|
Post by northbend on Nov 10, 2014 10:56:27 GMT -5
I got my travel authorization late Friday afternoon for my interview this Friday, 11/14, so I wasn't able to make the reservation until this morning. But I did and it went smoothly. I fly in and out on 11/14.
|
|
|
Post by helplesslyhoping on Nov 10, 2014 11:15:05 GMT -5
Same here. Have an interview this Friday and received my travel authorization number on Nov. 7. Was able to immediately book my travel arrangements without problem.
|
|
|
Post by 71stretch on Nov 10, 2014 11:49:12 GMT -5
OK, for us non-fed employees, I understand the FC per diem rate is $177 max for hotels and $71 for meals and incidental expenses. Does SSA pay the full $177 and $71, or only the actual out-of-pocket costs you incurred and verified by receipts? So, if it takes me 1 day to get to FC, I might get MIE rate and hotel and the MIE rate on the following day on the trip back home? The answer could have a bearing on where I stay during my interview and the places for meals, taxi, etc. How long does it take to get reimbursed? It took a few weeks to get reimbursed in 2010. I had to spend 2 nights due to travel time and interview time, which is why I stayed at the Best Western in Falls Church because it was less expensive and I didn't have to front so much cash not knowing how long it would take to get it back.. I sent receipts for everything, including the Metro. If I had been instructed that I would get the per diem regardless, I don't think I would have kept the receipts.
|
|
|
Post by Gram Pop on Nov 10, 2014 13:48:25 GMT -5
Just got an email with my travel authorization.I will be driving to FC, but as my interview is at 8:30 AM, I am authorized for one night in a hotel at the government rate. The Hampton Inn seems the closest hotel and I will probably stay there. Curiously, the AAA rate is cheaper (by $10) than the Government rate. I will do my part to control the Federal deficit by using my AAA membership to book the room.
Good luck to all.
|
|
|
Post by anotherfed on Nov 10, 2014 14:44:59 GMT -5
Just got an email with my travel authorization.I will be driving to FC, but as my interview is at 8:30 AM, I am authorized for one night in a hotel at the government rate. The Hampton Inn seems the closest hotel and I will probably stay there. Curiously, the AAA rate is cheaper (by $10) than the Government rate. I will do my part to control the Federal deficit by using my AAA membership to book the room. Good luck to all. As a taxpayer, I thank you.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2014 16:09:05 GMT -5
OK, for us non-fed employees, I understand the FC per diem rate is $177 max for hotels and $71 for meals and incidental expenses. Does SSA pay the full $177 and $71, or only the actual out-of-pocket costs you incurred and verified by receipts? So, if it takes me 1 day to get to FC, I might get MIE rate and hotel and the MIE rate on the following day on the trip back home? The answer could have a bearing on where I stay during my interview and the places for meals, taxi, etc. How long does it take to get reimbursed? SSA pays for the amount of the hotel room up to whatever the rate is, $177.00 plus taxes. You must have a receipt for Hotel/taxes and baggage fees. On the days of travel is 75% of the $71.00 ($53.25), so it's $53.25 x 2 if you stay overnight. No receipts are needed for MIE. Anything over $75.00, need a receipt. I would get receipts for taxi and parking anyway, all others not required if under $75.00.
I never filed for my trip and I left about $150.00 on the table, but such is life. I would file if I had it to do over again, but I was young and foolish 5 months ago. I now "closely approaching advanced age"!
Hope that helps.
Tiger
|
|
|
Post by moopigsdad on Nov 10, 2014 16:31:02 GMT -5
OK, for us non-fed employees, I understand the FC per diem rate is $177 max for hotels and $71 for meals and incidental expenses. Does SSA pay the full $177 and $71, or only the actual out-of-pocket costs you incurred and verified by receipts? So, if it takes me 1 day to get to FC, I might get MIE rate and hotel and the MIE rate on the following day on the trip back home? The answer could have a bearing on where I stay during my interview and the places for meals, taxi, etc. How long does it take to get reimbursed? SSA pays for the amount of the hotel room up to whatever the rate is, $177.00 plus taxes. You must have a receipt for Hotel/taxes and baggage fees. On the days of travel is 75% of the $71.00 ($53.25), so it's $53.25 x 2 if you stay overnight. No receipts are needed for MIE. Anything over $75.00, need a receipt. I would get receipts for taxi and parking anyway, all others not required if under $75.00.
