Sunday, January 12, 2020

Reimbursement problem

As a new overseas GS employee, I get a number of allowances in addition to my base pay:
  1. Foreign Transfer Allowance. Ten days before I depart for my new job, I'm allowed to move into lodging and get a per diem based on my family size.
  2. TDY. While I'm traveling, I'm allowed a certain amount of travel expenses, including bus fare from the airport to the duty station.
  3. Temporary Government Subsistence Allowance. After I arrive, and while I'm looking for housing, I'm reimbursed based on lodging and subsistence expenses up to a certain limit based on family size.
  4. Post Allowance. After I get housing, I'm given a kind of cost-of-living allowance. It's like military COLA, but it's based on a different formula.
  5. Living Quarters Allowance. This allowance covers rent, utilities, and initial expenses (but not security deposit).
The problem is that I need to file my paperwork online to get reimbursed, and that's a process in itself.

First, I need a Common Access Card (CAC), which is both an ID and a means to log in to my work computer.

Second, I need to do some online training in order to complete my system access request. This may involve using someone else's computer to do the training.

After the system access is approved, I'll be able to log in, set up my account, and send emails. At that point, I'll also be able to log in to the reimbursement website and file my paperwork.

The only problem is that it will take time.

No comments: