[Decision Concerning Appeal of Claims Group's Denial of USDA Employee's Claim for Dependent's Relocation Expenses]

A Department of Agriculture employee claimed reimbursement for travel and temporary subsistence expenses for her 22-year-old dependent because she relied on an erroneous authorization in her travel orders. GAO held that: (1) the debt was subject to waiver to the extent that the employee actually spent the advance in reliance on erroneous travel orders; and (2) collection was not in the government's best interest, since there was no indication of fraud or misrepresentation on the employee's part. Accordingly, the claim was returned to the agency for calculation of the employee's actual entitlements.