Claim for TLA and LQA

A civilian Army employee appealed a GAO settlement wherein his claim for a temporary lodging allowance (TLA) and living quarters allowance (LQA) was partially disallowed. The employee claimed that he was entitled to an allowance for food and miscellaneous items while he was living in a hotel in Iran, and a housing allowance for the remaining time he was in that country. GAO had denied his claim for a TLA but allowed his claim for LQA. Hotel food costs are expressly excluded from TLA. The Army records showed a LQA and cost-of-living allowance, but the claimant contended he did not receive them. He submitted his copies of his leave and earnings statements for the period in question as proof. GAO verified the Army's record of these payments. The claimant received an LQA overpayment, as well as an overpayment of the cost-of-living allowance. As the overpayments appeared to be caused in part by the confusion as to when the claimant left Iran, and there was no indication of fraud, misrepresentation, or fault on the claimant's part, GAO determined he may retain the overpayments. GAO found errors in the claimant's entitlement amounts to his LQA, and ordered his outstanding travel advance reduced by these amounts. The net indebtness to the Government was reported to the Army for collection.