B-235407, Sep 14, 1989
Highlights
CIVILIAN PERSONNEL - Relocation - Mobile homes - Shipment - Actual expenses - Reimbursement DIGEST: This summary letter decision addresses well established rules which have been discussed in previous Comptroller General decisions. We held that only those expenses which directly related to the actual shipment of a mobile home were reimbursable transportation expenses under the Federal Travel Regulations (FTR). /1/ All other expenses. Were considered "miscellaneous" and were reimbursable only through the miscellaneous expense allowance provisions of chapter 2. Boggs's reimbursement is limited to that authorized by FTR.
B-235407, Sep 14, 1989
CIVILIAN PERSONNEL - Relocation - Mobile homes - Shipment - Actual expenses - Reimbursement DIGEST: This summary letter decision addresses well established rules which have been discussed in previous Comptroller General decisions. To locate substantive decisions addressing this issue, refer to decisions indexed under the above listed index entry.
Joseph A. Boggs:
This decision responds to a request from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) concerning the entitlement of an employee, Mr. Joseph A. Boggs, to be reimbursed for the expenses incurred in preparing his mobile home for shipment incident to a permanent change of station.
In our decision in John C. Schilling, 66 Comp.Gen. 480 (1987), we held that only those expenses which directly related to the actual shipment of a mobile home were reimbursable transportation expenses under the Federal Travel Regulations (FTR). /1/ All other expenses, such as unblocking and blocking the mobile home or connecting utilities or appliances, were considered "miscellaneous" and were reimbursable only through the miscellaneous expense allowance provisions of chapter 2, part 3 of the FTR, which the VA has done in Mr. Boggs's case.
While we recommended in Schilling, supra, that the General Services Administration (GSA) consider amending the FTR to permit the payment of these additional expenses as part of the cost of transportation, GSA has not taken such action. Therefore, Mr. Boggs's reimbursement is limited to that authorized by FTR, Para. 2-3.3.
/1/ FTR, chap. 2, part 7 (Supp. 1, Sept. 28, 1981), incorp. by ref., 41 C.F.R. Sec. 101-7.003 (1988).