ADS Chapter 477 - Allowances and Differentials

The policy and procedures are applicable to government civilians and employees stationed in foreign areas, including those employed by USAID. Primary Responsibilities The Mission Director or designee is responsible for authorizing, granting, revising, or terminating allowances for employees stationed overseas, including temporary lodging, living quarters, post, and post differential, as well as education and educational travel. The Office of Human Resources, Employee and Labor Relations Division (OHR/ELR) and Office of Human Resources, Executive Management Staff (OHR/EM) are responsible for granting or terminating allowances and differentials for employees claiming payment in USAID/W on the basis of prior service overseas. Policy Directives and Required Procedures The statements contained within this chapter are the Agency's policies and corresponding procedures. Employees shall be granted allowances and applicable differential to their post, except as follows: part-time employees shall be granted only danger pay allowance, and resident employees shall be granted only post allowance and danger pay. No allowances shall be granted to employees when they are in non-pay status in excess of fourteen consecutive days. Home Service Transfer Allowance (HSTA) and Separate Maintenance Allowance (SMA) are two types of allowances that are granted to employees under specific circumstances. The HSTA is an allowance for extraordinary, reasonable, and reasonable expenses incurred by an employee when transferring to an assignment in the United States. The SMA is an allowance for special needs or hardship for an eligible family member. Advance of Pay An advance of pay may be made for up to five months pay (ten bi-weekly pay periods) on assignment to a post in a foreign area. The maximum advance is calculated on the employee's base bi-weekly salary less mandatory deductions. Mandatory References The following external mandatory references are applicable to this chapter: 3 FAM 3200, Allowances; 5 USC 5921, General provisions; 5 USC 5922, General provisions; 5 USC 5923, Quarters allowances; and 5 USC 5924, Cost-of-living allowances. Eligibility for Allowances Home Service Transfer Allowance (HSTA) The Agency shall pay an allowance for extraordinary, reasonable, and reasonable expenses incurred by an employee when transferring to an assignment in the United States. Employees reporting for assignment in USAID/W shall contact their Personnel Officer in OHR/ELR, OHR/EM, or IG/LCM for application forms and instructions. Separate Maintenance Allowance (SMA) The DSSR for SMA are applied in accordance with Section 260. An employee whose eligible family members travel to post on the employee's travel authorization is not eligible to receive SMA for special needs or hardship for the first three months following the employee's arrival at post. An employee may change election of SMA based on special needs or hardship for an eligible family member only once during a "tour of duty."