Subchapter C - Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Allowances for Subsistence and Transportation Expenses

The term “househunting trip” refers to a trip made by the employee and/or spouse to your new official station locality to find permanent living quarters to rent or purchase. The term “living quarters” in this part includes apartments, condominiums, and cooperatives in addition to townhouses and single family homes.

The allowance for househunting trip expenses is intended to facilitate and expedite the employee’s move from your old official station to your new official station and to lower the Government’s overall cost for the employee’s relocation by reducing the amount of time an employee must occupy temporary quarters. The allowance for househunting trip expenses provides the employee and/or spouse a period of time to concentrate on finding a suitable permanent residence at the new official station and thereby expedites the employee’s relocation.

You are eligible for a househunting trip expenses allowance if you are an employee who is authorized to transfer, and in addition:

      (a)Dự đoán xổ số Tây Ninh Both your old and new official stations are located within the United States;

      (b) You are not assigned to Government or other prearranged housing at your new official station; and

      (c) Your old and new official stations are 75 or more miles apart (as measured by map distance) via a usually traveled surface route.

Dự đoán xổ số Tây NinhNew appointees and employees assigned under the Government Employees Training Act (5 U.S.C. 4109) are not eligible for a househunting trip expenses allowance.

Dự đoán xổ số Tây NinhNo, your agency determines when it is in the Government’s interest to authorize you a househunting trip and the procedures you must follow if it is authorized.

You will receive a househunting trip expenses allowance if:

      (a) Your agency authorized you to perform a househunting trip in advance of the travel (the agency authorization must specify the mode of transportation and the period of time allowed for the trip);

      (b) You have signed a service agreement;

      (c) Your agency has established, and informed you of, the date you are to report to your new official station; and

      (d) You meet any additional conditions your agency has established.

Only you and/or your spouse may travel on a househunting trip at Government expense.

Dự đoán xổ số Tây NinhYour agency may authorize only one round trip for you and/or your spouse in connection with a particular transfer.

Dự đoán xổ số Tây NinhYes, however, your reimbursement will be limited to the cost that would have been incurred if you and your spouse had traveled together on one round trip.

Dự đoán xổ số Tây NinhYou may begin your househunting trip as soon as your agency has notified you of your transfer and issued a travel authorization for a househunting trip. To take maximum advantage of your trip, however, it is very important that you become familiar as quickly as you can with your new official station area (e.g., housing market conditions, school locations, etc.). If you are selling your residence at your old official station, you should not begin your househunting trip until you have a current appraisal of the value of the residence so that you can more accurately determine the appropriate price range of residences to consider during your househunting trip.

A househunting trip should be for a reasonable period, not to exceed 10 calendar days, as authorized by your agency under §302-5.101(d).

Dự đoán xổ số Tây NinhYou and/or your spouse must complete your househunting trip as indicated in the following table:

For	Your househunting trip must be completed by
You.	The day before you report to your new official station.
Your spouse.	The earlier of: (a) The day before your family relocates to your new official station; or (b) The day before the maximum time for beginning allowable travel expires (see §302-2.100 of this chapter).

Your agency will reimburse your househunting trip expenses as indicated in the following table:

For	You are reimbursed
You and/or your spouse’s transportation expenses.	Your actual transportation costs.
You and/or your spouse’s subsistence expenses.	One of the following two: (a) A per diem allowance at the standard CONUS rate (see http://botemagico.com/perdiemDự đoán xổ số Tây Ninh), for you and/or your spouse if you travel separately, or if you both travel together, the standard CONUS rate multiplied by 1.75), for the 10 days or less that your agency authorizes for you; or Dự đoán xổ số Tây Ninh(b) Only if offered by your agency and chosen by you, a lump sum, as follows: (1) If you perform a househunting trip and your spouse does not, or if your spouse performs a househunting trip and you do not, multiply the applicable locality per diem rate by 5.00 (see http://botemagico.com/perdiem). (2) If you and your spouse both perform a househunting trip, together or separately, multiply the applicable locality per diem rate by 6.25 (see http://botemagico.com/perdiem).

