Claim for Travel Expenses of Dependent Wife by Retired Military Member

An Air Force sergeant who chose Taiwan as his home after retirement appealed a decision which denied a claim for the travel expenses of a round trip his wife took between Taiwan and New York. Also at issue was whether New York was their permanent home at the time of retirement. The claim was denied because his wife was residing at the home of selection at the time the retirement orders were issued. In his appeal, the service member asserted that upon his retirement he and his wife established residence in New York while he was seeking employment. In this decision, it was determined that they only remained in New York for a short time and that Taiwan was their permanent residence. The claim for his wife's travel was again denied because members are not entitled to have their dependents accompany them at Government expense to the member's last duty station where the sole purpose of the temporary assignment is retirement processing, without any intention of establishing permanent residence there.