3 FAM 3230
COST-OF-LIVING ALLOWANCES
(CT:PER-924; 09-21-2018)
(Office of Origin: HR/ER/WLD)
3 FAM 3231 HOME SERVICE TRANSFER
ALLOWANCE
3 FAM 3231.1 Certification for
Granting Home Service Transfer Allowances
(CT:PER-924; 09-21-2018)
(Uniform State/USAID/USAGM/Commerce/Foreign Service Corp-USDA)
(Applies to Foreign Service Employees Only)
When granting a home service transfer allowance, the
following certification must be inserted in the Remarks box of Form SF-1190,
Foreign Allowances Application Grant and Report:
In order to be eligible for a grant of the home
service transfer allowance, I certify that I agree to complete 12 months in the
United States Government service following the effective date of my transfer to
a post in the United States or other nonforeign area unless separated for
reasons beyond my control which are acceptable to my employing agency. Failure
to comply will result in my liability for repayment of this allowance."
___________________________
Employee's Signature
3 FAM 3231.2 Approval Authority
(CT:PER-924; 09-21-2018)
(Uniform State/USAID/USAGM/Commerce/Foreign Service Corp-USDA)
(Applies to Foreign Service Employees Only)
a. The following individuals or their designated
representatives:
State: The Director, Office of Fiscal Operations (M/RM/FO/OFO)
USAID: See Automated Directive System (ADS) 477
USDA: Director, International Services Division OFSO
Commerce: Director, Office of Foreign Service Human Resources
b. The representatives or their designee are authorized
to:
(1) Grant home service transfer allowances and to
revise or terminate grants of the allowance as specified by Department of State
Standardized Regulations (DSSR) 250 or to grant the allowances as specified by
DSSR 013 as authorized by the Director of the Office of Allowance;
(2) Determine whether a house or an apartment is
occupied on a temporary basis as required by DSSR 251.2c;
(3) Grant Home Service Transfer Allowance (HSTA) under
Section 901 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 for employees assigned as rovers
to Washington, DC, who meet the criteria of DSSR 250, except that they are not
in the process of establishing themselves in permanent residence at the post of
assignment. Once the allowance has been granted for any period of time, this
eligibility for reimbursement of a subsistence expense portion of the HSTA
terminates upon the employees departure from the United States on official
travel orders;
(4) Certify to the intent as required by DSSR 251.1b
(see also DSSR 077.32c).
3 FAM 3231.3 Home Service Transfer
Allowance Advance
(CT:PER-839; 04-06-2017)
(Uniform State/USAID/Commerce/Foreign Service Corp-USDA)
(Applies to Foreign Service Employees Only)
For home service transfer allowance advance, see:
State: Section 4 FAM 464.3-1
USAID: ADS 621
USDA: Section 4 FAM 464.3-1
Commerce: Section 4 FAM 464.3-1
3 FAM 3231.4 Review of the
Application
(CT:PER-623; 11-16-2009)
(Uniform State/USAID//Commerce/Foreign Service Corp-USDA)
(Applies to Foreign Service Employees Only)
Prior to granting a home service transfer allowance, the
authorizing officer reviews carefully each submitted Form SF-1190, Foreign
Allowances Application Grant and Report, to ensure correctness of statements
and costs for the temporary lodging portion and laundry/dry-cleaning expenses
indicated therein and the inclusion of a certified food expense statement. For
this purpose, employees are required to furnish supporting receipts or other
appropriate documentation for daily cost of temporary lodging and
laundry/dry-cleaning (unless coin-operated facilities are used).
3 FAM 3231.5 Grant of Allowance
(CT:PER-924; 09-21-2018)
(Uniform State/USAID/USAGM/Commerce/Foreign Service Corp-USDA)
(Applies to Foreign Service Employees Only)
The home service transfer allowance is granted on Form SF-1190,
Foreign Allowances Application Grant and Report. Copies of that form are
distributed as provided in 3 FAH-1 H-3231.
3 FAM 3232 SEPARATE MAINTENANCE
ALLOWANCE (SMA)
3 FAM 3232.1 Application
(CT:PER-924; 09-21-2018)
(Uniform State/USAID/USAGM/Commerce/Foreign Service Corp-USDA)
(Applies to Foreign Service Employees Only)
Application for separate maintenance allowance is made on
a Form SF-1190, Foreign Allowances Application Grant and Report. That
application is processed under procedures found in DSSR 070 and chapter 3 FAH-1 H-3230.
For USAID, see ADS 477.
3 FAM 3232.2 Separate Maintenance
Allowance for the Convenience of the U.S. Government (Involuntary)
(CT:PER-924; 09-21-2018)
(Uniform State/USAID/USAGM/Commerce/Foreign Service Corp-USDA)
(Applies to Foreign Service Employees Only)
a. The following officials are authorized to approve a
separate maintenance allowance (SMA) for the convenience of the U.S. Government
(involuntary) in accordance with DSSR 260:
State: Executive director of the appropriate bureau
USAID: See ADS 477
USDA: Director, International Services Division, OFSO
Commerce: Director, Office of Foreign Service Human Resources
b. In specified circumstances, (with the exception of
approvals for SMA for special need or hardship), authorizing officers in USAID,
USAGM, Agriculture, and Commerce may
specify officers at field posts to grant, revise, or terminate separate
maintenance allowances.
