|CHAPTER�9�-�STATION�ALLOWANCES
    PART�B2:�COST�OF�LIVING�ALLOWANCE�(COLA)
        U9151��COLA�START/STOP
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| | U9151� COLA START/STOP | 
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| | A.Start.� | 
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| | COLAentitlement generally starts on the day a member reports to a newPDSor, when dependents arrive in advance of their sponsor, as specified in par.U9157-B.�COLAentitlement starts on the day after the day of reporting if, on the day of reporting, a member: | 
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| | 1.without dependents is entitled to aMALT PLUSorTLA; or� | 
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| | 2.with dependents is entitled toMALT PLUSfor the member andTLAfor the dependents, or toTLAfor both the member and dependents. | 
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| | (See par. U9152 for exceptions.) | 
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| | B.Stop.� | 
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| | Unless | 
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| | 1.an extension is authorized under subpar. C, or� | 
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| | 2.COLAis authorized under par.U9153,� | 
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| | COLAentitlement stops: | 
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| | 1.the day before the member departs in compliance withPCSorders,� | 
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| | 2.on the homeport change effective date (fromOCONUS) of the ship or unit to which the member is assigned, or� | 
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| | 3.on the day the last dependent departs if the dependent departs within the 60-day period after the effective date ofPCSorders or of the homeport change, as applicable. | 
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| | COLAcontinuation at the oldPDSis intended only when delayed departure of dependents is necessary for reasons beyond the member's or dependents' control (such as illness or hospitalization of the dependent(s), completion of school term, lack of acceptable housing at newPDS, difficulties related to dependent transportation,HHGshipment to the newPDS, exigencies of the Service); the member's new commanding officer or designated representative may terminateCOLApayment when any further delay is determined to be unnecessary or for personal convenience. | 
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| | C.Secretarial Extensions.� | 
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| | Entitlement toCOLAbeyond the 60-day period authorized in subpar. B may be authorized by the Secretarial Process.� For cases involving assignment from other than a dependent restricted or unaccompanied tour to a dependent restricted or unaccompanied tour when dependents remain in the vicinity of the oldPDS, see par.U9301-B1. | 
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| | U9152� CONCURRENT PAYMENT OF COLA AND TLA� | 
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| | A.� General.� | 
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| | Ordinarily,COLAisn't payable when a member is receivingTLAfor the member and/or the dependents. | 
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| | B.� COLA Paid and Not Deducted from TLA.� | 
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| | COLAis paid and not deducted fromTLAwhen: | 
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| | 1.� dependents are authorized to remain at their place of residence after the member departs in accordance with par.U9151-Bor C; | 
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| | 2.� dependents preceded the member to the newPDSin accordance with subpar.U9157-B; | 
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| | 3.� a member is required to vacate permanent quarters temporarily as envisioned by par.U9200, item 2; or | 
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| | 4.� station allowances are authorized under par.U9301; or | 
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| | C.� COLA Paid But Deducted from TLA.� | 
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| | WhenCOLAis paid, in accordance with Service regulations while the member is entitled toTLA, thenCOLAis deducted fromTLAas indicated in par.U9207-E, step 4 and parU9207-I, Example 4.� (NOTE:� Service regulations may only authorize concurrent payment to stabilize the member's pay.)� | 
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| | U9153� COLA ENTITLEMENT INCIDENT TO PCS BETWEEN PDS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY | 
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| | When a member is ordered on aPCSbetweenPDSs located in close proximity and the member continues, at the newPDS, to commute from the residence occupied while at the oldPDS, entitlement toCOLAcontinues for the time between the member's detachment from the oldPDSand reporting to the newPDS, unless otherwise prohibited.� A member ordered onPCSwithTDYen route is entitled toCOLAduring that period.� If theCOLArate differs between the old and newPDS, the rate for the oldPDSis paid through the day before the member reports to the newPDS. | 
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| | U9154� COLA ENTITLEMENT FOR A MEMBER WITHOUT DEPENDENTS | 
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| | A.Government Mess Availability | 
