PCS claim lowball offer
A low offer on a household-goods claim is not the final word. You can answer it item by item, back each item with evidence, and escalate to your military claims office if you cannot settle.
Disclosure: Money You're Owed makes and sells PCS ClaimDeck, which this page recommends. If you buy it, we earn money. We don't take payment from anyone else mentioned here. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Deadlines and procedures come from the Defense Personal Property Program; confirm your dates with your service's military claims office or Military OneSource.
First: check your filing window
Before you answer any offer, know which deadline applies to your shipment. Per Military OneSource:
- Shipments picked up before May 15, 2026: file your itemized claim within 9 months of the delivery date to stay eligible for full replacement value.
- Shipments picked up on or after May 15, 2026: you have up to 12 months from delivery.
- After your deadline, but within two years of delivery, you can generally only get depreciated value, and you would work with your service's military claims office (MCO).
Military OneSource also says the moving company (the transportation service provider, or TSP) should pay, deny or make an offer within 30 days for claims of $1,000 or less and within 60 days for larger claims, for household-goods shipments picked up on or after May 15, 2020. Write down your pickup date, delivery date and claim submission date now. Do not let the back-and-forth over an offer run you past a deadline.
Reject it item by item, not as a whole
A lowball offer usually is not one low number. It is a list of individual decisions: an item marked "repairable" at a low figure, another depreciated even though you claimed full replacement value, a third denied as pre-existing damage. Treat each line as its own dispute.
- Put the offer next to your claim, line by line.
- For each item, mark it accept, counter or dispute.
- For each counter or dispute, write one or two sentences on why, and point to the evidence.
- Reply in writing through the claim system you filed in (usually DPS), and keep a dated copy.
Accepting the items you agree with and contesting the rest keeps the conversation focused and shows the adjuster you are working from records, not frustration.
The evidence each item needs
| Situation | Evidence that helps |
|---|---|
| Item lost or destroyed | Inventory number, purchase receipt or order history, photos from before the move, and comparable replacement listings with prices and dates. |
| Item damaged, repair offered | Your own written repair estimate from a qualified repairer, photos of the damage, and the inventory condition codes. |
| Replacement value disputed | Current listings for a like-kind, like-quality new item, saved with the date and price. |
| High-value or unusual items | Appraisals, certificates, serial numbers, and whether the item was listed on a high-value inventory. |
Keep the purchase cost, the comparison price, the repair estimate, your request, each offer and the amount paid as separate numbers. Mixing them is how claims get muddled after the second or third revision.
Pre-existing damage disputes
A common reason for a denial is that the damage was "pre-existing." Movers record condition codes on the inventory at pickup. Your response should use those same documents:
- Check the inventory: what condition code was written for that item at pickup? Was it specific, or a blanket code applied to everything?
- Find photos or video taken before the pickup that show the item's condition.
- Compare the type of damage. A scratch noted at pickup does not explain a broken leg found at delivery.
- Note any exceptions you wrote on the inventory or delivery paperwork.
Transferring the claim to the military claims office
If you cannot reach an acceptable settlement with the moving company, you can usually transfer all or part of the claim to your service's military claims office. The 2026 Navy claims package describes this transfer for unresolved items and repeats that federal law requires the claim to be filed within two years of delivery. Before transferring:
- Make sure you filed with the TSP within your 9- or 12-month window, so full replacement value is still on the table.
- Get the TSP's final offer or denial in writing.
- Assemble your item-by-item record, evidence and every message, in order.
- Contact your MCO for its current transfer forms and instructions.
Mistakes that cost money
- Accepting a lump-sum offer before checking it line by line.
- Throwing away a damaged item before the TSP has had a chance to inspect it, when inspection is requested.
- Missing the notice-of-loss or claim deadline while waiting on a reply.
- Sending a correction in one email but leaving the old figure in your spreadsheet.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to file a PCS household goods claim?
Per Military OneSource, 9 months from delivery for shipments picked up before May 15, 2026, and up to 12 months for shipments picked up on or after May 15, 2026. After that, within two years, generally only depreciated value is available.
Can I reject part of a moving claim offer?
Yes. You can accept some items and counter or dispute others. Respond line by line in writing and keep a dated copy.
What if the mover says the damage was pre-existing?
Compare the inventory condition codes from pickup with the damage at delivery, and use your own pre-move photos. A minor pre-existing mark does not explain new, different damage.
When should I transfer my claim to the MCO?
When you cannot settle with the moving company. You must have filed with the TSP first, and federal law requires filing within two years of delivery. Ask your MCO for its current procedure.
Does PCS ClaimDeck file or negotiate the claim?
No. It is a manual organizer. You enter the facts and dates, and you file and negotiate yourself through the official process.