[Decision Concerning OSMRE Employee's Entitlement to Reimbursement of Relocation Expenses]

The Department of the Interior requested an advance decision as to whether an employee that it had erroneously separated under a reduction-in-force was entitled to reimbursement for relocation expenses pursuant to his reemployment with the government. GAO noted that, although the employee was entitled to reimbursement for an amount equal to his pay since he was subject to an unjustified or unwarranted personnel action, payment should be only for the amount the employee would have received if the erroneous action had not occurred. GAO held that, since the employee would not have received relocation benefits even if the improper personnel action had not occurred, he was not entitled to reimbursement for those expenses. Accordingly, the claim was denied.