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                        February 11, 1997
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                        GSBCA 13969-RELO


               In the Matter of DEBORAH P. THOMAS


     Deborah P. Thomas, Largo, FL, Claimant.

     Al LaBombard, Chief, Employee Accounts Division, Department of
Veterans Affairs, Austin, TX, appearing for the Department of
Veterans Affairs.

VERGILIO, Board Judge.

     The claimant, Deborah P. Thomas, seeks to recover $800 which
she attributes to settling an unexpired lease upon a transfer and
relocation.  The record fails to demonstrate that the claimant
incurred the expense and paid the requested amount.  Applicable
regulation prohibits payment of the claim in this circumstance.

     No later than May 15, 1996, when she signed her intra-agency
transfer request and agreement to remain in Government service for
twelve months (or to repay the Government costs of travel and
transportation advanced), the claimant learned of her transfer,
with a proposed effective date of transfer of June 9.

     The claimant states that in November 1993, she began sharing
a house with an individual (the owner).  "At that time it was
verbally agreed that the two of us would split the mortgage and
house utilities.  Since that time, there has not been a problem in
doing so."  Moreover,

     As soon as I was informed that I had to vacate, I
     informed [the owner].  But due to the shortness of time,
     [the owner] was not able to get another person to share
     the mortgage.  This rush for me to vacate, caused [the
     owner] a financial hardship for 2 months.  Due to the
     circumstances, I think it only right to pay the 2 months
     mortgage for June and July.

     The claimant submits a statement from the owner, dated June 4,
1996:

     Per our agreement, you are to pay $400.00 a month for
     your share of the mortgage and utilities.  Since I was
     not given a 30-day notice that you were vacating, I am
     requesting that you pay June and July's mortgage.  This
     would offset the vacancy that I must fill by August 1,
     1996.  Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Mortgage statements reveal a monthly mortgage between the owner and
a lender of $494.69.

     The checks provided by the claimant do not support the claim. 
For 1996 there are three cancelled checks to the landlord: $250,
dated March 12, with the annotation "mortgage"; $380, dated April
4, with the annotation "rent/loan"; and $200, dated June 3, with
the annotation "cash advance," above which is written "house
payment."  Checks for earlier years also reflect no specific
monthly price.

     The regulation here applicable, the Federal Travel Regulation
(FTR), specifies that the Government shall reimburse an employee
for expenses required to be paid by her in connection with the
settlement of an unexpired lease involving her residence at the old
official duty station provided various conditions are met. 
Expenses must be itemized.  Further, each item must be supported by
documentation showing that the expense was in fact incurred and
paid by the employee.  41 CFR 302-6.2(h) (1996).

     With reference to the above-cited regulation, the agency has
denied the claim.  The denial states that the claimant has not
furnished a copy of the lease, no document states the amount the
claimant was to pay monthly, no documentation demonstrates that the
claimant incurred and paid the amount claimed, and cancelled checks
provided cover portions of the lease period but fail to
substantiate the claim.

     The information submitted in support of the claim fails to
substantiate the request for reimbursement.  Most basically, no
cancelled checks or other material demonstrates that the claimant
incurred an expense of and paid $800 to settle the lease.  Also,
the cancelled checks do not signify an agreement to pay $400
monthly.  The owner addresses a thirty-day notice, which is at odds
with the requested payment for two full months.  Additionally, one-
half of the monthly mortgage is approximately $250; without
itemizations, the $400 monthly amount has not been substantiated.

     The claimant may not recover the amount sought.



                                     ____________________________
                                     JOSEPH A. VERGILIO
                                     Board Judge