[Entitlement to Excess Household Goods Storage Charges]

The Defense Mapping Agency (DMA) requested a decision as to whether an employee was entitled to be reimbursed for the storage of his household goods in excess of 60 days. As a condition of employment, the claimant was assigned temporary duty overseas before reporting to his new permanent duty station with another DMA branch. He stored his household goods while he was overseas and requested reimbursement on the basis that he was entitled to nontemporary storage. GAO stated that the right of an employee to have his household goods placed in nontemporary storage while on overseas assignment only applies to permanent duty assignments. GAO has held that the maximum period allowed for reimbursement, incident to a permanent change of station transfer, is limited to that period authorized in the regulations, regardless of the circumstances which necessitate additional storage time. GAO stated that, since the employee was reimbursed for 60 days of temporary storage, payment for the additional period would not be authorized. The GAO review of the settlement showed that errors were made in the initial reimbursement; however, an amount due the employee should be paid, if otherwise correct.