How Do Military Moving Claims Work?

If you've been in the military long enough, you've likely experienced a PCS move where you had to file a claim for damaged/lost household goods, and if you have not had to do this, consider yourself lucky! Sometimes moves with the military don't go as planned, however, you're entitled to get compensated for lost or damaged property. 

If you have questions about the process of making a claim, the following are great contacts: 

A. Your transportation service provider (TSP)

B. Your local transportation office

C. Your branch of service military claim office

Now for the fun part, personal property claims!

If any of your household goods are lost, broken or damaged during your PCS, you may be entitled to full compensation to cover the full replacement cost or repair value. Items that have been transported via the following are eligible:

- Household goods 

- Direct procurement method

- Unaccompanied baggage

- Non-temporary storage

To make a claim, follow these steps:

1. Give notice of the damaged or lost goods within 180 calendar days from the delivery date: this is the first and most important step. You'll need to give a written notice to your TSP listing all damaged or lost items in which to intend to file a claim on. This won't require you to give full details about the items, but you will need to name each item, it's inventory number, and a brief description of the loss or damage.

This notice can be done in two ways:

    a. Review and sign the Notification for Loss and Damage At Delivery that is given to you by your delivery crew on the             

        day your household goods are delivered. 

    b. Submit the Notification of Loss and Damage After Delivery form to DPS, or Defense Personal Property System         

        (https://dps.move.mil/cust/standard/user/home.xhtml)

2. File the claim within nine months from the date your property was delivered: After filing the notice from step 1, you'll need to create an itemized list in DPS for every single item that was damaged, broken or lost. You have up to nine months to file the claim to receive full replacement compensation or full repair value of your items. If you wait to file after the nine months from your delivery date, you'll only be eligible for the depreciated value of your items, so get this done as quickly as you can! Before logging on to DPS to make the claim, start the detailed list of lost, damaged or broken household goods to save yourself some time. The more details you can provide on each item, the better, as it will significantly help you throughout this process! It is crucial to take photos of all of your items as they are being packed, and keep receipts on your items if you can.

As an example, here is some details you may need on your lost, damaged or broken item(s):

    a. Manufacturer 

    b. Brief description of the item

    c. Inventory number of the item

    d. Cost at purchase time

    e. Year of purchase

    f. Description of damage (or loss)

    g. Repair estimate (optional)

    h. Photos and receipts (if you have it)

3. Now it's time to work with TSP to assess your claim: After your claim has been submitted, the TSP must confirm your claim within 15 calendar days. The TSP will be responsible for assessing your claim. "If your household goods shipment was picked up May 15, 2020 and after, the TSP must pay, deny or make an offer within 30 calendar days on all claims valued at $1,000 or less and 60 calendar days on claims over $1,000" (https://www.militaryonesource.mil/moving-housing/moving/planning-your-move/file-a-claim-after-your-military-move/). Often times you will be offered a cash reimbursement, but in some cases, you may be offered a second opinion of the item being replaced instead of cash. If given both options, it is your choice. You can either accept the offer given to you or counter offer each item, and the TSP must respond to you within seven calendar days. TSP will update DPS with the settled/agreed, final dollar amount. 

4. Finalizing the settlement/transfer to MCO: The TSP will send you an itemized list with their offer for each of your items, in which you can respond by accepting or rejecting the offers on each item. If you're using DPS, your final offer acceptance must be submitted to complete the claim process. The TSP is required to compensate for full replacement and/or repair value within 30 calendar days of the agreed amount. If your item(s) is being repaired, the TSP must hire a company to repair within 20 calendar days from the submission of your claim. 

For more resources, be sure to check out https://www.militaryonesource.mil/moving-housing/moving/planning-your-move/file-a-claim-after-your-military-move/ 

Here, you will find details on filing claims for personal property, important dates for claim filing, quick claim settlement option, residential damage claims, inconvenience claims, POV claims, POV inconvenience claims, and more!