# 2022-171 Pay and Benefits, Post Living Differential

Case summary

F&R Date: 2023-06-29

The grievor challenged the cessation of the Post Living Differential (PLD) allowance while he was living in a PLD Area (PLDA) on enrollment. As redress, he requested to be granted PLD for all eligible time served in a PLDA. 

There was no Initial Authority decision rendered in the allotted timeframe and the grievor requested review by the Final Authority (FA).

The Committee applied Compensation and Benefit Instructions for the Canadian Forces 205.45 - Post Living Differential, to the grievor's circumstances. The Committee found that upon enrollment, the grievor's place of duty was not in a PLDA and he was therefore not entitled to the PLD allowance. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the grievor was given the option of returning to his home address, in a PLDA, from his posting for training. The Committee found that during this time, he was not performing his normal military duties, and even if he was, they were not being performed at the place at which he usually performed his normal military duties. 

However, the Committee found that subsequent to this, the grievor was attach posted to a PLDA while living in a PLDA and, thus, became eligible for the PLD allowance. 

In the grievor's case, he started receiving PLD payments upon enrollment and continued to receive payments while he was not entitled. He then became entitled to the PLD allowance, but payments were ceased shortly after. Accordingly, the Committee recommended that the FA calculate the amount of PLD allowance owed to the grievor, as well as the debt to the Crown owed by the grievor for the erroneous payment of PLD. The Committee then recommended the FA direct that the grievor be paid any balance owing or that the overpayment be recovered if there is a balance owed to the Crown.