Claim for Travel Expenses

An advance decision was requested concerning the claim of a Forest Service employee for reimbursement of temporary lodging expenses she incurred incident to her transfer to Juneau, Alaska. The employee was authorized reimbursement for certain relocation expenses including per diem for en route travel and temporary quarters expenses. The employee occupied temporary quarters beginning at 12:45 a.m. on the day of arrival at her new permanent duty station and incurred 2 lodging expenses for the same calender day. The employee was paid en route travel per diem through the first quarter of the day of arrival and temporary quarters expenses beginning with the second quarter at 6:00 a.m. in accordance with travel regulations. The employee claimed reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses for her first night's lodging. Travel regulations provide that temporary quarters eligibility cannot begin until after the last calendar day quarter for which travel per diem is paid. Since the employee was reimbursed the maximum allowable amount for the calendar day in question, no authority exists for additional reimbursement. Accordingly, the reclaim voucher may not be certified for payment.