I never filed for my trip and I left about $150.00 on the table, but such is life. I would file if I had it to do over again, but I was young and foolish 5 months ago. I now "closely approaching advanced age"!
Hope that helps.
Tiger
Tiger, Thanks for the information. Please let us know when you are closely approaching retirement age. LOL! Moopigsdad
|
|
|
Post by orchid on Nov 11, 2014 10:37:04 GMT -5
Sorted flights out yesterday. SATO was extremely helpful!
Good luck to all interviewing in the next 2 weeks!
|
|
|
Post by peacemaker on Nov 11, 2014 11:03:21 GMT -5
Hello folks--I would like to go a day early and see some family. I have not yet received the travel authorization number or spoken to the travel folks, but before I make a nonrefundable lodging decision would like to know whether ODAR will put any constraints on when I fly in--does ODAR care, as long as the costs are the same?
Thank you! Good luck to all with your interviews and thanks again for all the help offered by Board members throughout this process. I am looking forward to post-interview and the chance to finally let go of the outcome.
|
|
|
Post by northbend on Nov 11, 2014 11:07:00 GMT -5
I don't think they care. After they told me I was going to fly in and out on the day of the interview, I asked them if I could drive instead and get reimbursed for mileage. I assumed I would have to cover the hotel myself. They responded that I could have mileage and that they would cover the hotel.
|
|
|
Post by 71stretch on Nov 11, 2014 11:24:02 GMT -5
Hope to hear from the travel folks tomorrow. Interview in a week.
|
|
|
Post by JudgeRatty on Nov 11, 2014 11:34:42 GMT -5
Hope to hear from the travel folks tomorrow. Interview in a week. Still many of us with no interview date yet so hoping to hear tomorrow or Thursday. Amazing how they are getting all this done in such a short timeframe! Of course we will have radio silence again after the last interview.
|
|
|
Post by chessparent on Nov 11, 2014 11:43:17 GMT -5
Hope to hear from the travel folks tomorrow. Interview in a week. Still many of us with no interview date yet so hoping to hear tomorrow or Thursday. Amazing how they are getting all this done in such a short timeframe! Of course we will have radio silence again after the last interview. We could start posting our favorite Thanksgiving recipes. BagLady??
|
|
|
Post by gary on Nov 11, 2014 11:49:12 GMT -5
Still many of us with no interview date yet so hoping to hear tomorrow or Thursday. Amazing how they are getting all this done in such a short timeframe! Of course we will have radio silence again after the last interview. We could start posting our favorite Thanksgiving recipes. BagLady?? If you prepare BagLady's favorite Thanksgiving recipes you'll need to keep the stuffing away from open flames.
|
|
|
Post by Who Me? on Nov 12, 2014 23:33:57 GMT -5
Getting a little nervous. Got my interview date (Tuesday 11/18) AM, but no travel number. Looking at the airlines that depart from my closest airport, little if any, seats available to get me there on time or even the day before. I really don't want to spend 20 hours going to multiple cities to get to FC and be wiped out for the interview. Anyone else having these issues?
Even if Sato can get me a flight, I suspect it will cost way more as a last minute booking if they could have booked me well before. Should I call ODAR HQ tomorrow?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2014 0:06:54 GMT -5
The cost is set by agreement and does not depend on when it is booked. Also, SATO can sometimes get flights that otherwise say they are booked. Best of luck!
|
|
|
Post by 71stretch on Nov 13, 2014 2:16:39 GMT -5
Got a call this morning to "set up my profile" for travel. She said I would be receiving a travel authorization number. Nothing since then. It was not this complicated last time, so I don't know what to expect. Does this number come by email or do I get another phone call?
|
|
|
Post by jessejames on Nov 13, 2014 7:52:26 GMT -5
Email
|
|
|
Post by moopigsdad on Nov 13, 2014 8:07:47 GMT -5
Got a call this morning to "set up my profile" for travel. She said I would be receiving a travel authorization number. Nothing since then. It was not this complicated last time, so I don't know what to expect. Does this member come by email or do I get another phone call? Observer53 you will get an email according to the woman I spoke to this morning. It will have the necessary information for you to call CWT SATO in it. Good luck Observer53 as I am in the exact same boat.
|
|
|
Post by 71stretch on Nov 13, 2014 8:08:13 GMT -5
Thanks. I figured that, and that this one will likely hit the spam filter as an unknown address.
|
|