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                               May 22, 1997
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                             GSBCA 13808-RELO


                      In the Matter of KAY M. GRIMES


     Kay M. Grimes, Seabrook-Lanham, MD, Claimant.

     J. Patrick O Toole, Director, Division of Travel Management,
Social Security Administration, Baltimore, MD, appearing for Social
Security Administration.

DeGRAFF, Board Judge.

     In 1995, Kay M. Grimes, an employee of the Social Security
Administration (SSA), made a permanent change of station from
Virginia to Maryland.  SSA agreed to reimburse Ms. Grimes for no
more than thirty days of temporary quarters subsistence expenses
(TQSE).

     Ms. Grimes reported for duty in Maryland on October 1, 1995. 
From October 1 through December 1, 1995, Ms. Grimes lived in
Virginia and commuted to her duty station in Maryland.  On October
1 and 2, and on several dates in November 1995, she stayed
overnight in Maryland and claimed TQSE for those nights. 
Ms. Grimes moved from Virginia to Maryland on December 2, 1995, and
claimed TQSE for December 2 through 16, 1995, after which she moved
into her permanent quarters in Maryland.  On January 24, 1996,
Ms. Grimes submitted a voucher asking to be reimbursed for TQSE and
for other items not at issue here.  

     On March 1, 1996, SSA told Ms. Grimes that it would reimburse 
her for TQSE for October 1 and 2, 1995, but not for any other
dates.  SSA explained that it could not reimburse her for the TQSE
she claimed in November and December 1995, because temporary
quarters days must run consecutively, except when the TQSE period
is interrupted by official travel.  SSA concluded that Ms. Grimes
interrupted her TQSE period for personal reasons, and so it
reimbursed her for the TQSE she incurred on October 1 and 2, 1995,
and for none of the expenses she incurred in November and December
1995. 

     On March 7, 1996, Ms. Grimes asked SSA to disregard her
previous voucher and to reimburse her for the TQSE she incurred on
December 2 through 16, 1995.  She stated that she vacated her
residence in Virginia on December 1, 1995, and began her TQSE
period on December 2, 1996.  

     On April 23, 1996, SSA denied Ms. Grimes's request for
reimbursement for December 2 through 16, 1995.  SSA explained to
Ms. Grimes that her TQSE period had to begin not later than thirty
days from the date she reported for duty in Maryland, regardless of
when she vacated her residence in Virginia, and so the period could
not begin on December 2, 1995. 

     On June 26, 1996, at the request of Ms. Grimes, SSA asked the
General Accounting Office to review Ms. Grimes's claim for TQSE. 
On July 17, 1996, claims involving expenses incurred by federal
civilian employees for official travel and transportation were
transferred from GAO to the General Services Board of Contract
Appeals.  Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1996, Pub. L. No.
104-53,  211, 109 Stat. 514, 535 (1995); Determination by Acting
Director of the Office of Management and Budget (June 28, 1996);
Delegation of Authority from the Acting Administrator of General
Services (July 17, 1996).  The authority to settle these claims has
more recently been vested by statute in the Administrator of
General Services.  General Accounting Office Act of 1996, Pub. L.
No. 104-316,  202(n), 110 Stat. 3826, 3843 (1996).

     SSA is correct that, with certain exceptions not relevant
here, TQSE days must run consecutively even if expenses are not
claimed for every day.  The Federal Travel Regulation explains that
an employee who makes a permanent change of station may be
reimbursed for TQSE for a period of not more than sixty consecutive
days (120 in some circumstances).  The regulation provides that the
period of consecutive days can be interrupted for travel between
the old and new duty stations, for official necessity, and for
reasons (such as illness) beyond the employee's control and
acceptable to the agency.  41 CFR 302-5.2(a)(1) (1995).  We agree
with SSA that Ms. Grimes interrupted her TQSE period for personal
reasons and not for any of the reasons permitted by the regulation.


     SSA is also correct that Ms. Grimes was required to begin her
TQSE period not later than thirty days from the date that she
reported for duty in Maryland.  The Federal Travel Regulation
provides that, in order to be eligible for TQSE, the period of use
of temporary quarters must begin not later than thirty days from
the date the employee reports for duty at the new official duty
station.  41 CFR 302-5.2(e).  Ms. Grimes reported for duty at her
new duty station in Maryland on October 1, 1995, and so she cannot
begin her TQSE period on December 2, 1995.  Ms. Grimes points out
that the regulation also provides that the TQSE period can begin
not later than thirty days from the date the "family" vacates the
residence at the old duty station.  41 CFR 302-5.2(e).  Ms. Grimes
suggests that she constituted a "family," for purposes of the
regulation.  SSA correctly rejected Ms. Grimes's suggestion. 
Julie K. Welch, GSBCA 14139-RELO (May 22, 1997).

     Ms. Grimes has not established that SSA's decision was
incorrect.  Therefore, her claim is denied.




                                   ________________________________
                                   MARTHA H. DeGRAFF
                                   Board Judge