# 2021-170 Pay and Benefits, Allowances and Benefits, Enrollment Transfer Posting instruction, Principal Residence

Case summary

F&R Date: 2022-06-16

The grievor contested his ineligibility for Post Living Differential (PLD) allowance following his enrolment in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). He acknowledged that he commenced the enrolment process while he resided outside of Canada but asserted that he had secured accommodation in Canada prior to his enrolment date. The grievor contended that the Canadian Forces Recruiting Center erred when listing its own address on his Enrolment/Transfer/Posting (ETP) message and by allowing him to designate a foreign address in his Statement of Ordinary Residence in Canada. The grievor further argued that this error resulted in his ineligibility for PLD allowance based on the location of the accommodation he secured in Canada prior to his enrolment. The grievor sought, as redress, to have his ETP message amended to reflect the address of the accommodation he secured in Canada and payment of PLD allowance based on that location retroactive to his enrolment.

The Initial Authority (IA) denied the grievance, explaining that she does not have the authority to amend the grievor's ETP message. The IA further explained that having declared his ordinary residence as being outside of Canada, the grievor could not subsequently request an amendment of his ETP message to reflect a Canadian address in order to become eligible for PLD allowance.

The Committee noted that the grievor provided evidence that he secured accommodation in Canada prior to his enrolment date and found that the grievor's address on enrolment was the address of the accommodation he secured and recommended that his ETP message be amended accordingly. The Committee further noted that a principal residence for the purposes of PLD allowance must be located at a member's current or former place of duty. The Committee observed that the PLD area in which the grievor had secured accommodation was never his place of duty. The Committee found that the grievor's secured accommodation was not a principal residence for the purpose of PLD allowance and recommended that the Final Authority (FA) deny the grievor's redress sought.

Separately, the Committee noted the grievor's assertion that he had been required to pay for Rations and Quarters while he attended occupational training and continued to maintain residences in other locations. The Committee further noted that the FA had previously stated that the CAF should not expect its members to pay for accommodations in two different places when they are required to attend occupational training and relocation of their household good and effects at public expense is prohibited. Therefore, the Committee recommended that the FA remit any charges that the grievor paid for quarters during his prohibited postings for occupational training.