Authorization:

Ordinarily under an authorized or ordered departure, non-essential civilian employees depart and receive safe haven allowances, in addition to dependents of both civilian employees and uniformed service members. Uniformed service members always return on either TDY or PCS order.

State Department has authority to declare an evacuation from a foreign location. The allowances for civilian employees and their dependents are prescribed by State Department in DSSR, Chapter 600, subpars. 611-639. Provisions specifically for DoD civilian employees are in JTR, Chapter 6. Allowances for a uniformed service member’s dependents are in JTR, Chapter 6.

Allowances:

Transportation and Per Diem En Route to the Safe Haven Location

Authorized evacuees receive transportation and per diem for allowable travel time, excluding personal travel time, from authorized evacuated location to authorized safe haven location. 

Per diem for departure and return days to the PDS are paid at 75 percent of the meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) rate. To determine per diem, please click here: https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/perdiemCalc.cfm

If dependents travel to a location other than the safe haven location, then transportation costs are limited to the authorized location and the Standard CONUS per diem rate applies unless the alternate location is later approved by the authorizing or ordering official.

Things to keep in mind…

• A non-command sponsored dependent of a uniformed service member is authorized transportation only (no per diem) to the safe haven and no safe haven allowances.
• A locally hired employee without a transportation agreement is not authorized any departure allowances for self or dependents. This does not prevent you from receiving allowances as a dependent of another qualified employee or uniformed member.

POV

Shipment of a POV is not authorized for an authorized/ordered departure

At the Safe Haven (SH) Location

Authorized evacuees are paid safe haven allowances, a combination of entitlements for lodging & M&IE. The lodging allowance is supposed to pay for commercial quarters (established lodging facility in which evacuee incurs a cost) and must be documented by a receipt. To determine the maximum allowable amount, please click here:  https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/perdiemCalc.cfm
 

Duration at Safe Haven	12 Years of Age* and Older	Less than 12 Years of Age
First 30 Days	A maximum of 100 percent of the locality per diem rate for the area	A maximum of 50 percent of the locality per diem rate for the area
31 - 180 Days	Up to 60 percent of the locality per diem for the area	Up to 30 percent of the locality per diem rate for the area

After 180 days:

• ​Service members' dependent: Safe haven allowances terminate 180 days after the evacuation order was issued unless extended by the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness
• ​Civilian employees and their dependents: Safe haven allowances terminates on the 181st day after the evacuation order was issued.  Any subsequent order issued after the 180th day constitutes a separate order, starts a separate 180 day period and applies only to evacuees departing under that order.  The same authority that issued the evacuation order can issue the subsequent order.

Civilian Employees and Dependents

Subsistence Expense Allowance (SEA) is based on the locality rate of the authorized safe haven and begins the day after arrival at the authorized safe haven location. To determine the authorized amount, please click here: https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/perdiemCalc.cfm

The commercial rate (requires receipts for commercial lodging):

First 30 days:

• The first family member receives up to 100% (may be authorized up to 150% for special family compositions) of the lodging portion of the locality rate plus 100% M&IE
• Each family member age 18 or older receives 100% M&IE
• Each family member under age 18 receives 50% M&IE

Days 31-180:

• The first family member receives up to 100% (may be authorized up to 150% for special family compositions) of the lodging portion of the locality rate plus 80% M&IE
• Each family member age 18 or older receives 80% M&IE
• Each family member under age 18 receives 40% M&IE

The non-commercial rate (receipts not required):

First 30 days:

• The first family member receives a flat 10% of the lodging portion of the locality rate plus 100% M&IE
• Each family member age 18 or older receives 100% M&IE
• Each family member under age 18 receives 50% M&IE

Days 31-180:

• The first family member receives 80% M&IE
• Each family member age 18 or older receives 80% M&IE
• Each family member under age 18 receives 40% M&IE

Safe Haven Allowances Terminate on the earliest of the following dates:

• The date the sponsor departs/detaches on permanent change of station (PCS) from the OCONUS permanent duty station (PDS);
• The effective date of transfer when the employee is already at the PDS to which transferred;
• The date of separation/retirement;
• The date specified by the Secretarial Process;
• The date specified by the Secretary of State;
• The date specified by USD (P&R);
• 180 days after the evacuation order is issued; or
• The date the evacuee commences return travel to the duty station.

Things to keep in mind…

• Tax for lodging in the CONUS and non-foreign locations outside the CONUS (OCONUS) are a separate reimbursable expense.
• Reimbursement for lodging is not authorized if a Service members' dependent stays with friends or relatives (see JTR, par. 060205). 

Escort Dependents

A Service member or civilian employee may be authorized roundtrip travel and transportation allowances to escort dependents incapable of traveling alone to the safe haven. This travel is official and in a duty status.

Unaccompanied Baggage

Service members' dependents: May ship up to 350 pounds of unaccompanied baggage per dependent age 12 or older and 175 pounds per child under age 12 up to a total of 1,000 lbs. If dependents are unable to ship unaccompanied baggage by air freight because of circumstances beyond the dependent’s control, an air freight replacement allowance may be authorized to help defray the cost of items ordinarily shipped that must be purchased. The flat amounts per family are $250 for an individual, $450 for a family of two and $600 (total) for a family of three or more.

Civilian Employees' and dependents:  An air freight allowance for unaccompanied may be authorized. In lieu of an air freight allowance from post, an air freight replacement allowance may be granted to help defray costs of items normally part of the authorized air freight shipment which must be purchased. The flat amounts are as follows: First evacuee without family: $250; First evacuee with one family member: $450; or First evacuees with two or more family members: $600. No receipts are required for this allowance.

Pet Transportation

Transportation and quarantine is authorized for up to two household pets (defined as cat or dog) incident to an authorized departure from a foreign PDS. If pets are transported at personal expense the Service member or civilian employee may be reimbursed up to the constructed cost to the Government for transporting the pets from the foreign PDS to the safe haven and return.

Important: A memo from the Transportation Office providing the Government's constructed cost is required.

House Hold Goods (HHG)

Service members' dependents: Movement of HHG (other than those specifically authorized or approved by Approving Official, as needed) is not authorized.

Civilian Employees' dependents: Movement of HHG is not authorized.

Local Travel Allowance

A local travel allowance at the rate of $25 per day per family is authorized to partially offset expenses incurred for local travel.

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