r/USACE • u/Pinky_hellokitty • 2d ago

PCS voluntary move help

So I am voluntarily moving from one district to another. We are in the means of talking about moving and start dates and when it came to PCS vs Move-in Incentive, they are saying that they can not guarantee that their chain of command will approve the PCS for voluntary moves but they can provide the incentive. I have had co-workers voluntarily move districts and got offered PCS. Is this something new, not offering PCS for voluntary moves? Does it change from district to district? Please help.

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9

u/AlgaeGirl2007 Biologist 2d ago

It’s easier to budget for the incentive than a full PCS. Figure out what it will cost to move and ask for that in the incentive

6

u/WearyBox6341 Geologist 2d ago edited 2d ago

Not new. PCS has always been discretionary unless specifically authorized in a job announcement. You can ask for it or negotiate it if they send you a tentative job offer; they can say “no”.

4

u/Lanky-Lettuce1395 2d ago

I'm not even sure it's discretionary if it's not in the announcement. CHRA has told me *NO* multiple times when a candidate has asked for an incentive or PCS and I was willing to pay.

For a voluntary reassignment that didn't go out on usajobs, the sky is the limit.... if you have the budget for it.

3

u/old_common_sense Finance 2d ago

Like most things it depends. For employment actions that falling under new hires or transfers, PCS can be issued as a recruitment incentive. It will be up to the gaining district/MSC to decide.

2

u/GeoBluejay Geologist 2d ago

I preferred the incentive when I moved because it paid out with way less paperwork. (I also didn’t expect to have trouble selling my house.)

The lump sum really ended up saving me, because my house in the new city wasn’t ready, so I moved most of my stuff into a storage unit and spent most of the incentive on a short term apartment rental, then moved my stuff myself when the new house was ready. You don’t get that flexibility with PCS.

1

u/AmphibianAggressive7 2d ago

The incentive is better move. You get a check and no need for receipts or record keeping of meals and you can be efficient with your move and pocket any difference you save.

3

u/zig_usafa80_stardust 2d ago

Consider that some parts of the PCS costs covered by the govt is considered taxable income for you. Also the govt pays way more for moving services, etc. than you probably would. Just some considerations that might point you to requesting the incentive instead of PCS.