      (a) Your agency will authorize you to travel by any transportation mode(s) (e.g., common carrier or POV) that it determines to be advantageous to the Government. Your agency will pay for your transportation expenses by the authorized mode(s). If you travel by one or more mode(s) other than the one(s) authorized by your agency, your agency will pay your transportation expenses up to the constructive cost of transportation by the authorized mode(s). For trips of less than 250 miles, your agency will authorize travel by POV, unless there are reasons for not using a POV that are acceptable to the agency (e.g., traveler is physically impaired, does not own or lease a POV, has only one POV that is used for family transportation, or the POV is not roadworthy for such a trip). POV mileage reimbursement will be in accordance with §302-4.300Dự đoán xổ số Tây Ninh of this chapter.

      (b)Dự đoán xổ số Tây Ninh Unless the agency performs a written cost comparison that demonstrates cost savings, only common carrier may be authorized for trips with a distance of 250 miles or more.

To receive reimbursement for househunting trip transportation expenses you must itemize your transportation expenses and provide receipts as required by Chapter  301.

Your agency may authorize an advance of funds, in accordance with part  302-4 of this chapter for the location and duration of your househunting trip or your lump sum househunting trip subsistence expenses payment, whichever applies.

Yes, you are in a duty status when you perform a househunting trip.

Dự đoán xổ số Tây NinhYes, if your lump sum househunting amount is more than adequate to cover your househunting expenses any balance belongs to you.

Dự đoán xổ số Tây NinhYou should administer the househunting trip expenses allowance to minimize or avoid its use when other satisfactory and more economical arrangements are available.

Dự đoán xổ số Tây NinhYou must establish policies and procedures governing:

      (a) When you will authorize a househunting trip for an employee;

      (b) Who will determine if a househunting trip is appropriate in each situation;

      (c) If and when you will authorize the lump sum option for househunting trip subsistence expenses reimbursement;

      (d) Who will determine the appropriate duration of a househunting trip for an employee who selects a per diem allowance under part  302-4 of this chapter to reimburse househunting trip subsistence expenses; and

      (e) Who will determine the mode(s) of transportation to be used.

You may authorize a househunting trip on an individual-case basis when the employee has accepted the transfer and his/her circumstances indicate that a househunting trip actually is needed. You may not authorize a househunting trip when the purpose of the trip is to assist the employee in deciding whether he or she will accept the transfer.

      (a) When the new official station is less than 250 miles from the old official station, the required mode of transportation is POV, unless there are reasons for not using a POV that are acceptable to the you (e.g., traveler is physically impaired, does not own or lease a POV, has only one POV which is used for family transportation, or the POV is not roadworthy for such a trip). Reimbursement for POV mileage is at the rate prescribed in §302-4.300Dự đoán xổ số Tây Ninh of this subchapter.

      (b) When the new official station is 250 miles or more from the old official station, the preferred mode of transportation is common carrier. However, you may authorize the use of POV for a househunting trip longer than 250 miles, provided you complete a written cost comparison in accordance with §302-5.14(b).

You must consider the following factors:

      (a) Ease of administration. Payment of a per diem allowance under part  302-4 of this chapter requires you to review claims for the validity, accuracy, and reasonableness of each expense amount, except for meals and incidental expenses. Lump sum househunting trip subsistence expenses reimbursement is easier to administer because you do not have to review expense amounts.

      (b) Cost considerations. You must weigh the cost of each reimbursement option on a case-by-case basis.

      (c) Treatment of employees. The employee is allowed to choose between a per diem allowance under part  302-4Dự đoán xổ số Tây Ninh of this chapter and lump sum househunting trip subsistence expenses reimbursement when you offer the lump sum reimbursement method. You therefore should weigh employee morale and productivity considerations against actual cost considerations in determining which method to offer.

The term “temporary quarters” refers to lodging obtained for the purpose of temporary occupancy from a private or commercial source.

“Temporary quarters subsistence expenses” or “TQSE” are subsistence expenses incurred by an employee and/or his/her immediate family while occupying temporary quarters. TQSE does not include transportation expenses incurred during occupancy of temporary quarters (see §302-6.18 for details).

The TQSE allowance is intended to reimburse an employee reasonably and equitably for subsistence expenses incurred when it is necessary to occupy temporary quarters.

