Claim for Full Cost Reimbursement for Shipping Mobile Home

A civilian employee of the Air Force appealed the denial of his claim for full reimbursement for shipment of his mobile home incident to permanent change of station. The cost of shipment exceeded the amount the claimant was entitled to under relevant statutes which limit reimbursement to the amount an employee would have received for shipping and temporary storage of 11,000 pounds of household effects. Although the employee claimed that the agency ensured him that the cost would be reimbursed, an agency does not have the authority to bind the government to pay in excess of this amount. The claimant was not to receive any additional payment and he was required to return to the Air Force any overpayment he received.