3 FAM 3232.3 Separate Maintenance
Allowance (SMA) for Special Needs or Hardship (Voluntary)
3 FAM 3232.3-1 Approval
Authority
(CT:PER-924; 09-21-2018)
(Uniform State/USAID/USAGM/Commerce/Foreign Service Corp-USDA)
(Applies to Foreign Service Employees Only)
a. The following officials are authorized to approve a
special needs or hardship (voluntary) separate maintenance allowance (SMA)
under the criteria outlined in DSSR 260:
State: Executive director of the appropriate bureau
USAID: See ADS 477
USDA: Director, International Services Division, OFSO
Commerce: Director, Office of Foreign Service Human Resources
b. This authority to approve a SMA for special needs or
hardship may not be delegated.
3 FAM 3232.3-2 Authority to Deny
(CT:PER-924; 09-21-2018)
(Uniform State/USAID/USAGM/Commerce/Foreign Service Corp-USDA)
(Applies to Foreign Service Employees Only)
a. Only the following officials can disapprove separate
maintenance allowance (SMA) applications for special needs or hardship:
State: Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Resources
USAID: See ADS 477
USDA: Deputy Administrator, Office of Foreign Service Operations
Commerce: The Director General or appropriate secretarial
officer.
b. An employee will be informed in writing of approval
or disapproval within 15 working days of receipt by the approving official.
3 FAM 3232.3-3 General
(CT:PER-924; 09-21-2018)
(Uniform State/USAID/USAGM/Commerce/Foreign Service Corp-USDA)
(Applies to Foreign Service Employees Only)
a. A member of the Foreign Service (the employee) may
request separate maintenance allowance (SMA) for special needs or hardship for
any or all of his or her family members either before commencing a tour of duty
or at any time during a tour of duty. The employee may also request
termination of such SMA at any time during the tour of duty. Only one change
of status of such SMA for each family member will be permitted for a single
tour of duty, except following termination of an authorized/ordered departure (see
DSSR 264.2(2)). However, during the first or last 90 days of such tour, no
change of status is allowed. (For the USAID definition of a tour of duty for
SMA purposes, see ADS 477.) (See 3 FAH-1 H-3230
for further clarifying information and procedures on applying for and changing
SMA).
(NOTE: Commerce normally will
approve a change in SMA for special needs or hardship only where a change will
not result in additional cost to the U.S. Government.)
b. The following travel benefits will not be granted to
those members of a family for whom the SMA described in this section is
payable:
Visitation travel
Home leave travel
Educational travel
Travel of children of separated parents
Rest and recuperation travel for family members
c. Where the application is based on DSSR 262.2, it
must include a signed statement from the employee certifying the circumstances
of special need or hardship and stating that such circumstances do not:
(1) Include a legal separation between employee and
spouse or separation occurring through a divorce decree, whether limited,
interlocutory, or final (a legal separation is deemed to exist at such time as
either the employee or spouse must have initiated action affecting the status
of the marriage such as a divorce/dissolution action, a separate maintenance
action, or any type of formal or informal written agreement; or
(2) Include a dissolution of the employees domestic
partnership (a dissolution is deemed to occur at such time as either the
employee or the domestic partner initiates action affecting the status of the
domestic partnership, including the filing of a statement of dissolution under 3 FAM 1613, a
legal action relevant to the continued existence of the domestic partnership,
or any type of formal or informal written agreement indicating dissolution); or
(3) Involve a child whose legal custody is vested
wholly, or in part, in a person other than the employee or the employees
current spouse or domestic partner, unless joint custody is established. (See
DSSR 263.4) Employees should also be aware of other circumstances in which SMA
is not warranted (see DSSR 263).
3 FAM 3232.4 Application in
Washington for Salary, Allowances, and Post Differential Due Returning
Personnel
(CT:PER-924; 09-21-2018)
(Uniform State/USAID/USAGM/Commerce/Foreign Service Corp-USDA)
(Applies to Foreign Service Employees Only)
Foreign Service and other U.S. civilian personnel
transferring to the headquarters of the agency, or separating, may be paid (by
the agencys Washington, DC fiscal office) any salary and allowances due them
from the last date paid by the previous payroll office. (See procedures in 3 FAH-1 H-3230.)
3 FAM 3232.5 Annual Report of
Living Quarters Expenses
(TL:PER-924; 09-21-2018)
(Uniform State/USAID/USAGM/Commerce/Foreign Service Corp-USDA)
(Applies to Foreign Service Employees Only)
An annual report of living quarters expenses to the
Department of State, Allowances Staff, is required by DSSR 077.2. Legible
photocopies are acceptable.
3 FAM 3233 THROUGH 3239 UNASSIGNED