Presidential Transition

If you are an executive entering or leaving government services as part of a presidential transition, you are eligible for special allowances to cover some relocation expenses.

Departing Presidential and Schedule C Appointees

If you are a departing presidential or Schedule C appointee, you will not receive any relocation allowances to return you to a private industry job or to your place of actual residence. You can find more information in FTR §302-3.305.

Departing Career Appointees of the Senior Executive Service (SES)

If you are a career appointee of the Senior Executive Service (SES), as defined in FTR §302-3.304, retiring from government service after a presidential election, you may be eligible for “last move home” benefits. Additionally, if you are a family member to an employee with the below qualifications who died in service to the government, you may receive an annuity as of the date of death.

To qualify for these benefits:

1. The government must have previously paid to relocate you under one of the following conditions:
   • You were transferred or reassigned geographically from an SES career appointment to another SES career appointment; or
   • You were transferred or reassigned geographically from an SES appointment to an appointment outside the SES with a pay rate of at least Level V of the Executive Schedule and you elected to retain SES retirement benefits under 5 U.S.C. §3392; or
   • You were transferred or reassigned geographically from another career appointment to an SES career appointment.
2. At the time of transfer or reassignment, you must have been:
   • Eligible to receive an annuity for optional retirement under certain sections of the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS); or
   • Within five years of eligibility to receive an annuity for optional retirement under certain sections of CSRS or FERS; or
   • Service retirement or early voluntary retirement under Office of Personnel Management authorization under certain sections of CSRS or FERS.
3. The following criteria apply to your situation:
   • You are eligible to receive an annuity upon such separation under certain sections of CSRS or FERS; and
   • You have not previously received “last move home” or “relocation separation” benefits.

You can find more information about eligibility in FTR §302-3.304 and 302-3.307.

If you qualify for these benefits, you will be reimbursed for the following expenses:

• Travel expenses, including transportation and per diem for you;
• Transportation expenses, but not per diem, for your immediate family;
• Transportation and temporary storage of up to 18,000 pounds net weight of household goods; and
• Temporary storage for up to 150 days; and
• Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA).

You can find more information about these benefits in FTR § 302-3.101, Table G and FTR §302-7.

New Appointees

You are eligible for new appointee benefits if you meet any of the following criteria:

• You are employed with the federal government for the first time
• You have performed transition activities under Section 3 of the Presidential Transition Act of 1963 (3 U.S.C. §102) and are appointed in the same fiscal year as the presidential inauguration that immediately follows your transition activities
• You are returning to the government after a break in service; however, if you separated due to a reduction in force (RIF) or transfer of functions, you may be treated as a transferee instead of a new appointee according to FTR § 302-3.206.
• You are a student trainee who is assigned to the government upon completion of college work.

If you qualify for these benefits, you will be reimbursed for the following expenses:

• Travel expenses, including transportation and per diem for you;
• Transportation expenses, but not per diem, for your immediate family;
• Transportation and temporary storage of up to 18,000 pounds net weight of household goods;
• Temporary storage for up to 150 days (see also FTR §302-7.8); and
• Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA).

You can find more information about these benefits in FTR §302-3.1, FTR § 302-3.2, and Table A FTR §302-7.