Human Resources Management Division

VIII. Miscellaneous Expenses

A miscellaneous expense allowance is to defray various costs associated with discontinuing your home at your old location and establishing a new home at your new location. The amount allowed is related to expenses that are common to living quarters, furnishings, household appliances, and to other general types of costs inherent in moving from one home to another.

The following basic miscellaneous expense may be claimed by you on your travel voucher and paid by NRCS without being itemized or having receipts for every expense:

• $500 or one week's gross salary at the time you report to duty, whichever is less, for an employee without family dependents.
• $1000 or two week's gross salary at the time you report to duty, whichever is less, for an employee with family dependents.

However, the miscellaneous expense allowance is not paid automatically. You must be able to show some item of expense no matter how small to qualify.

If your actual miscellaneous costs exceed the amounts shown above, you may claim them on an actual cost basis instead. The actual miscellaneous expenses that you wish to be paid must be from circumstances, factors, or actions caused by your transfer. However, the aggregate amount cannot exceed your two-week basic pay at the time you report to duty. In no instance can the miscellaneous expense amount exceed the maximum rate of grade GS-13. Each amount claimed must be supported by either a paid bill or some other acceptable evidence that you incurred the expense.

The miscellaneous expense allowance does not apply if you are a new federal appointee or are assigned under the Government Employees Training Act.

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