# 2015-053 - Recovery of Overpayment , Temporary Duty Benefits

Recovery of Overpayment , Temporary Duty Benefits

Case Summary

F&R Date: 2015–07–13

The grievor, based in Halifax, was assigned to work on Temporary Duty (TD) for a ship refitting project in Ontario due to last over 200 days. He was placed by his Chain of Command (CoC) on a new TD every month, entitling him to 100% per diem coverage for up to 31 days, as well as full reimbursement for travelling back and forth between the project and his normal place of duty. The grievor was directed to stay at a specific hotel as his CoC had determined that there was no cost effective lodging in the area with facilities to prepare one's own meals.

Auditors who later performed a review of the benefits found that the grievor was not entitled to his full meal allowances and reimbursement of travel expenses to go to Halifax as he travelled during weekends.

The grievor submitted that the interpretation of TD regulations by the auditors was erroneous and the recovered benefits for meals and weekend travel should not have been deemed as overpayments.

The Initial Authority (IA) found that the interpretation of audit staff was correct and recovery from the grievor was appropriate. The IA found that TD is the performance of a duty for a period of six months or less at a location other than the CAF member's permanent place of duty. Nonetheless, the IA determined that eight TD periods were approved for a single purpose in a specific area and constituted one TD assignment in excess of 180 days, contrary to policy. In accordance with Canadian Forces Temporary Duty Travel Instruction (CFTDTI), articles 7.16 and 7.18, the grievor was subject to the reduction of incidental and meal allowances to 75% after the 31st cumulative day on TD. In accordance with Compensation and Benefits Instructions (CBI) 209.31, the IA found that weekend travel can be authorized by a CAF member's Commanding Officer (CO) when on TD away from the CAF member's normal place of duty, however, reimbursement for weekend travel should not have exceeded the cost of maintaining the grievor at the TD location over the weekend.

The Committee found that it was the grievor's CoC who made all decisions relating to the living accommodations for CAF members while they worked on the TD project. The grievor did not have the option of staying in a corporate residence or apartment or to make different travel arrangements. The Committee found that the grievor's meal allowances were to be reimbursed in accordance with the rates specified in the National Joint Council Travel Directive (NJCTD), Appendix C- Allowances. Given that the NJCTD specified two conditions necessary to reduce the meal/incidental allowance to 75% and in this case the second condition was not met, as the grievor was unable to prepare his own meals, the Committee determined that the grievor should have been reimbursed 100% for his meals and incidentals.

The Committee also found that although the grievor returned to his normal place of duty monthly on weekends, this did not automatically mean that it was “Weekend Travel” as prescribed in CBI 209.31. The Committee found that the grievor was directed to travel on weekends by his CoC in order to complete work. The Committee determined that this constituted duty travel, not weekend travel, in each instance and was therefore, not subject to CBI 209.31.

The Committee recommended that all funds recovered from the grievor, as a result of the audit of his TD benefits, be returned to him as he should not have been subjected to recovery in accordance with the TD policies.

In the alternative, the Committee recommended that the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) forward the file to the Director Claims and Civil Litigation in order that consideration be given to compensating the grievor in accordance with the Treasury Board Directive on Claims and Ex Gratia Payments.

CDS Decision Summary

The Final Authority (FA), the Director Canadian Forces Grievance Authority, agreed with the Committee's findings and recommendation that appropriate measures be taken to return the funds recovered from the grievor following an audit on claims associated with the refit. The FA also requested that the Chief Military Personnel identify the other members of the refit who were subject to this same recovery, to determine whether, and in what amount, funds need to be returned to these members as well. 

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