Claim for Reimbursement of Air Fare for Advance Return of Dependent of Overseas Civilian Employee

An employee appealed a Claims Division decision which denied a claim for reimbursement of air transportation for his wife incident to her second return from his overseas duty station during the agreed period of overseas service. Because of family illness, the employee's wife decided to travel under early return orders from overseas. The employee was erroneously advised that she could return to the United States again as a member of his household when his tour of duty was completed. The appeal of the disallowance was made on the basis of this incorrect advice concerning her return travel entitlements. Legislation authorizing the advance return of members of the family of an employee stationed overseas provides that transportation expenses prior to the employee's return shall not be paid more than once when the employee has acquired eligibility for return transportation. Thus, after one reimbursement for return travel, there was no authority to reimburse the cost of transportation to the United States for the employee's wife a second time. Accordingly, the Claims Division decision was sustained.