Relocation Allowances For Departing Executives and New Appointees

Generally, the following allowances for executives departing Government service and new appointees joining Government service arepayable.

Please check with your agency travel office for specific details.

1.Departing Presidential/Schedule C Appointees
No relocation allowances authorized by the government to return appointees to private industry or place of actual residence. (FTR§302-3.305)

2.Departing Career Appointees to the SeniorExecutive Service (SES) (as defined in FTR §302-3.307)

A reeligible for last move home benefits if the Government had reviously paid to relocate them under one of the following conditions: 

  • Employee transferred or was reassigned geographically from an SES career appointment to another SES career appointment;
  • Employee transferred or was reassigned geographically from an SES appointment to an appointment outside SES, but which had a rate of pay equal to or higher than Level V of the Executive Schedule and the employee elected to retain SES retirement benefits under 5U.S.C.§3392;
  • Employee transferred or was reassigned geographically from other than an SES career appointment to an SES career.

In addition to the above three criteria, the employee must have been at the time of the transfer or reassignment: 

  • Eligible to receive an annuity for optional retirement under CSRS or FERS; or
  • Within 5 years of eligibility to receive an annuity for optional retirement under CSRS or FERS; or
  • Eligible to receive an annuity based on discontinued service retirement or early voluntary retirement under OPM authorization under CSRS or FERS;or
  • Eligible to receive an annuity upon such separation (or, in the case of death in Government service,met the requirements for being conside redeligible to receive anannuity, as of the date of death).

Two other criteria also have to have been met: 

  • Employee separated from Federal service on or after September 22,1988;and
    Has not been previously authorized and received “last move home” benefits.

Allowable expenses areas follows:

  • Travel expenses including per diem for the employee. (FTR §302-3.301)
  • Transportation expenses, but not per diem, for employee’s immediatefamily. (FTR§302-3.301)
  • Mileage allowance to the extent travel is performed by privately owned automobile. (FTR§302-3.301)
  • Transportation and temporary storage of household goods not exceed 18,000 pounds net weight. (FTR§302-7.2)
  • Temporary storage cannot exceed 180 days and may be at origin or destination. (FTR§302-7.8)

3.NewAppointees(FTR302-3.1)
New appointees are defined as any person newly appointed to the Government, including: 

  • An individual who has performed transition activities under section 3 of the Presidential Transaction Act of 1963 (3U.S.C. 102 note) and who is appointed in the same fiscal year as the Presidential inauguration that immediately follow shis/her transition activities.
  • An individual appointed after a break in service except that an employee separated due to a RIF or transfer off unction may be treated as a transfer instead of a new appointee under certain circumstances.
  • A student trainee who is assigned upon completion of college work.

Allowable expenses are as follows: 

  • Travel expenses plus en-route per diem for the appointee. (FTR§302-3.2)
  • Transportation expenses, but not per diem, for appointee’s immediatefamily. (FTR§302-3.2)
  • Mileage allowance to the extent travel is preformed by privately owned automobile. (FTR§302-3.2)
  • Transportation and temporary storage of household goods not to exceed 18,000 pounds net weight. (FTR§302-7.2)
  • Temporary storage cannot exceed 180 days and may be at origin or destination (FTR§302-7.8)

For more information please call (202) 501-1777

Last Reviewed 1/6/2009