Delayed Request for Travel and Transportation Benefits Incident to Retirement

An advance decision was requested regarding payment of a claim for travel and transportation benefits incident to retirement of W. Howard Johnson. The employee had indicated following retirement that he did not intend to return to the continental United States but did not commence such travel until 17 months after the date of his retirement. He was not entitled to the travel and transportation benefits since the travel was not clearly incidental to the termination of his assignment and did not commence within a reasonable time after the assignment had been terminated. In addition, the employee offered no explanation indicating that the delay was due to circumstances beyond his control.