Payment of Per Diem Allowances at Maximum Rate

A decision was requested on the propriety of paying the difference between per diem in lieu of subsistence at the rate of $25 per day and per diem at the rate of $33 for an employee attending a conference. The agency intended to authorize the maximum per diem rate, but its policy was not followed. An administrative error occurred, and the employee may receive the difference between $25 per day and the maximum rate of $33.