When travel and transportation expenses for dependents are authorized in connection with a PCS move, the definition of dependent is:
- a. Spouse
- b. Children of the employee or employee's spouse, who are unmarried, and under age 21 years or who, regardless of age, physically or mentally incapable of self-support. "Children" are defined as natural offspring, stepchildren, adopted children or other children under legal guardianship of the employee or spouse.
- c. Dependent parents (including step and legally adoptive parents) of the employee or employee's spouse.
- d. Dependent brothers and sisters (Including step and legally adoptive brothers and sisters) of the employee or employee's spouse who are unmarried and under age 21 of age or who, regardless of age, are physically or mentally incapable of self-support.
If the agency questions employee claims about dependency, documentation to establish the dependency will be requested. This could include change of beneficiary forms, court papers, income tax returns or other documents that
provide the basis for proof of dependency. Further information is available from the servicing Civilian Personnel Advisory Center.
Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)
The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) is a mandatory (military) enrollment program that works with other military and civilian agencies to provide comprehensive and coordinated community support, housing, educational, medical, and personal services to military families with special needs. An exceptional family member is a child (or adult dependent) with any physical, emotional, developmental, or intellectual disorder that requires special treatment, therapy, education, training, or counseling. Department of Army civilians do not enroll in the program, however, they must identify dependent children with special education or medically related service needs when processing for an assignment to a location outside the United States where family member travel is authorized. These employees must also be advised of the availability or non-availability of medical and DoDDs special education services at the location to which they are to be assigned.