Federal Travel Regulation (FTR); Relocation Allowances-Miscellaneous Expenses Allowance
Published Date: 1/15/2025
Rule
Summary
Starting January 15, 2025, federal employees who move for work will see a change in how their relocation miscellaneous expenses are handled. Instead of fixed lump sums listed in the rules, these amounts will be shared in special bulletins, like travel per diem rates. The actual expense option stays the same, but the rules about what can be reimbursed are clearer and better organized.
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 5 costs, 0 mixed.
Lump Sums Moved to Bulletins
Starting January 15, 2025, the fixed MEA lump sum dollar amounts are removed from the regulation and will be published in FTR Bulletins instead. GSA will publish the initial MEA lump sum bulletin on the rule's effective date and will update the lump sums intermittently using the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
No Advance Payments Allowed
Agencies may not authorize an advance of funds for MEA. MEA payments must be made after you transfer to the new official station, upon assignment to a temporary official station (TCS), or upon completion of your TCS and return, as applicable.
Limits on Excess MEA Reimbursement
If your agency authorizes actual expense reimbursement above the lump sum, the total cannot exceed one week's basic gross pay if relocating alone or two weeks' basic gross pay if relocating with immediate family; the amount also cannot exceed the maximum rate for GS-13, Step 10 (base salary, excluding locality pay) at the time you reported for duty.
Actual Expense Option Unchanged
The MEA actual expense option remains unchanged: you can itemize and claim documented actual costs above the lump sum if authorized by your agency. The rule also clarifies which specific expenses may or may not be reimbursed when you use actual expense.
Who Is Ineligible for MEA
Certain groups are explicitly not eligible for MEA, including new appointees; Senior Executive Service (SES) employees authorized 'last move home' benefits upon separation; employees assigned under the Government Employees Training Act (5 U.S.C. 4109); and certain return-from-OCONUS situations described in the rule.
Basic Gross Pay Excludes Locality Pay
The rule clarifies that 'basic gross pay' used to compute the MEA (or equivalency for one or two weeks' pay) does not include locality pay, per 5 U.S.C. 5302 and 5304.
Small Increase in Government Costs
GSA states the rule causes no cost to the public but may slightly increase Federal Government costs because GSA expects MEA lump sums to increase; GSA estimates an average MEA of $1,125 and an estimated total increase of $312,973 per year agencywide for agencies subject to the FTR.
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