Reimbursement of Relocation Expenses and Temporary Quarters and Subsistence Expenses

Information was requested on relocation expenses and temporary quarters and subsistence expenses of a government employee. Since no expenses had been incurred at the time of the request, no decision was issued. The employee was transferred from Philadelphia to Bushkill, Pennsylvania. At the time of his transfer, his residence was 81 miles from Bushkill and 84 miles from Philadelphia. The issue was whether he was entitled to reimbursement of relocation expenses and/or mileage in lieu of temporary quarters in connection with his transfer, since the distance between his old residence and new duty station was 3 miles less than the distance between his old residence and his old duty station. GAO held that an employee was entitled to relocation expenses upon transfer where the duty stations were 77 miles apart and the residence was 43 miles from the new duty station and 45 miles from the old duty station. GAO also has held that an employee was not entitled to temporary quarters and subsistence unless the distance between his old residence and new duty station is more than 40 miles greater that the distance between his old residence and old duty station.