NP
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Posts: 82
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Post by NP on Jul 31, 2014 10:17:17 GMT -5
I am an outsider employed by another federal agency and therefore should be eligible for relocation expenses. I have a September start date and have not gotten any information about relocation yet. We'd like to go ahead and visit our new city in the next couple of weeks (it's a pretty easy drive from where we are now), but I don't want to lose out on any benefits by jumping the gun. What is included in the relocation expenses besides movers? Just a house hunting trip? We aren't selling a house in our old location and don't plan to buy in the new one yet. I'm not overly concerned about paying for one weekend trip to the new city myself. If we sign a lease while we are there, though, and before I've talked to the relocation counselor, are we missing out on any benefits?
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Post by jd on Jul 31, 2014 11:28:39 GMT -5
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Post by agilitymom on Jul 31, 2014 13:16:53 GMT -5
I am an outsider employed by another federal agency and therefore should be eligible for relocation expenses. I have a September start date and have not gotten any information about relocation yet. We'd like to go ahead and visit our new city in the next couple of weeks (it's a pretty easy drive from where we are now), but I don't want to lose out on any benefits by jumping the gun. What is included in the relocation expenses besides movers? Just a house hunting trip? We aren't selling a house in our old location and don't plan to buy in the new one yet. I'm not overly concerned about paying for one weekend trip to the new city myself. If we sign a lease while we are there, though, and before I've talked to the relocation counselor, are we missing out on any benefits? My package came via email about a week after I accepted the offer.
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NP
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Posts: 82
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Post by NP on Jul 31, 2014 13:18:56 GMT -5
Thanks, agilitymom. We aren't planning on going until next weekend at the earliest, so surely it will get here before then.
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Post by maxlaw on Jul 31, 2014 17:07:39 GMT -5
IIRC you could get a househunting trip, or temporary lodging (read hotel and per diem) at your new site, but I don't think you could get both. The lodging was good for 30 days and was renewable at least once on a showing of good faith attempts to find housing. Rules could have changed of course.
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Post by eyre44 on Jul 31, 2014 18:11:49 GMT -5
You can get both a househunting trip and temporary lodging for up to 4 months. The hope is that you will find your place on the househunting trip and not need the temporary lodging, but that doesn't always work. Consequently, you can get both. The key is to ask for both when you fill out your initial relocation paperwork. If you don't they can deny one or the other. I have done both on two different occasions (what can I say, I'm a picky househunter).
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Post by arkstfan on Aug 1, 2014 10:59:25 GMT -5
Temp lodging isn't a bad way to go. The first six weeks on the job, you only spend two in your new city. If you are married makes some sense to postpone moving until you will actually be there, of course with kids involved, all bets are off because you want to move schools as close to the start of the year as possible.
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Post by undespairing on Aug 8, 2014 12:30:28 GMT -5
So I was just told by "Travel and Payroll Services" that they would not pay for both. They have also told me that the Agency "prefers" that I move my belongings before reporting for duty on 8/25. This doesn't seem right. I had heard that the "relocation counselors" were very helpful, but. . . Is anyone else having such an experience?
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Post by hopeful41 on Aug 8, 2014 12:38:38 GMT -5
So I was just told by "Travel and Payroll Services" that they would not pay for both. They have also told me that the Agency "prefers" that I move my belongings before reporting for duty on 8/25. This doesn't seem right. I had heard that the "relocation counselors" were very helpful, but. . . Is anyone else having such an experience? I was also told that you could not get both and that was also in the literature they forwarded. Having said that, the onboarding process and the folks I've been talking to so far have been very helpful and efficient.
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NP
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Post by NP on Aug 8, 2014 13:27:58 GMT -5
The paperwork I got also says they will not pay for both.
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Post by eyre44 on Aug 8, 2014 21:53:02 GMT -5
The paperwork I got also says they will not pay for both. Interesting, they seem to have changed the relocation benefits. I have gotten both, within the last three years. I know they have been tightening up the travel and relo benefits. Used to be they would give you a year to sell your home then a two year extension if needed. Now it is one year with a possible one year extension, which I have heard they are being quite stiingy with. So if that is what the paprrwork says, that's what I would plan for.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2014 22:38:38 GMT -5
The changes were made awhile ago and should be available online.
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Post by uboat on Jun 19, 2019 17:40:57 GMT -5
Does anybody have any recent experiences with this issue? It doesn't seem to make sense that one cannot get both a HHT and TQ, especially when one is making a cross continent relocation. I did not see anything in SSA's most current relocation guide stating that you cannot get bot a house hunting trip and temporary quarters.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2019 4:38:50 GMT -5
Does anybody have any recent experiences with this issue? It doesn't seem to make sense that one cannot get both a HHT and TQ, especially when one is making a cross continent relocation. I did not see anything in SSA's most current relocation guide stating that you cannot get bot a house hunting trip and temporary quarters. My understanding is you cannot get both at same time so if you and spouse do HHT then those days are deducted from TQSE if your TQSE exceeds 30 days. Recommend you research federal travel regulations and also prior relo claims at GSA’s civilian board of contract appeals
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