Entitlement to Real Estate Expenses

An employee requested reconsideration of his claim for real estate expenses after selling his home and moving to his new employment station. When the claimant applied for a position with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the recruitment officer had strongly suggested to him that he would be offered an appointment in the next fiscal year. The claimant contended that the recruitment officer advised him that the appointment probably would not be within traveling distance of his Boston home and that it was therefore advisable for him to sell it. The FBI certifying officer denied the claim for reimbursement of the real estate expenses on the grounds that the Boston home was not the employee's residence when he was authoritatively informed of his transfer. The claimant asked for reconsideration of his case based on additional information contained in a letter from the recruitment officer which showed that the claimant's chances of being hired were good. GAO found that the claimant's contacts with the recruiting officer and the possibility of his subsequent transfer did not amount to a notification of selection for appointment. Therefore, the information was not considered to be relevant evidence to warrant a change of GAO position. Accordingly, the prior decision was sustained.