# 2019-041 Pay and Benefits, Canadian Forces Integrated Relocation Program, House Hunting Trip, Interim lodging, meals and incidentals

Case summary

F&R Date: 2019-11-07

The grievor sought reimbursement for additional days of interim non-commercial lodgings while he was separated from his household goods and effects (HG&E). The grievor argued that he was erroneously denied a house hunting trip (HHT) and therefore could not find a replacement residence into which to move his HG&E. He requested adjudication of his HHT request and, while the matter was under consideration, moved his HG&E into storage. Consequently, the grievor was separated from his HG&E until he could conduct an HHT to find a replacement residence.

The Initial Authority (IA) explained that the grievor was responsible for coordinating a door-to-door move by securing suitable accommodations. The IA did not accept the grievor's contention that the erroneous denial of an HHT prevented him from finding a replacement residence. Therefore, the IA found that the grievor was not separated from his HG&E for reasons beyond his control.

The Committee found that the grievor was not relieved of his responsibility to find a replace residence due to the absence of an HHT. The Committee concluded that the grievor chose to be separated from his HG&E and recommended that the grievance be denied.

FA decision summary

The Final Authority (FA) agreed that the grievor made a personal choice not to search for a new house at his destination. However, he noted that the grievor was a single parent and found that the grievor's determination to receive the HHT benefit constituted extenuating circumstances, which led to some entitlement to interim lodgings. The FA stated that given the grievor's unique circumstances, section 2.2.01 of the Canadan Forces Integrated Relocation Program Directive permitted him to approve interim lodging, and that he found it reasonable to approve this for the period until the grievor's appeal avenues with respect to the HHT were exhausted, at which point he should have begun searching for permanent accommodations. He directed that the grievor's relocation file be reopened and that he be reimbursed for the period from the delivery of his HG&E into storage until the Director Compensation and Benefits Administration adjudication denied his request for an HHT.