Payment of per Diem instead of Subsistence Allowance for Temporary Duty in Designated High-Rate Geographical Area

The propriety of paying a per diem allowance in lieu of actual subsistence expenses for temporary duty performed by an employee in a high-rate geographical area was questioned. The employee, who failed to itemize expenses, may not be reimbursed on a per diem basis since authorization was for actual subsistence expenses. The travel orders may not be retroactively amended to provide reimbursement on a per diem basis since there was no apparent error or omission in the orders.