[Decision Concerning HHS Employee's Claim for Reimbursement for Forfeited Real Estate Deposit]

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) requested an advance decision concerning an employee's claim for reimbursement for a forfeited real estate deposit as a real estate expense rather than a miscellaneous relocation expense. GAO held that the employee was not entitled to reimbursement for the forfeited deposit, since: (1) regulations only authorized reimbursement for such expenses as miscellaneous expenses; and (2) HHS paid her the maximum allowable sum for miscellaneous transfer expenses without the requisite documentation. Accordingly, the claim was denied.