# 2019-065 Pay and Benefits, Post Living Differential, Recovery of overpayment/debt write-off

Case summary

F&R Date: 2019-11-14

The grievor was required to reimburse Post Living Differential (PLD) allowance overpayments. He argued that he had repeatedly sought and received confirmation that his PLD payments were correct even though they did not match with his Post Living Differential Area (PLDA). Consequently, he asked that he not be held responsible to pay back the entire PLD overpayment debt.

The Initial Authority (IA), the Director General Compensation and Benefits, explained that when the grievor relocated to a different PLDA, he was no longer living within the geographical area associated with the PLD allowance rate he had been receiving.

The IA acknowledged the grievor's efforts to correct the PLD allowance rate error but found that the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) had an obligation under regulation to collect the overpayment caused by the error. The IA denied redress.

The Committee found that the grievor was no longer entitled to the previous PLDA rate after he relocated to the new PLDA, and that he was obligated to refund the overpayment to the CAF. The Committee recommended that redress not be granted.

FA decision summary

The Final Authority (FA), the Chief of the Defence Staff, agreed with the Committee's findings that the grievor received the higher rate of PLD in error and that he shared some responsibility for the failure to correct the error in a timely fashion. The FA also agreed with the Committee's recommendations that, while the grievor was treated in accordance with policy, given the extent of uncertainty concerning the accuracy of his pay, a complete and final audit should be conducted. The FA directed that the Director General Compensation and Benefits carry out a comprehensive audit.