[Payment of Basic Allowance for Quarters]

As the result of an appeal by a member of the United States Coast Guard Reserve (USCGR), GAO reviewed the Claims Group's denial of his claim for a basic quarters allowance during a period of sea duty in excess of 3 months. The issue was whether, as a USCGR member without dependents, he was entitled to receive a basic allowance for quarters during temporary additional duty on board a U.S. vessel. He stated that an emergency situation which caused him to be ordered aboard the ship 18 days before the scheduled departure date left him insufficient time to sell or lease his home. He claimed that the denial of basic allowance for quarters was a hardship, because he bore the expenses of maintaining his home at his permanent station. GAO stated that Congress specifically provided that a basic allowance for quarters may not be paid to a member without dependents while he is on sea duty regardless of the length of time involved. Accordingly, the claim was denied.