If you have traveled on official government duty, you have probably received per diem. Per diem is the daily allotted pay the DoD gives members while they are traveling on official duty assignments. The funds are to be used to cover your lodging, food, and incidental expenses, such as laundry and basic needs. When most people refer to per diem, they break it out to the two primary expenses, their Lodging, and their Meals and Incidental Expenses (M&IE).
The latest updates cover COVID-19-related per diem policies for those who return from TDY and are forced into mandatory quarantine. Details can be found in the Joint Federal Travel Regulations, which is linked at the bottom of this article.
How are Per Diem Rates Determined?
Per Diem rates are given for specific locations. The rates range from $151 per day in the CONtinental US (CONUS) to over $800 per day in OCONUS (Outside CONUS) locations. Again, the total rate is split between your lodging and your Meals and Incidental Expenses.
Rates for these locations are determined by three organizations: The General Services Administration (GSA), The Department of State (DoS), and The Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO).
Proportional Meal Rates
You may find that you are eligible to eat government-provided meals on some of your trips. This will result in a Proportional Meal Rate. The proportional meal rate for your location is based on the locality meal rate and the GOVAT meal rate (GMR).
The Proportional Meal Rate is determined by:
- adding your locality meal rate with the GMR of $14.05, dividing by 2, then rounding up to the nearest dollar. Then you add the Incidental Expense rate.
- Example: The CONUS Meal & Incidental Rate is $46 ($41 for meals, and $5 incidental rate). Add $41 to $11.85, gives us $52.85. Divide by 2, that gives us $26.43. Round that down to $27. Then add the $5 incidental expense, for a total of $32.
The Proportional Meal Rate is given when:
- Lodging in government facilities and the government provides at least one meal (but not all 3 meals).
- Lodging in government facilities with government meals on your orders, but the mess wasn’t available for all meals.
- You receive one or two meals that are paid for by the Government (for example, as part of a conference registration fee).
- You aren’t entitled to per diem but must purchase a meal (your actual expenses are compared to the Proportional Meal Rate and you will be reimbursed the lesser of the two).
Per diem is granted in addition to Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) for those who are eligible for BAS.
Current Per Diem Rates
Looking for per diem rates by location? The Defense Travel Management Office has a list of all the current Per Diem rates. Here are the relevant links:
- List of current Per Diem rates for CONUS and OCONUS locations.
- Per Diem Calculator (use this to determine how much Per Diem you might receive for TDY)
- CONUS COLA Calculator (use this to determine if there is a Cost of Living Adjustment in your Permanent Duty Assignment).
- Government Meal Rates
- OCONUS Per Diem Rates – Published through the U.S. Department of State
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Updates to Per Diem Policy
The Department of Defense recently updated the per diem rates for military members on Temporary Duty Assignments (TDY).
Here are some updates you need to be aware of:
Lodging
If lodging can not be obtained at the set per diem rate travelers can submit a request for approving a higher rate. Your approving official (AO) can submit an actual expense allowance (AEA) request.
Flat Rate Per Diem Terminated
This rate was previously offered for long-term travel. Details can be found at DTMO’s FAQ page
ATM fees, baggage expenses, transportation tips, & laundry/dry cleaning no longer reimbursable. These items were previously allowed expenses on your travel voucher and would be reimbursed. These are now included under incidental expenses and cannot be reimbursed on your travel voucher.
However, items like hotel and in-flight Wi-Fi are reimbursable if deemed necessary to the work being performed.
Other items of note:
- When staying in government lodging, travelers will be reimbursed for the actual lodging costs.
- Travelers may choose to stay in furnished apartments or similar lodging for long-term stays if the rates are comparable or less than commercial hotel rates.
Here is the updated Joint Travel Regulation (updated 20200401 ).
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Greg Mueller says
“Per diem is granted in addition to Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) for those who are eligible for BAS.”
Can you provide the source?
Chris says
Sir, I am an E-8 in the reserve components of the Air force. I am going TDY to Croughton RAF for 179 days. What will my pay benefits be? I was told I will be on per diem. Will is still get OHA? BAS? I assume no on the cola. I will be unaccompanied but do have 3 dependents. Thanks for your time.
Joe says
I am receiving per diem and eat at the chow hall on base for lunch every day. How will that affect my per diem? I am single so my all I have to do is scan my CAC.
Ryan Guina says
Hello Joe, I would contact your base finance office for more information. They will be able to assist you better than I can. You can also call anonymously if you like. Just be sure to explain the full situation, including that you are on orders, the type of orders, and the duration of the orders. They should be able to help you from there. I wish you the best, and thank you for your service.
