Claim for Payment of Relocation Expenses Prior to Actual Transfer

A decision was requested as to whether an employee's claim for reimbursement of relocation expenses could be paid prior to the effective date of the transfer. An employee who incurs reimbursable relocation expenses in accordance with travel orders prior to the effective date of the transfer has sufficiently complied with statutory and regulatory requirements to permit payment of the expenses prior to the actual transfer in certain circumstances. Since the payments may be recoverable if the transfer is not effected, the Government's interests are reasonably protected by the recovery procedures.