Claims for Mileage and Per Diem While on Temporary Duty

A Regional Director of a Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) Division of Accounting, Fiscal and Budgeting Services requested a decision on the claims of an Area Director of the Social Security Administration (SSA) for mileage and per diem incident to his performing temporary duty near his headquarters. The issues were whether the employee was entitled to per diem where such temporary duty did not require overnight lodging away from his residience and how his mileage claims may be properly computed. The agency denied per diem claims for travel to a nearby temporary duty station since his time spent in travel did not exceed his normal commuting time. GAO held that it is within the discretion of the employing agency to authorize or approve per diem or deny it where the travel involves only short distances outside the duty station area. The claims for per diem were properly denied. Agency regulations do not provide guidance on commuting expenses incurred in the use of a carpool. In the absence of agency regulations, employees' normal commuting expenses should be determined on a weekly basis and be divided by five to determine daily expense. Agencies should determine through internal regulations how carpools should be treated.