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| | 1.Member With Government Quarters and Government Mess Available.� A member who has Government quarters available at thePDS(including a vessel) and a Government mess available, is entitled toCOLAat 47 percent (rounded to the closest penny) of the rate computed as indicated in Appendix J for a member with 0 dependents.� A member who doesn�t use available Government quarters and/or Government mess because of the presence of noncommand sponsored dependents is entitled toCOLAunder this subparagraph.� See par.U9156. | 
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| | 2.Member with Government Quarters Available but Without Government Mess Available. A member who has Government quarters but who doesn�t have a Government mess available for 3 meals a day at the PDS is entitled toCOLAat the rate specified in Appendix J, Table II in the 0 dependent column. | 
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| | 3.Member With Government Quarters Available but for Whom Use of a Government Mess is Impractical.� A member who has Government quarters available, but whose commanding officer, or designee, furnishes a statement that Government mess use is impractical, is entitled to theCOLAcomputed as indicated in Appendix J for a member with 0 dependents.� See par.U9156. | 
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| | 4.Member Authorized to Occupy Other Than Government Quarters.� A member in grade E-7 or higher who has no dependents occupying other than Government quarters is entitled to theCOLAcomputed as indicated in Appendix J for a member with 0 dependents. | 
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| | 5.� Member Who Has No Dependents and is Assigned to a Ship.� A member above the grade of E-5 (see Note) who: | 
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| | a.� has no dependents, | 
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| | b.� is assigned to permanent duty aboard a ship, | 
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| | c.� elects not to occupy assigned shipboard quarters, and | 
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| | d.� occupies non-Government quarters ashore, | 
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| | is entitled toCOLAcomputed as indicated inAppendix Jfor a member with 0 dependents. | 
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| | Note:� A member in the grade of E-5 who meets the criteria in a, b, and d above and who is authorizedBAH-IIalso is entitled to theCOLAabove. | 
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| | 6.Member Without Dependents Elects Not to Occupy Inadequate Government Quarters.� A member above the grade of E-5 who: | 
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| | a.has no dependents,� | 
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| | b.is assigned to inadequate quarters of the United States, or of a housing facility under the jurisdiction of a uniformed service, and� | 
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| | c.elects not to occupy the quarters or facility,� | 
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| | is entitled toCOLAcomputed as indicated in Appendix J for a member with 0 dependents. | 
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| | 7.Enlisted Member Authorized to Mess Separately.� An enlisted member for whom Government quarters aren�t available and who is authorized to mess separately, is entitled to theCOLAcomputed as indicated in Appendix J for a member with 0 dependents. | 
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| | 8.Member Married to Member--Joint Residence.� A member, who is authorized to mess separately and who maintains a joint residence with the spouse who also is a member, is entitled to theCOLAcomputed as indicated in Appendix J for a member with 0 dependents.� See also par.U9303. | 
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| | 9.Member in Confinement.� Except as indicated in par.U9157-A, item 5, a member isn�t entitled toCOLAwhile in a confinement status as a result of disciplinary action. | 
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| | 10.� Both Spouses Below Grade E-6 Assigned to Sea Duty.� Effective 1 July 1997 the senior spouse of a dual military couple (both below grade E-6) is entitled toCOLAspecified inAppendix J, Table II in the 0 dependent column if the spouses: | 
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| |                         | 
| | ----------------------- | 
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| | a.� have no dependents, | 
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| | b.are assigned to permanent duty aboard ship(s), | 
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| | c.elects not to occupy assigned shipboard quarters, and | 
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| | d.occupy non-Government quarters ashore. | 
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| | Note:� This doesn�t apply if either or both members are entitled toCOLAunder subpar. A5 above. | 
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| | B.Leave Periods.� | 
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| | COLAcontinues during any period not in excess of 30 consecutive days the member is on leave insideCONUS.�COLAcontinues during the entire period the member is on leaveOCONUS.�COLApayments may be made for leave periods only if the member was paidCOLAimmediately before: | 
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| | 1.entering a leave status, or� | 
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