Request for Waiver of Overpayment of Travel and Relocation Expenses

An employee of the Postal Service was authorized full transfer of station benefits upon his transfer of employment to the Postal Service. Subsequent administrative review determined that the employee was entitled only to reimbursements of $1,894.06 for his transfer as a new appointee to a manpower shortage position, rather than the amount of $7,774.17 that was paid to him. The resulting $5,880.11 difference represented an erroneous overpayment of travel and relocation expenses. The Forest Service requested waiver of the overpayment made to the employee. GAO held that an employee who transfers from the Postal Service to an Executive agency is not eligible for reimbursement of relocation expenses. The erroneous overpayment constituted a valid debt owed by the employee to the Government. Payments made on the basis of erroneous advice or authorization given by a Government agent are recoverable. Since the employee was employed by the Government, the overpayment may be collected by setoff. Therefore, the request for waiver was denied, and payments in excess of the employee's entitlement should be recovered.