Use-or-Lose & SLA Forfeiture Calculator
Two separate clocks can erase your leave, and both run out at the end of the fiscal year. The standing rule forfeits anything over 60 days every September 30. The one-time COVID Special Leave Accrual cliff forfeits anything over 90 days on September 30, 2026. Enter your balance to see exactly what’s exposed under each, what it’s worth, and how to keep it.
Enter your leave balance to see what's at risk and when.
The two caps, plainly
The standing 60-day cap (every fiscal year)
You earn 2.5 days a month (30/year) and may carry a maximum of 60 days across the September 30 fiscal-year boundary. Anything above 60 on that date is forfeited — no rollover, no payout, no exception — unless it is protected by approved Special Leave Accrual. This resets and applies every single year.
The one-time 90-day SLA cliff (September 30, 2026)
In April 2020 the ceiling was raised to 120 days so members weren't punished for travel restrictions. Effective January 1, 2023 that COVID Special Leave Accrual ceiling dropped to 90 days. If your balance was above 90 on December 31, 2022, you were allowed to keep the excess — but only until September 30, 2026, when everything above 90 days is forfeited for good. This is a one-time drawdown, not a recurring rule.
Who actually loses money here
The 2026 cliff only bites if you banked a large balance during the pandemic and are still carrying it — a finite group of mostly mid-career members who deployed or ran high op-tempo through 2020–2022. The 60-day rule, by contrast, hits anyone who lets a balance drift over the cap heading into the fall. The fix for both is the same and unglamorous: look at your LES in the spring, not in September, and schedule the leave while there's still time on the calendar to be approved and taken.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the use-or-lose leave rule?
Service members earn 2.5 days of leave per month (30 per year) and can carry a maximum of 60 days across the fiscal-year boundary on September 30. Any ordinary leave above 60 days on that date is forfeited — no payout, no rollover. This is the standing rule every year.
What is the September 30, 2026 SLA deadline?
During COVID-19 (starting April 2020) the leave ceiling was temporarily raised so members could accrue up to 120 days. Effective January 1, 2023 that Special Leave Accrual (SLA) ceiling was reduced to 90 days. Members whose balance exceeded 90 days as of December 31, 2022 were allowed to keep the excess — but any SLA leave above 90 days is forfeited on September 30, 2026. After that, the normal 90/60-day mechanics apply with no COVID buffer.
How much is a day of leave worth?
For sell-back purposes, one day of leave equals 1/30 of your monthly base pay — allowances (BAH, BAS) are not included. So a member with $3,800/month base pay loses about $127 for every forfeited day. That is the same basis this calculator uses for the dollar figure.
Can I just sell back the extra leave instead of losing it?
Only at separation/retirement or reenlistment, only at the base-pay rate (no allowances), and only up to a lifetime cap of 60 days of sell-back across your entire career. Forfeited use-or-lose days do not convert to a payout — they simply disappear. Taking the leave (full pay plus allowances) is almost always worth more than selling it back.
What is Special Leave Accrual (SLA)?
SLA lets you carry more than the normal 60 days when a deployment, operational commitment, or duty assignment prevented you from using leave. It must be requested and approved by your commander — it is not automatic. The COVID-19 SLA authority is the specific reason some members are sitting on 90+ day balances today.
Where do I confirm my own balance and SLA status?
Your Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) shows your current balance. Your finance office can tell you how much of that balance is ordinary leave versus SLA-protected, and the exact date each tranche expires. Always verify against your LES before making a decision — this tool is an estimate.
Official Sources
- DFAS — Special Leave Accrual (SLA) & Use/Lose Leave Balances
The authoritative pay-office statement of the 90-day ceiling and the September 30, 2026 forfeiture date.
- DoD Financial Management Regulation, Volume 7A
Leave accrual, the 60-day carryover cap, sell-back limits, and the day-value (1/30 base pay) basis.