§ 302-1.10 - New appointees.

(a) Coverage. New appointees to any position are eligible for payment only of those travel and transportation expenses listed in paragraph (e) of this section in relocating to their first official station. New appointees include student trainees who are assigned upon completion of college work. New appointees include not only individuals when first appointed to Government service but also individuals appointed after a break in service except that employees separated as a result of reduction in force or transfer of function may be treated as transferees instead of new appointees under the conditions set forth in § 302-1.9.

(b) Authorization and eligibility—(1) Authority to pay. Agencies may pay the relocation expenses allowed in paragraph (e) of this section for new appointees determined eligible under paragraph (b)(2) of this section. However, once an agency has made the determination to pay relocation expenses in an individual case, it must pay all of the allowable relocation expenses contained in paragraph (e) of this section.

(2) Eligibility determination. Each agency shall establish specific criteria for determining which new appointees qualify for payment of allowable relocation expenses. The Office of Personnel Management has issued guidelines in 5 CFR part 572 for agencies to follow in making these personnel determinations.

(c) Agency responsibility. Because new appointees usually lack experience in Government procedures, each agency shall adopt special measures to provide full information to new appointees concerning the benefits which may be available to them for travel and transportation involved in reporting to their official stations. Special care shall be taken to inform appointees of the limitations on available benefits.

(d) Procedural requirements—(1) Agreement. No payment for otherwise allowable expenses or for an advance of funds shall be made unless the appointee or student trainee has signed the agreement appropriate in his/her case as provided in § 302-1.5.

(2) Travel before appointment. Authorized expenses may be paid even though the individual concerned has not been appointed at the time travel to the first official station is performed. For individuals who have performed Presidential transition activities, as described in § 302-1.3(a)(2), allowable travel and transportation may take place at any time following the most recent Presidential election. However, entitlement to such expenses does not vest by virtue of selection for the position or authorization for travel as provided in § 302-1.3(c) but vests only upon actual appointment of the individual concerned. However, nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit the provisions of part 301-1, subpart C, allowing the payment of pre-employment interview travel.

(3) Prior payment. A student trainee may not receive payments at the time of his/her assignment if the expenses of travel and transportation were paid at the time he/she was appointed as a student trainee.

(e) Allowable expenses. Items of expense listed in paragraphs (e) (1) through (6) of this section are payable under the conditions prescribed in this chapter governing the allowance in question. Note particularly that not all of the listed items will be applicable in each situation covered by this part.

(1) Travel expenses including per diem for the appointee or student trainee as set forth in § 302-2.1;

(2) Transportation for immediate family of appointee or student trainee as set forth in § 302-2.2(a);

(3) Mileage if privately owned vehicle is used in travel as set forth in § 302-2.3;

(4) Transportation and temporary storage of household goods as set forth in part 302-8;

(5) Nontemporary storage of household goods if appointed to an isolated location as set forth in § 302-9.1; and

(6) Transportation of mobile homes as set forth in part 302-7.

(f) Expenses not allowable. Items of expense not listed in paragraph (e) of this section which are authorized for reimbursement in case of transfers under this chapter (e.g., per diem for family, cost of house-hunting trip, subsistence while occupying temporary quarters, a miscellaneous expense allowance, residence sale and purchase expenses, lease-breaking expenses, and relocation services) are not allowable to appointees and student trainees eligible under this section.

(g) Alternate origin and destination. The limit on travel and transportation expenses in each individual case is the cost of direct travel or transportation as allowable between the individual's place of residence at the time of selection or assignment (or in the case of individuals having performed Presidential transition activities, as described in § 302-1.3(a)(2), the place of residence at the time of relocation following the most recent Presidential election) and the official station to which he/she is appointed or assigned; however, travel and transportation may be from and/or to other locations if the new appointee or student trainee pays any excess cost involved in such alternate travel or transportation.

(h) Advance of funds. An advance of funds for expenses allowable under this section may be made to appointees and student trainees under the procedures prescribed in § 302-1.14(a) and the part of this subtitle governing the allowance being considered.