1) {
alert("There must be at least 1 person (Service Member) aged 12+.");
return;
}
// 3. Calculate Percentage Multiplier
// Rules per JTR:
// 1 person alone: 65%
// 2+ people: 1st person 65%, 2nd person 35% (Total 100% for first two)
// Add'l 12+: 35%
// Add'l <12: 25%
var totalPercentage = 0;
var totalPeople = countOver12 + countUnder12;
if (totalPeople === 1) {
totalPercentage = 65;
} else {
// If more than 1 person, the base for the first two is generally 100% (65 + 35)
// We need to distribute the counts.
// First person (Member – Over 12)
totalPercentage += 65;
// We have (countOver12 – 1) remaining adults and (countUnder12) kids.
var remainingAdults = countOver12 – 1;
var remainingKids = countUnder12;
// Find the second person (highest percentage preference)
// Preference is Adult (35%) over Kid (25%). Usually 2nd person is 35% regardless of age if only 1 dependent,
// but strictly JTR matrix: 2nd person (age 12+) adds 35%. 2nd person (under 12) adds 25%?
// Actually, if member + 1 under 12, total is 100%? No, usually 65+25?
// Correction: JTR Table 65% (1 traveler). 100% (Traveler + 1 dependent).
// The "1 dependent" at 100% implies the second person gets 35% bump regardless of age to reach 100?
// To be safe and specific to the formula mostly used in calculators:
// 1st person: 65.
// If there is a 2nd person: add 35.
// All others 12+: 35.
// All others 12 35%, Others =2, the total usually starts at 100%.
// Let's stick to the additive method which is safer for estimation:
// Logic used:
// Base: 65%
// Dependents 12+: 35% each
// Dependents <12: 25% each
// HOWEVER, max usually applies or specific matrix.
// Updated Logic for highest accuracy standard:
// 1 Person: 65%
// Member + 1 Dep: 100% (Implies +35%)
// Mathematical approach:
// Count all dependents 12+ (excluding member). multiply by 35.
// Count all dependents <12. multiply by 25.
// Add 65 (Member).
// Recalculate based on inputs:
var depsOver12 = countOver12 – 1; // Exclude member
var depsUnder12 = countUnder12;
totalPercentage = 65 + (depsOver12 * 35) + (depsUnder12 * 25);
}
// 4. Calculate Ceilings and Entitlements
var dailyLodgingCeiling = (totalPercentage / 100) * localLodging;
var dailyMealsEntitlement = (totalPercentage / 100) * localMeals;
// 5. Kitchen Adjustment
// If kitchen facilities exist, M&IE is reduced by 50%
if (hasKitchen === "yes") {
dailyMealsEntitlement = dailyMealsEntitlement * 0.5;
}
// 6. Calculate Actual Reimbursable Amounts
// Lodging is "Actual cost up to Ceiling"
var reimbursableLodging = 0;
if (actualLodging < dailyLodgingCeiling) {
reimbursableLodging = actualLodging;
} else {
reimbursableLodging = dailyLodgingCeiling;
}
// 7. Totals
var dailyTotal = reimbursableLodging + dailyMealsEntitlement;
var grandTotal = dailyTotal * numDays;
// 8. Output Display
document.getElementById('resPercentage').innerText = totalPercentage + "%";
document.getElementById('resLodgingCeiling').innerText = "$" + dailyLodgingCeiling.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resReimbursableLodging').innerText = "$" + reimbursableLodging.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resDailyMeals').innerText = "$" + dailyMealsEntitlement.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resDailyTotal').innerText = "$" + dailyTotal.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resTotal').innerText = "$" + grandTotal.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('result-area').style.display = 'block';
}