You are eligible for a TQSE allowance if you are an employee who is authorized to transfer; and

      (a) Your new official station is located within the United States; and

      (b) Your old and new official stations are 50 miles or more apart (as measured by map distance) via a usually traveled surface route.

New appointees, employees assigned under the Government Employees Training Act (5 U.S.C. 4109), and employees returning from an overseas assignment for the purpose of separation are not eligible for a TQSE allowance.

No, your agency determines whether it is in the Government’s interest to pay TQSE.

You will receive a TQSE allowance if:

      (a) Your agency authorizes it before you occupy the temporary quarters (the agency authorization must specify the period of time allowed for you to occupy temporary quarters);

      (b)Dự đoán xổ số Tây Ninh You have signed a service agreement; and

      (c)Dự đoán xổ số Tây Ninh You meet any additional conditions your agency has established.

Dự đoán xổ số Tây NinhOnly you and/or your immediate family may occupy temporary quarters at Government expense.

You and/or your immediate family may occupy temporary quarters at Government expense within reasonable proximity of your old and/or new official stations. Neither you nor your immediate family may be reimbursed for occupying temporary quarters at any other location, unless justified by special circumstances that are reasonably related to your transfer.

Dự đoán xổ số Tây NinhYes. For example, if you must vacate your home at the old official station and report to the new official station and your family remains behind until the end of the school year, you may need to occupy temporary quarters at the new official station while your family occupies temporary quarters at the old official station.

Your agency will reimburse you for TQSE under the actual expense method unless it permits the “lump sum” reimbursement method as an alternative. If your agency makes both methods available to you, you may select the one you prefer.

Dự đoán xổ số Tây NinhFor lump sum TQSE reimbursement, you do not document your TQSE. For actual TQSE reimbursement, you must document your TQSE by itemizing each expense and providing receipts as required by §301-52.4 (1) of this title.

Dự đoán xổ số Tây NinhAs soon as your agency has authorized you to receive a TQSE allowance and you have signed a service agreement.

Dự đoán xổ số Tây NinhIf your temporary quarters become your permanent residence quarters, you may receive a TQSE allowance only if you show in a manner satisfactory to your agency that you initially intended to occupy the quarters temporarily.

Yes, if authorized in accordance with §§302-2.23, 302-2.24, and 302-2.25 of this chapter, your agency may advance the amount of funds necessary to cover your estimated TQSE expenses for up to 30 days. Your agency subsequently may advance additional funds for periods up to 30 days.

Dự đoán xổ số Tây NinhNo, with one exception. You may receive a cost-of-living allowance payable under 5 U.S.C. 5941 in addition to a TQSE allowance.

No, you may not receive a TQSE allowance under this part when you transfer to an area outside the United States. However, you may qualify for a comparable allowance under the Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians, Foreign Areas) prescribed by the Department of State.

Transportation expenses incurred in the vicinity of the temporary quarters are not TQSE, and therefore, there is no authority to pay such expenses under TQSE.

Your agency will pay your actual TQSE incurred, provided the expenses are reasonable and do not exceed the maximum allowable amount. The “maximum allowable amount” is the “maximum daily amount” multiplied by the number of days you actually incur TQSE not to exceed the number of days authorized, taking into account that the rates change after 30 days in temporary quarters. The “maximum daily amount” is determined by adding the rates in the following table for you and each member of your immediate family authorized to occupy temporary quarters:

	The “maximum daily amount” of TQSE under the actual expense method that
For:	You and/or your unaccompanied spouse or domestic partner1 may receive is	Your accompanied spouse, domestic partner or a member of your immediate family who is age 12 or older may receive is	A member of your immediate family who is under age 12 may receive is
The first 30 days of temporary quarters.	The applicable per diem rate.	.75 times the applicable per diem rate.	.5 times the applicable per diem rate.
Any additional days of temporary quarters.	.75 times the applicable per diem rate.	.5 times the applicable per diem rate.	.4 times the applicable per diem rate.

Yes, if the estimated daily amount of your TQSE is determined in advance to be lower than the maximum daily amount, your agency may reduce the maximum allowable amount to your expected expenses.

The “applicable per diem rate” under the actual TQSE reimbursement method is as follows:

For temporary quarters located in	The applicable per diem rate is
The continental United States (CONUS).	The standard CONUS rate.
Outside the Continental United States (OCONUS)	The locality rate established by the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of State under §301-11.6 of this title.

