# 2021-054 Pay and Benefits, Relocation Benefits

Case summary

F&R Date: 2021-08-27

The grievor challenged the decision of the Director Compensation and Benefits Administration to remove a debt related to his relocation, indicating that he had never been informed that there was a problem with the availability of funds in the custom funding account to reimburse certain expenses he had claimed following his house hunting trip (HHT).

The Initial Authority denied the redress sought by the grievor, indicating that he had used most of the funds available in the custom funding account, whereas he was requesting reimbursement for expenses related to his HHT. The Initial Authority indicated that in spite of a few invoicing delays by a third-party supplier, which led to believe that there were more funds available in the custom funding account, the grievor was responsible for ensuring he clearly understood the conditions and limitations related to relocation benefits.

The Committee determined that the reimbursement of the grievor's expenses related to his HHT had to be made from the custom funding account, but all the funds had been used, thus creating a debt in his relocation file, which he had to repay. The Committee also determined that even if the grievor did not fully see the total cost of expenses invoiced by a third party, he could have come up with an estimate and, accordingly, better anticipate the funds available in his custom funding account before finalizing other claims.

The Committee recommended that the Final Authority (FA) not grant redress to the grievor.

FA decision summary

The Director-Canadian Forces Grievance Authority, acting as FA, agreed with the Committee's findings and recommendation. The FA did not grant the grievor redress.