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Subsistence Expense Claim

B-198093 Nov 10, 1980
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Highlights

An air traffic control specialist, through the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO), claimed that the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) was legally obligated to reimburse him for the entire sum which he spent on food for himself and his family while they occupied temporary quarters. FAA disallowed part of the claimant's original voucher total for food expenses incurred during his permanent transfer. The difference of the two amounts was recouped by withholding a portion of the specialist's wages. PATCO said that FAA acted unreasonably or illegally since it did not adhere to previous GAO decisions involving the correct method for handling fraudulent travel expense claims. An employee is entitled to reimbursement for the actual subsistence expenses which he incurs, provided that these expenses are incident to the occupancy of temporary quarters and are reasonable as to amount. It is the responsibility of the employing agency to determine that such expenses are reasonable in light of the circumstances of each individual case. The FAA determined that the claimant's expenses exceeded the level of reasonableness. Accordingly, the claim was denied.

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