The period must begin before the maximum time for beginning allowable travel and transportation under §302-2.9.

Your agency may authorize you to claim actual TQSE in increments of 30-days or less, not to exceed 60 consecutive days. However, if your agency determines that there is a compelling reason for you to continue occupying temporary quarters after 60 consecutive days, it may authorize an extension of up to 60 additional consecutive days. Under no circumstances may you be authorized reimbursement for actual TQSE for more than a total of 120 consecutive days.

A “compelling reason” is an event that is beyond your control and is acceptable to your agency. Examples include, but are not limited to when:

      (a)Dự đoán xổ số Tây Ninh Delivery of your household goods to your new residence is delayed due to strikes, customs clearance, hazardous weather, fires, floods or other acts of God, or similar events.

      (b)Dự đoán xổ số Tây Ninh You cannot occupy your new permanent residence because of unanticipated problems (e.g., delay in settlement on the new residence, or short-term delay in construction of the residence).

      (c)Dự đoán xổ số Tây Ninh You are unable to locate a permanent residence which is adequate for your family’s needs because of housing conditions at your new official station.

      (d) Sudden illness, injury, your death or the death of your immediate family member; or

      (e)Dự đoán xổ số Tây Ninh Similar reasons.

Dự đoán xổ số Tây NinhYes, your authorized period for claiming actual TQSE reimbursement is measured on consecutive days, and once begun, normally continues to run whether or not you occupy temporary quarters. You may, however, interrupt your authorized period for claiming actual TQSE reimbursement in the following instances:

      (a) For the time allowed for en route travel between the old and new official stations;

      (b) For circumstances attributable to official necessity such as an intervening temporary duty assignment or military duty; or

      (c)Dự đoán xổ số Tây Ninh For a non-official necessary interruption such as hospitalization, approved sick leave, or other reason beyond your control and acceptable to your agency.

Occupancy of temporary quarters for less than a whole day constitutes one full day of your authorized period. (However, see §302-6.110 regarding en route travel.)

Dự đoán xổ số Tây NinhThe period ends at midnight on the earlier of:

      (a)Dự đoán xổ số Tây Ninh The day preceding the day you and/or any member of your immediate family occupies permanent residence quarters.

      (b) The day your authorized period for claiming actual TQSE reimbursement expires.

No, the eligibility period for which you are authorized to claim actual TQSE reimbursement for yourself and for each member of your immediate family must run concurrently.

Dự đoán xổ số Tây NinhYou may not receive reimbursement under both the actual TQSE allowance and another subsistence expenses allowance within the same day, with one exception. If you claim TQSE reimbursement on the same day that en route travel per diem ends, your en route travel per diem will be computed under applicable partial day rules and you also may be reimbursed for actual TQSE you incur after 6:00 p.m. of that day.

Dự đoán xổ số Tây NinhYes, but you will not be reimbursed for any of the expenses you incur during the unauthorized period.

If your agency offers, and you select the lump sum TQSE payment, you are paid a lump sum for each day authorized up to 30 days. The maximum number of days that may be used for the TQSE lump sum calculation is 30; no extensions are allowed under the lump sum payment method.

      (a) For yourself, multiply the number of days your agency authorizes TQSE by .75 times the maximum per diem rate (that is, lodging plus meals and incidental expenses) prescribed by §301-11.6 of this subtitle for the locality at the old or new official station or combination thereof, wherever TQ will be occupied. Please note that for non-foreign OCONUS, the Department of Defense Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Allowances Committee establishes the per diem rate, and for foreign OCONUS, the Department of State establishes the per diem rates.

      (b) For each member of your immediate family, multiply the same number of days by .25 times the same per diem rate, as described in paragraph (a) of this section.

      (c) Your lump sum payment will be the sum of the calculations in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section.

Dự đoán xổ số Tây NinhNo, you will not receive additional TQSE reimbursement if the lump sum payment is not adequate to cover your actual TQSE.

Yes, if your lump sum TQSE payment is more than adequate to cover your actual TQSE expenses, any balance belongs to you. (e.g., if your agency authorizes and you accept a lump sum payment for 15 days of TQSE and you vacate TQ after 10 days for any reason, you would retain the remaining balance for the 5 days of TQSE not incurred).

