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Yes, if the estimated daily amount of your TQSE is determined in advance to be lower than the maximum daily amount, your agency may reduce the maximum allowable amount to your expected expenses.

The “applicable per diem rate” under the actual TQSE reimbursement method is as follows:

The period must begin before the maximum time for beginning allowable travel and transportation under §302–2.8.

Your agency may authorize you to claim actual TQSE in increments of 30-days or less, not to exceed 60 consecutive days. However, if your agency determines that there is a compelling reason for you to continue occupying temporary quarters after 60 consecutive days, it may authorize an extension of up to 60 additional consecutive days. Under no circumstances may you be authorized reimbursement for actual TQSE for more than a total of 120 consecutive days.

A “compelling reason” is an event that is beyond your control and is acceptable to your agency. Examples include, but are not limited to when:

(a) Delivery of your household goods to your new residence is delayed due to strikes, customs clearance, hazardous weather, fires, floods or other acts of God, or similar events.

(b) You cannot occupy your new permanent residence because of unanticipated problems (e.g., delay in settlement on the new residence, or short-term delay in construction of the residence).

(c) You are unable to locate a permanent residence which is adequate for your family's needs because of housing conditions at your new official station.

(d) Sudden illness, injury, your death or the death of your immediate family member; or

(e) Similar reasons.

Yes, your authorized period for claiming actual TQSE reimbursement is measured on consecutive days, and once begun, normally continues to run whether or not you occupy temporary quarters. You may, however, interrupt your authorized period for claiming actual TQSE reimbursement in the following instances:

(a) For the time allowed for en route travel between the old and new official stations;

(b) For circumstances attributable to official necessity such as an intervening temporary duty assignment or military duty; or

(c) For a non-official necessary interruption such as hospitalization, approved sick leave, or other reason beyond your control and acceptable to your agency.

Occupancy of temporary quarters for less than a whole day constitutes one full day of your authorized period. (However, see §302–6.110 regarding en route travel.)

The period ends at midnight on the earlier of:

(a) The day preceding the day you and/or any member of your immediate family occupies permanent residence quarters.

(b) The day your authorized period for claiming actual TQSE reimbursement expires.

No, the eligibility period for which you are authorized to claim actual TQSE reimbursement for yourself and for each member of your immediate family must run concurrently.

You may not receive reimbursement under both the actual TQSE allowance and another subsistence expenses allowance within the same day, with one exception. If you claim TQSE reimbursement on the same day that en route travel per diem ends, your en route travel per diem will be computed under applicable partial day rules and you also may be reimbursed for actual TQSE you incur after 6 p.m. of that day.

Yes, but you will not be reimbursed for any of the expenses you incur during the unauthorized period.

If your agency offers and you select the fixed amount TQSE reimbursement method, you are paid a fixed amount for up to 30 days. No extensions are allowed under the fixed amount method.

Multiply the number of days your agency authorizes TQSE by .75 times the maximum per diem rate (i.e., lodging plus meals and incidental expenses) prescribed in chapter 301 of this subtitle for the locality of the new official station. Then for each member of your immediate family, multiply the same number of days by .25 times the same per diem rate. Your payment will be the sum of this calculation.

No, you will not receive additional TQSE reimbursement if the fixed amount is not adequate to cover your TQSE.

Yes, if your fixed TQSE amount is more than adequate to cover your TQSE expenses any balance belongs to you.

Note to subpart D: Use of pronouns “we”, “you”, and their variants throughout this subpart refers to the agency.

Temporary quarters should be used only if, and only for as long as, necessary until the employee and/or his/her immediate family can move into permanent residence quarters. You must administer the TQSE allowance to minimize or avoid other relocation expenses.

You must establish policies and procedures governing:

(a) When you will authorize temporary quarters for employees;

(b) Who will determine if temporary quarters is appropriate in each situation;

(c) If and when you will authorize the fixed amount option for TQSE reimbursement;

(d) Who will determine the appropriate period of time for which TQSE reimbursement will be authorized, including approval of extensions and interruptions of temporary quarters occupancy; and

(e) Who will determine whether quarters were indeed temporary, if there is any doubt.

You may authorize a TQSE allowance on an individual-case basis when use of temporary quarters is justified in connection with an employee's transfer to a new official station. You may not authorize a TQSE allowance for vacation purposes or other reasons unrelated to the transfer.

The factors you should consider include:

(a) The length of time the employee should reasonably be expected to occupy his/her residence at the old official station prior to reporting for duty at the new official station. An employee and his/her immediate family should continue to occupy the residence at the old official station for as long as practicable to avoid the necessity for temporary quarters.

(b) The existence of less expensive alternatives. If a less expensive alternative to the TQSE allowance exists that will enable the employee to find permanent quarters at the new official station, you should consider such an alternative. For example, authorize a househunting trip instead of temporary quarters if it would cost less overall.

(c) The existence of other opportunities to arrange for permanent quarters. Consider whether the employee had other adequate opportunity to arrange for permanent quarters. For example, you should not authorize temporary quarters if the employee had adequate opportunity during an extended temporary duty assignment to arrange for permanent quarters.

The factors you should consider include:

(a) Ease of administration. Actual TQSE reimbursement requires an agency to review claims for the validity, accuracy, and reasonableness of each expense amount. Fixed amount TQSE reimbursement does not require review of expense amounts and is therefore easier to administer.

(b) Cost considerations. You must weigh the cost of each alternative. Actual TQSE reimbursement may extend up to 120 consecutive days, while fixed amount TQSE reimbursement is limited to 30 days. Actual TQSE reimbursement may be less expensive, since its ceiling is based on the standard CONUS rate, while fixed amount TQSE reimbursement is based on the locality per diem rate. However, fixed amount TQSE reimbursement may be less expensive because the maximum daily rate under actual TQSE reimbursement is a higher percentage of the applicable per diem rate than fixed amount TQSE reimbursement.

(c) Treatment of employee. The employee is allowed to choose between actual TQSE reimbursement and fixed amount TQSE reimbursement when you offer the fixed amount TQSE reimbursement method. You therefore should weigh employee morale and productivity considerations against actual cost considerations in determining which method to offer.

In determining whether quarters are “temporary”, you should consider factors such as the duration of the lease, movement of household effects into the quarters, the type of quarters, the employee's expressions of intent, attempts to secure a permanent dwelling, and the length of time the employee occupies the quarters.

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