Travel and Transportation Frequently Asked Questions

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TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. What do I need for my new Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move?
A. You need personnel orders to authorize travel allowance and household goods (HHG) transportation and storage.

Q. May I take leave in conjunction with a PCS move?
A. Yes, you may request annual leave. In addition, an officer may be granted up to three days? administrative leave before departing the old duty station for the purposes of arranging the movement of HHG and upon reporting to the new duty station for the purposes of seeking residence quarters or otherwise establishing residence in the new location. Administrative leave may not be granted during the period between the officer's scheduled departure from the old duty station and arrival at the new duty station. Corps officers are not reimbursed for house-hunting trips using annual leave.

Q. Who may I contact for general travel information?
A. Please refer to the USPHS Travel and Transportation Information Center: http://dcp.psc.gov/Travel/contents.asp. Officers may also e-mail specific travel and transportation questions to the Commissioned Corps Travel Coordinator: phstravel@hhs.gov

Q. Where do I find the travel reimbursement forms?
A. The travel voucher (SF-1012) and supporting travel forms may be downloaded from the Commissioned Corps Travel and Transportation Information Center: http://dcp.psc.gov/Travel/official_forms.asp.

Q. What PCS travel allowances may I claim?
A. Officers performing a permanent change of station may claim monetary allowance in lieu of government transportation (MALT), per diem (Plus), temporary lodging expense (TLE), and dislocation allowance (DLA).

Q. Where can I find specific information on PCS allowances?
A. Information on allowances and rates can be found on the Commissioned Corps Travel and Transportation Information Center: http://dcp.psc.gov/Travel/rates.asp.

Q. Do I have to provide copies of receipts?
A. You must provide copies of lodging receipts if you are claiming temporary lodging expense (TLE). Receipts for meals, gas, and lodging on official travel days area not necessary. You should provide receipts for reimbursement of parking fees, ferry fares, road, bridge and tunnel tolls if possible.

Q. If I claim temporary lodging expense (TLE) do I have to fill out any forms?
A. Yes. You must complete PHS-7045 (Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE) Computation Worksheet) and include lodging receipts with your travel voucher. The final TLE amount claimed should also be itemized on the travel voucher (SF-1012). http://dcp.psc.gov/Travel/official_forms.asp

Q. How do I claim a dislocation allowance?
A. If you qualify, please list dislocation allowance on the travel voucher (SF-1012) under column (c) and then provide the correct amount in column (n). http://dcp.psc.gov/Travel/rates.asp

Q. To whom do I send my completed travel reimbursement paperwork?
A. Officers must submit the completed travel voucher and any other travel reimbursement forms to the finance office of the operating division/agency to which they are assigned.

For FDA Officers Only: Travel reimbursement paperwork for FDA officers is completed by Prudential Relocation after a permanent change of station (PCS) move. The Prudential Relocation counselor prepares the travel voucher (SF-1012) and sends it to the officer for review and signatures on line 12 and 14. The officer must then return the signed reimbursement paperwork to Prudential Relocation which in turn will send the documents to FDA for final payment processing.

Q. When should I submit my reimbursement paperwork?
A. Travel reimbursement forms shall be completed when travel to the new permanent duty station (PDS) is completed.

Q. When should I submit my reimbursement paperwork if my dependents travel on different dates than me?
A. Contact your OP/Div or Agency finance office for their specific preference; however, you may submit a travel voucher for yourself when you complete travel and then a separate travel voucher at a later date when your dependents complete travel.

Q. What documents should I send to Compensation Branch?
A. Compensation Branch DOES NOT process travel reimbursement. The only documents sent to Compensation Branch related to official travel are the official forms for temporary lodging allowance (TLA) (PHS-488) incident to OCONUS travel and the Notice of Arrival (PHS-2874). Do not send any other travel reimbursement paperwork to the Compensation Branch.

Q. Should I make copies of my travel reimbursement documents before I submit them?
A. Yes.

Q. Is there a deadline for when I must submit travel reimbursement paperwork?
A. No, but you should prepare and submit your travel voucher(s) as quickly as possible. This will provide for prompt settlement of your claim.

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Last updated: 02 April 2008