[Decision Concerning SSA Employee's Claim for Disallowed Meal Costs]

The Social Security Administration (SSA) requested a decision regarding a transferred employee's partially disallowed claim for meal costs. SSA advised that it limited reimbursement for such costs to 45 percent of the maximum allowable amount of temporary quarters subsistence expenses. The claimant contended that the new duty station's high cost of living made it impossible for her to obtain less expensive restaurant meals. GAO held that the claimant failed to adequately justify the excessive cost of meals she claimed. Accordingly, the claim was disallowed.