Concerned Soldier says
Hi. Me and my team are in a special situation. We have been joint attached to the state department to run PSD missions. The base we are staying on has provided 2 meals for 3 days of the week and 3 meals for the rest. Recently they have began serving all 3 throughout the week. However, our schedule is very hectic. We often go without eating because the chow hall is not open before our mission begins and is closed when we return. MREs were not provided because of a lack of supply on base (We are 1 of only 3 teams that leave the base for mission). Several high ranking military members, those within our chain, and some not, have informed us that we qualify for per diem. Unfortunately, they don’t seem to understand how per diem works and cannot provide us with a solid answer about the type of per diem we will receive. Through research, we have found that we may qualify for proportional meals but the DOD website is unclear about where we would fall. We don’t know if we would be “reimbursed” for the local meals we have bought (Which is very few. The local food is not that great and they don’t give receipts to customers) or paid ~50$ per day in proportional meals. We have mission logs sent through the chain of command before every mission as proof the missions we ran and the meals we missed. We are afraid that we will not be allotted the proper amount and will have no clue we were owed anything else. We are located in Syria. We typically have missions 6 times a week and miss a total of ~16 meals during this time.
Sally says
What if you are a contractor and told by your company you would be receiving per diem living oconus.
You are also married to an active duty spouse that has a key role and is required to live on base.
How do you get paid your full per diem of lodging and m&i without having a lease? Do I go out and rent an apt? The amount of small salary and large expected oconus per diem at the time of the the job offer was very substantial and now to have arrived overseas to be told no lodging per diem now if no lease? Why should I be penalized? Seems unfair.
Ryan Guina says
Hello Sally, this sounds like a situation you will need to take up with your company. This does not appear to have anything to do with DoD policy. Best wishes.
LM says
Soldiers are on AT staying in lodging provided and have meals provided. Some Soldiers are working an alternate work schedule and cannot make the breakfast meal. Lunch meal is provided at the breakfast meal. Due to working night shift dinner is sometimes not made due to sleep schedule. Work schedule is 2330-0730. Breakfast ends at 0700. Dinner is from 5-7. Is there a reg that says Per diem is auth??
Ryan Guina says
LM, I don’t have an answer for this situation. This is a question that needs to be addressed at your unit to see if they have alternative meal options, or if they can provide for missed meal vouchers or per diem.
John says
I’ll be TDY for 98 days at Wright Patt AFB, and I was told by finance that I’ll only get a per diem of $18 per day for meals since I am staying in the military facility with DFAC. Is this accurate? In the past, I’ve stayed on military facilities and did received full per diem. Thanks
Ryan Guina says
Hello John, Thank you for your question. I would go with the information finance provided you. Per diem rates are often lower when dining facilities are available and the member is directed to use them. I would check with your orders or reporting instructions.
For example, I have gone on TDY before when the DFAC was only available to TDY members for certain meals during the day. So we were only given partial per diem instead of full per diem. Had our orders or reporting instructions stated we were not been able to use the DFAC, we would have had full per diem. As it was, our per diem was somewhere in between the per diem rate you stated and the full per diem rate. For now, I would go with the information your finance office provided.
I wish you the best, and thank you for your service!
Sarah says
Hello,
My husband is currently on a six-month deployment to Guam. Since he stays in a military provided berthing and they provide three meals a day, they take away the BAS and give $3.50 a day. This amounts to a financial loss for us. He is still hungry after meals and going back for seconds and being served cold food. He is still having to provide food for himself and other expenses incurred for The necessary cleanings and the weekly expenses and laundry. This is a huge financial strain on our family. Who do we need to speak to you about the possibility of changing this. A deployment should never put my family in financial trouble.
Ryan Guina says
Hello Sarah, Thank you for your comment. The military will generally still provide the member with BAH and BAS while they are deployed, even when lodging and rations are provided. The $3.50 per day is provided for incidentals, such as the laundry expenses you mentioned.
He should also be receiving family separation allowance for a deployment over 30 days. Family Separation Allowance is paid at a rate of $225 per month (prorated if a partial month is served). The member should be able to submit a form to finance to have this paid during the deployment, once 30 days have passed. He should speak with his finance office for more information.
He should speak with his First Sergeant or finance office if there are pay problems. They should be able to help him understand his pay and benefits, and correct any issues that arise.
I wish you and your family the best.
