[Claim for Military Basic Allowance for Quarters]

A former member of the Marine Corps renewed a claim for a basic allowance for quarters, originally filed in 1974, for his mother's living arrangements predicated by her dependence on him. Since the mother had not responded to an official request for information concerning her financial circumstances, the claim was not approved. In his claim renewal, the former member stated that his mother had not responded to the inquiry because she had not understood it. Marine Corps officials advised him that his claim could not be considered because more than 6 years had elapsed since his separation from active duty. The claim was then forwarded to GAO for review. GAO held that the claim could not be considered because: (1) it accrued no later than the date of his separation from service, which was in 1975; and (2) the Barring Act precludes consideration of claims received more than 6 years after they have accrued regardless of any mitigating circumstances. Accordingly, the claim was denied.