• An 8-step overview of the process for new appointees
• Frequent questions about the process

An 8-Step Overview of the Process for New Appointees

1. The FERC is notified via email by your agency’s Human Resources (HR) or Program Office of a new Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move. The email shall include a PDF of the SF-50 and an Agreement to Remain in Government Service.
2. The FERC sends a New Appointee Questionnaire to the employee (with a copy to HR/Program Office) to be completed and returned.
3. The FERC will schedule a conference call with the employee to discuss entitlements and allowances according to the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) and your agency’s relocation policy.
4. All official agency travel must be documented with a Travel Authorization (TA). The FERC will electronically create the employee official TA in preparation for your relocation. FERC will email the completed TA to your point of contact to be approved and signed by the approving official. Please note that FERC cannot continue the relocation process until the TA is approved and signed.
5. After the TA is approved, FERC will coordinate the shipping and storage of the employee household goods, en-route travel, and other entitlements and authorized allowances. The employee should keep all their receipts for reimbursement.
6. As the employee completes each portion of their move they will be reimbursed through FERC via travel voucher. The FERC will generate an electronic travel voucher and e-mail it to the agency for signatures.
7. After the travel voucher is signed, the voucher and any accompanying receipts would then be sent back to the FERC for processing. You may e-mail the voucher and documentation or send it via postal mail to FERC.
8. Once FERC receives the travel voucher, the reimbursement payment will be processed and paid.

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Frequent Questions about the Process

The following questions and answers apply to agencies who follow the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR):

• An individual who is employed with the federal government for the very first time (including an individual who has performed transition activities under section 3 of the Presidential Transition Act of 1963 (3 U.S.C. 102 note), and is appointed in the same fiscal year as the Presidential inauguration);
• An employee who is returning to the government after a break in service (except an employee separated as a result of reduction in force or transfer of functions and is re-employed within one year after such action); or
• A student trainee assigned to the government upon completion of his/her college work.

Your effective transfer or appointment date is the date on which you report for duty at your new or first official station.

As a new or political appointee or student trainee being assigned to a first official station, there are mandatory and discretionary relocation expenses. Once your agency decides to pay or reimburse relocation expenses, all the mandatory allowances in Column 1 below must be paid or reimbursed. The discretionary relocation allowances in Column 2 may or may not be paid by your agency. 

Yes, as a new employee, your agency will not pay for expenses that are not listed in §302-3.2 (e.g., per diem for family, cost of house-hunting trip, miscellaneous expense allowance, etc.).

No, you must have the written TA (paper or electronic) before you relocate to your new official duty station.

Generally, you may not be reimbursed for relocation expenses incurred before you have been appointed to a federal position and signed an agreement to remain in government service for 12 months after appointment. There is an exception for appointees who have performed presidential transition activities. Such appointees may be reimbursed allowable travel and transportation expenses incurred at any time following the most recent presidential election once they have signed a service agreement. However, appointment must occur in the same fiscal year as the presidential transition activities.

You and your immediate family member(s) may begin travel immediately upon receipt of your travel authorization (TA).

Unfortunately, the government is not authorized to pay relocation expenses for separating presidential appointees, non-career SES appointees, or Schedule C appointees to return to private industry or to their place of residence.

You and your immediate family member(s) must complete all aspects of your relocation within one year from the effective date of your transfer or appointment, except as provided in §302-2.11. 

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