H says
To be brutally honest the military will not care how hungry you are afterwards. He is lucky that they do allow him back for seconds. Considering 3 meals are provided per diem is immediately out. BAS due to him having food on base and no expense is going to be severely deducted because his “substinance” is being received by the food he is allotted. Any extra food or items would be his out of pocket pay. The only extra pay he could possibly be getting is the imei which is incidental normally this runs to be at or around 5/pay period. So 3.xx/day is not bad at all. As you stated about a financial loss. One good thing is BAH is a fixed rate. Meaning that the best thing you can do is either: rent/lease bellow the BAH rate and pocket the extra, or VA Home Loan and purchase the house and insure BAH will cover the costs of the payments (hopefully more but most likely not) and then you are at least getting something from said investment. Other than that theres much else. However he should still receive BAH because he still has a home somewhere and has a wife. Generally (assuming home ownership or lease) BAH is paid always. (Exceptions apply to guard and reserve, staying with friends/family, or leasing from family)
Josh says
Hello, I was TDY on orders for 31 days. Base lodging had no availability, so I was given a Non-Availability letter and stayed at a hotel off but close to base. The daily rate at the hotel was 83 a night (plus taxes/fees) but the lodging allowed in the area was 60 a night, however, I was unable to find lodging at that rate. I understand the 75% lodging rate for orders 31-180 days, but shouldn’t the Non-A letter allow for me to receive full rate?
H says
You need to speak to the AO the person who authorized travel this should be done prior if there is no way to find cheaper GOVERNMENT RATE they then contact another Edson who looks up if they have any housing there. There is no “75” for lodging.
The government will only allot the exact amount to the lodging (sales tax to be logged in a alternate expense on DTS) whatever the locality per diem rate is you will use to pay the difference of the hotel which would be whatever the max lodging rate is? So mine is 91/day. Say the hotel is 115 they cover 91, I pay the difference 14$/day but receive 60/day per diem. I will then receive only 46$/day per diem. They will not say that it works this way on paper however if you want you can pay the difference. The reason is they can’t say you can swap what money goes where however per diem is your money so it’s your choice. Just can’t be routed direct to GTCC.
In short: contact your POC/AO for your orders. If they can not approve a higher rate or provide you one with government rates. You will have to pay out of pocket.
Dan says
Hello. I was TDY overseas for just under 179 days so I received 75% per diem. Is it possible to claim the other 25% of the full per diem rate as an unreimbursed travel expense on my taxes?
Ryan Guina says
Hello Dan, Thank you for contacting me. That’s the way the reg is written, so as I understand, that is the amount of compensation military members are entitled to, not the full daily amount for the duration of the TDY. I am not aware of any guidance that allows for claiming the other 25% as an unreimbursed expense. You would need to consult with a tax professional to verify. But I’ve never heard of it.
Eric says
Hello, can you tell me if perdiem is authorized if you’re assigned to a ship, but it’s not in home port but will be alongside for several months for a repair period and the mess is closed and no gov’nt meals are available otherwise?
Thanks
Ryan Guina says
Hello Eric, Thank you for contacting me. Unfortunately, I am not familiar with this situation. I recommend contacting your personnel section or your finance department. They should be able to give you advice for this situation.
H says
Yes, unless they provide meals or MRE then you will receive per diem
Zack says
I’m going to San Diego for 33. We are air bnb we were allotted 4,100 a month. Oh I only use 3,000 on lodging do I get to keep the 1,100
April Darrin says
If you are TDY for 35 days do you get full per diem for lodging on the first 30 days and then 75% starting on the 31st day?
Ryan Guina says
Hello April, Thank you for contacting me. Unfortunately, I believe it’s 75% for the entire time. You can verify this with your finance or comptroller office.
Mike W says
I have orders to be stationed in GA for 11months, I was told if I extend my orders past that 11 months I lose all my per diem. Have you heard of that before?
Thanks
Ryan Guina says
Hello Mike, This is something you need to speak with your personnel section about. It’s possible they may consider this a PCS if you serve in the same location for more than 11 months, or 12 months. I don’t have the specific regs on this, but they should be able to provide them to you. Best of luck, and thank you for your service!
Donald R waltz says
What if you had to go on emergency leave during your 180 day TDY? I was scheduled to do 183 days but left on EL for 15 days stateside? Does this time start over?
Ryan Guina says
Great question, Donald. Unfortunately, I don’t have a good answer. I would contact your unit finance or personnel department for clarification. If the clock starts over it will have a major impact on your per die and other payments. I wish you the best, and thank you for your service!
Justin says
What happens if your TDY is extended past 180 days due to surgery at the TDY location? I’m a pilot TDY for a 4-month training course and was grounded for knee surgery and recovery. It’s looking like I will finish around the 1-year mark. How does this affect per diem? I *did* have to get amendments to my orders to update my RNLT (twice).
Ryan Guina says
Hello Justin, Thanks for reaching out. This is a great question, and one I don’t have an answer for.
I’d contact your home station and ask them how this will be handled. If you were en route between assignments, then you would need to speak with your TDY location. Don’t be surprised if you need to elevate this up the chain. This isn’t a common situation, and you may need to get someone with some authority to make some decisions. They may even decide to amend your orders to PCS you to the training location until you have rehabilitated your injury. Unfortunately, this situation is above my pay grade.
I wish you a speedy recovery, and an easy resolution to this situation. Thank you for your service!