No, you are not required to file a voucher after occupying temporary quarters if you have selected the lump sum payment. The intent of the lump sum payment is to simplify the process and eliminate the need for filing a voucher. However, your agency may require that you sign a voucher or other document before they pay your lump sum TQSE to you, and your agency may at any time request proof that you actually occupied TQ, even if not for the full length of time on which the lump sum calculation was based. In the absence of sufficient proof of TQSE occupancy, your agency may demand repayment of the TQSE lump sum payment in accordance with §302-6.305.

Dự đoán xổ số Tây NinhTemporary quarters should be used only if, and only for as long as, necessary until the employee and/or his/her immediate family can move into permanent residence quarters. You must administer the TQSE allowance to minimize or avoid other relocation expenses.

Dự đoán xổ số Tây NinhYou must establish policies and procedures governing:

      (a) When you will authorize temporary quarters for employees;

      (b)Dự đoán xổ số Tây Ninh Who will determine if temporary quarters is appropriate in each situation;

      (c) If and when you will authorize the lump sum option for TQSE reimbursement;

      (d) Who will determine the appropriate period of time for which TQSE reimbursement will be authorized, including approval of extensions and interruptions of temporary quarters occupancy; and

      (e) Who will determine whether quarters were indeed temporary, if there is any doubt.

Dự đoán xổ số Tây NinhYou may authorize a TQSE allowance on an individual-case basis when use of temporary quarters is justified in connection with an employee’s transfer to a new official station. You may not authorize a TQSE allowance for vacation purposes or other reasons unrelated to the transfer.

Dự đoán xổ số Tây NinhThe factors you should consider include:

      (a)Dự đoán xổ số Tây Ninh The length of time the employee should reasonably be expected to occupy his/her residence at the old official station prior to reporting for duty at the new official station. An employee and his/her immediate family should continue to occupy the residence at the old official station for as long as practicable to avoid the necessity for temporary quarters.

      (b) The existence of less expensive alternatives. If a less expensive alternative to the TQSE allowance exists that will enable the employee to find permanent quarters at the new official station, you should consider such an alternative. For example, authorize a househunting trip instead of temporary quarters if it would cost less overall.

      (c)Dự đoán xổ số Tây Ninh The existence of other opportunities to arrange for permanent quarters. Consider whether the employee had other adequate opportunity to arrange for permanent quarters. For example, you should not authorize temporary quarters if the employee had adequate opportunity during an extended temporary duty assignment to arrange for permanent quarters.

Dự đoán xổ số Tây NinhWhen determining whether to offer an employee the lump sum payment option for TQSE the following factors should be considered:

      (a) Ease of administration. A lump sum for TQSE is paid to the employee prior to the occupancy of TQ, and the after the fact voucher process is eliminated under this method. Actual TQSE reimbursement requires an agency to review claims for the validity, accuracy, and reasonableness of each expense amount.

      (b)Dự đoán xổ số Tây Ninh Cost consideration. You should weigh the cost of each alternative. Actual TQSE reimbursement may extend up to 120 days, while the lump sum payment is limited to a maximum of 30 days.

      (c) Treatment of employee. The employee is allowed to choose between actual TQSE reimbursement and the lump sum TQSE payment when you offer the lump sum payment method. You therefore should weigh employee morale and productivity considerations against actual cost considerations in determining which method to offer.

Dự đoán xổ số Tây NinhYes, transferees electing the TQSE lump sum payment option must sign a statement, which should be included as part of the service agreement, asserting that they will occupy TQ and will incur TQSE. If no TQSE are incurred, the transferee must return all monies advanced for the lump sum TQSE payment to the agency.

You must pay the transferee the lump sum TQSE payment prior to the occupancy of TQ. You should make the lump sum TQSE payment as close as is reasonably possible to the time that the transferee will begin occupancy of TQ.

In determining whether quarters are “temporary”, you should consider factors such as the duration of the lease, movement of household effects into the quarters, the type of quarters, the employee’s expressions of intent, attempts to secure a permanent dwelling, and the length of time the employee occupies the quarters.