DAPE-JRCC

MEMORANDUM FOR CIVILIAN DEPENDENTS

SUBJECT: Safe haven - Allowances for DoD Civilian Dependents

1.  This memorandum addresses evacuation allowances provided to DoD civilian employees and their dependents who have been affected by SECSTATE authorized/ordered departure - both evacuees and those caught by a stop movement order.  Safe haven benefits for military family members are covered under a separate memorandum. Sponsors of families who wish to safe haven OCONUS (outside the Continental United States) must submit a request for waiver through their command to the Office of the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel & Readiness).  Allowances addressed in this message do not apply to American citizens who do not work for the U.S. government, nor those who have been hired overseas and do not have return transportation agreements. DoD contractors and their families are considered private citizens and therefore are not entitled to any of the benefits described in this message.

2.  Family members who process through the designated repatriation center will receive financial assistance in the form of 30 days advance subsistence expense allowance (SEA), a pay advance (if authorized by the sponsor), tickets for onward transportation, etc.  Families who return to CONUS via commercial air through alternate ports of entry or are restricted from entering the endangered country by a stop movement order should contact the respective Service point of contact listed in the message that follows every evacuation and details the allowances permitted for any needed assistance.

3.  The following safe haven entitlements for DoD civilian employees and their dependents are described in greater detail in Vol II, Joint Travel Regulation (JTR), Appendix I (online on the Internet at http://www.dtic.mil/perdiem/jtr.html).

            a. Transportation expenses/travel per diem continue from the time the family departs the evacuation site, through to the time they reach their CONUS safe haven location. This includes time spent processing through the Repatriation Site, however does not include time spent on personal travel while enroute to the safe haven location.  Dependents 12 years and above will receive up to 100% of the local per diem rate; dependents under 12 years will receive up to 50% of the local per diem rate. If the family chooses to travel from the repatriation site to their safe haven via a rental car, only mileage is reimbursable.

            b. Subsistence expense allowances (SEA) are based on the safe haven location per diem rate and begin the day the family reaches its authorized safe haven location. SEA will cease at the end of 180 days and or upon the earliest of the following dates: the authorized (ordered) departure is terminated; the evacuee(s) commence return travel to the sponsor’s post; the sponsor commences travel to a new post or retires. SEA payments are for either a commercial rate or non-commercial rate and is determined if lodging is acquired.

            (1) Commercial rate (requires receipt for commercial lodging) --  For the first 30 days after arrival at the safe haven, the employee (first evacuee) is authorized up to 100% of the lodging portion of the safe haven location (up to 150% if there are dependents) and up to 100% of the M&IE portion of the safe haven locality rate for the employee and any dependents over the age of 18; under 18 receives 50% of the M&IE rate.  After 31 days, the lodging rate continues at 100%; however, the rate for M&IE decreases to 80% and 40% according to the family members.

            (2) Non-Commercial rate (receipts are not required)  --  For the first 30 days after arrival at the safe haven, the employee (first evacuee) is authorized a flat amount of 10% of the lodging portion of the safe haven location (if the employee has additional dependents, the rate is still 10%) and 100% of the M&IE portion of the safe haven locality rate for the employee and any dependents over the age of 18; under 18 receives 50% of the M&IE rate.  After 31 days there is no flat rate lodging amount and the M&IE decreases to 80% and 40% according to the family.

            (3) 30 days advance civilian pay when authorized by sponsor (DD Form 2461). The authorization must include the sponsor's payroll fund cite and payment must be taken within the first 30 days after the evacuation.

            (4) Families may ship up to 350 pounds of unaccompanied baggage per adult and 175 pounds per child under 12 years of age, for a maximum of 1,000 pounds. Families are financially responsible for the movement of pets to and from the theater. Transportation of pets at government expense is not an allowance. If officials determine that the families cannot return to the endangered country, they will be notified of such and authorized the shipment of their household goods (HHG)/privately owned vehicle (POV). This will require an amendment to the original orders. Upon receipt of the HHGs, safe haven benefits will be terminated. If the family elects to move to the sponsor's next post because of imminent change of station, they may elect to depart under PCS orders in lieu of authorized/ordered departure orders. If PCS orders are used, no subsistence expense allowances are payable.

4. DD Form 1610 , Request and Authorization for TDY Travel of DoD personnel, has been approved by the OSD Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Committee for use as the authorization document during the evacuation of DoD civilian employees and their dependents. A specific fund cite has been allocated by the Army for use in funding transportation/travel per diem & subsistence expense allowances for the DoD civilian employee dependents. Any costs incurred by Army for non-Army employees will be reimbursed by the Service/DoD Agency that the employee belongs to.

5.         The allowances outlined in this memorandum are applicable to all DoD civilian employees and their dependents regardless of Service/Agency. Upon reaching their safe haven location, dependents will report to the Service specific organizations responsible for their follow-on care.

Raymond C. V. Robinson, Jr.
Chief of Operations