[Request for Decision on AID Employee's Entitlement to Home Service Transfer Allowance]

The Agency for International Development (AID) requested a decision concerning an employee's entitlement to a home service transfer allowance (HSTA) for his temporary lodging costs in one location and for his dependents in a nearby location while awaiting his reassignment. GAO held that: (1) HSTA had a statutory payment limit of 30 calendar days; and (2) since both locations were high-rate geographical areas, the maximum daily HSTA per diem rate would be $50. Accordingly, AID may reimburse the employee for 30 days HSTA for himself and his dependents, computed on the basis of the $50 maximum per diem rate.