U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20410-3000
MAR 3 2003
OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY
FOR ADMINISTRATION
MEMORANDUM FOR: Carolyn Federoff, President, AFGE, National Council of HUD
Locals 222
FROM: Priscilla A. Lewis, Chief, Labor Relations Branch, ARHLL
SUBJECT: Relocation Allowance Policy
This amends the notification dated February 26, 2003, provided to you on the subject
relocation policy. Our notification of February 26, 2003 inadvertently contained the wrong
attachment. Please submit any preliminary proposals related to the impact of the implementation
of this policy within 10 calendar days after receipt of this amended notification.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Michael Hubbard, of my staff, at
(202) 708-1492.
Attachment
cc: Edward Eitches, Chairperson, Headquarters
Perry Casper, Portland, Oregon
Ann Taylor, Richmond, Virginia
Marinella Murillo, San Antonio, Texas
Lisa Lowery, Knoxville, Tennessee
John Noyes, Minneapolis, Minnesota
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY SECRETARY
WASHINGTON, DC 20410-0050
1. Purpose
a. This Notice establishes Departmental policy for authorizing and approving relocation allowances for new appointees, HUD employees, and Federal employees who transfer from other agencies.
b. This Notice must be used in conjunction with the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) to determine what travel and transportation expenses will be paid when relocation allowances are authorized.
2. Scope. Generally, the Department has the discretion to authorize or not authorize relocation allowances on a case-by-case basis. This Notice covers the predominant relocation situations, which include:
a. New appointee travel from the actual residence to the first official duty station to begin work;
b. Employee travel from one permanent duty station to another without a break in employment continuity with departments and agencies of the Federal Government where the transfer is in the best interest of the Government; and
c. Last move home for Senior Executive Service (SES) career appointees upon separation from Federal service for retirement. (FTR 302-3.304.)
The FTR should be consulted in those situations not described above.
3. New Appointee: First Official Duty Station
a. A New Appointee is defined as an individual who is employed with the Federal Government for the very first time, an employee who is returning to the Government after a break in service, or a student trainee assigned to the Government upon completion of his/her college work. (FTR 302-3.1.)
b. A New Appointee may be allowed relocation expenses to the first official duty station if authorized by a Principal Authorizing Official (P AO) designated in Section 6 subject to a determination that the payment of relocation allowances is in the best interest of the Government.
4. Employee:
Permanent Change of Official Duty Station
a. An employee is defined as someone who is employed by a Federal agency. (FTR 300-3.1.)
b. When it is determined to be in the best interest of the Government, relocation expenses will be paid to fill a position by moving a current Federal employee from one official duty station to another. The transfer to the new duty station must be at least 50 miles from the old duty station. (For exceptions, see FTR 302-2.6.)
c. Guidelines for making a determination that a transfer is in the best interest of the Government include:
(1)
Management Initiated. If a HUD
component requests a Federal employee transfer (i.e., reduction in force, transfer of function,
agency career development program, or agency directed placement), the transfer
will be regarded as being in the best interest of the Government.
(2) Advertising: a Vacancy
(a) When a HUD component is preparing to recruit for a vacancy, the PAO designated in Section 6 must make a determination that payment of relocation allowances is in the best interest of the Government. The PAO must communicate one of the following determinations to the Offices of Human Resources prior to advertising the vacancy: (1) Relocation allowances are authorized, (2) Relocation allowances may not be authorized, or (3) Relocation allowances not authorized. This determination will be stated on the vacancy announcement. HUD components must confirm availability of funds for relocation. allowances with the CFO's Office of Budget prior to advertising a vacancy when (1) or (2) above, apply.
(b) In cases where a vacancy announcement has been issued stating "Relocation allowances not authorized," when the P AO makes a subsequent determination that authorization of the allowances is in the best interest of the Government, the Deputy Secretary must concur with the new determination. Written requests for approval will be based on factors such as cost effectiveness, or labor market conditions, or difficulty in filling the vacancy. HUD components must confirm availability of funds with the CFO's Office of Budget prior to the submission of the request to the Deputy Secretary.
(3)
Moves Not in the Best Interest of the Government. If a vacancy has not been
advertised and an employee actively pursues, solicits or requests a position
change resulting in the geographic move of such employee from
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one official duty station to
another, such a transfer is primarily for the convenience and benefit of the
employee, and is deemed not in the interest of the Government. The gaining HUD
component must formally advise the employee at the time an offer is extended
that the transfer is in the best interest of the employee and not in the best
interest of the Government, and the Government shall not pay relocation
expenses.
5. SES: Last Move Home. An SES career appointee is eligible, upon separation from Federal service, for certain travel and transportation allowances if the individual meets the criteria set forth in the FTR. (FTR 302-3.304.)
6. Authorizing Officials
a. The Deputy Secretary will be the
authorizing official for political appointee positions, i.e., Presidential and
Schedule C appointees; Limited SES Term and Limited Emergency SES appointees;
Non Career SES appointees.
b. For other than political appointee
relocations, the Principal Authorizing Official (P AO) for their respective
areas of responsibility will be the:
(1)
Chief of Staff
(2)
General Counsel
(3)
Assistant Secretaries
(4)
President, GNMA
(5)
Chief Financial Officer
(6)
Assistant Deputy Secretary for Field Policy and Management
(7)
Director, Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control
(8)
Director, Office of Departmental Operations and Coordination
(9)
Director, Office of Departmental Equal Employment Opportunity
c.
In the event
the PAO is otherwise unavailable, relocation allowances must be authorized by
one of the following personnel, in the order provided:
(1)
Deputy Secretary
(2) Chief
of Staff
(3)
Deputy Chief of Staff
d. The Director, CFO Accounting Center/National Relocation Center will approve relocation travel vouchers and travel authorization amendments for non- discretionary entitlements.
7. Availability of Funds. The CFO's Office of Budget must confirm that funding is available prior to the authorization of relocation allowances.
8. Effective Date. This policy is effective immediately.
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