[Claim for Differential Pay]

A U.S. citizen employed as a teacher by the Division of Schools of the former Panama Canal Zone appealed a Claims Group denial of her claim for tropical differential. Due to restricted Stateside recruitment, the employee traveled to the Canal Zone at her own expense and was employed locally on a temporary basis to circumvent the permanent hiring restrictions in effect. When she received a permanent appointment she was authorized travel and transportation expenses. After notification of her permanent appointment, she also claimed the tropical differential. GAO stated that in order to be eligible for the tropical differential, Federal regulations require that the employee must have continuously occupied a position since recruitment or transfer from a place, other than the Canal Zone, under the jurisdiction of the United States. GAO concluded that, since the teacher did not meet the eligibility criteria for tropical differential set forth in the controlling regulations, her claim must be denied. Accordingly, the action denying her claim was sustained.