[Claim for Reimbursement of Moving Expenses]

A certifying officer for the Department of Health and Human Services requested an opinion as to whether an employee of the Social Security Administration could be reimbursed for the expenses he incurred in hiring a moving company to move certain of his furniture items into his home. The employee was transferred from Oklahoma to Texas in August 1981 and was authorized to ship his household goods by the commuted rate method. However, he was reimbursed only his actual expenses because he did not provide sufficient documentation for reimbursement under the commuted rate method. His new residence contained a large loft room accessible only by a narrow spiral staircase. Since larger pieces of furniture had to be hoisted into the room, the employee could not move them himself and hired a moving company to assist him. The employee claimed entitlement to reimbursement for the amount it cost to hire the moving company, but he was only reimbursed for the amount prescribed by the commuted rate schedule. GAO has previously held that, if an employee is unable to establish his entitlement to a commuted payment under the requirements of the regulations, he may be reimbursed the actual expenses he incurs in transporting his household goods. Therefore, GAO stated that there was no reason why the total expense incurred by the employee to move his household goods should not be reimbursed as part of his actual expenses. Accordingly, the employee could be reimbursed in full.