# 2025-084 Pay and Benefits, Canadian Forces Temporary Duty Travel Instruction, Temporary Duty Benefits

Case summary

F&R Date: 2025-11-26

The grievor disputed the decision to deny reimbursement of meals and incidentals on weekends when the grievor travelled for personal reasons outside of the Temporary Duty (TD) area. The grievor submitted that the Canadian Forces Temporary Duty Travel Instructions (CFTDTI) does not dictate or limit his benefits to the TD location area and that reimbursement of meals and incidentals represents no additional cost to the Crown as he would have been entitled to the same within his TD lodging area. 

The Director General Compensation Benefits, acting as Initial Authority (IA) denied redress. The IA explained that, in accordance with the Financial Administrative Manual (FAM) Chapter 1017-3, paragraphs 5.13 and 5.21, once the grievor had departed from the geographical area of the authorized TD location for purposes other than duty travel, he was no longer entitled to benefits under the CFTDTI. 

The Committee found the grievor had been aggrieved, explaining that no conditions were met to disentitle eligibility to meals and incidentals under the CFTDTI.  The Committee noted that written authorization for duty travel, as required by paragraph 5.13 of the FAM, was obtained prior to the commencement of the grievor's duty travel. Further, there was no requirement to amend the travel approval, per paragraph 5.21 of the FAM. The Committee remarked that the grievor's choice not to sleep in his provided hotel room or purchase meals within the TD area at times did not disentitle him to TD benefits. Thus, the Committee recommended that the grievor receive reimbursement, up to the maximum claimable allowance, of the meals and incidentals incurred during the weekend the grievor was on TD.