SUBCHAPTER III—ADVANCEMENT, ALLOTMENT, AND ASSIGNMENT OF PAY

§5521. Definitions

For the purpose of this subchapter—

(1) "agency" means—

(A) an Executive agency;

(B) the judicial branch;

(C) the Library of Congress;

(D) the Government Publishing Office; and

(E) the government of the District of Columbia;

(2) "employee" means an individual employed in or under an agency;

(3) "head of each agency" means—

(A) the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts with respect to the judicial branch; and

(B) the Mayor of the District of Columbia with respect to the government of the District of Columbia; and

(4) "United States", when used in a geographical sense, means the several States and the District of Columbia.

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 479; Pub. L. 90–623, §1(10), Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1312; Pub. L. 96–54, §2(a)(31), Aug. 14, 1979, 93 Stat. 383; Pub. L. 113–235, div. H, title I, §1301(b), Dec. 16, 2014, 128 Stat. 2537.)

Historical and Revision Notes

Derivation	U.S. Code	Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large
	5 U.S.C. 3071.	Sept. 26, 1961, Pub. L. 87–304, §1, 75 Stat. 662. June 24, 1965, Pub. L. 89–47, 79 Stat. 171.

In paragraph (1), the word "agency" is substituted for "department". The term "Executive agency" is substituted for the reference to "each executive department of the Government of the United States of America; each agency or independent establishment in the executive branch of such Government; each corporation wholly owned or controlled by such Government" in former section 3071(1)(A)–(C).

Paragraph (2) is added for clarity and in view of the fact that the definition of "employee" in section 2105 does not include individuals employed by the government of the District of Columbia.

In paragraph (3), the term "department head" is omitted as unnecessary.

In paragraph (4), the words "of the United States of America" are omitted as unnecessary.

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1979—Par. (3)(B). Pub. L. 96–54 substituted "Mayor" for "Commissioner".

1968—Par. (3)(B). Pub. L. 90–623 substituted "Commissioner" for "Board of Commissioners".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

"Government Publishing Office" substituted for "Government Printing Office" in par. (1)(D) on authority of section 1301(b) of Pub. L. 113–235, set out as a note preceding section 301 of Title 44, Public Printing and Documents.

Effective Date of 1979 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–54 effective July 12, 1979, see section 2(b) of Pub. L. 96–54, set out as a note under section 305 of this title.

Effective Date of 1968 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 90–623 intended to restate without substantive change the law in effect on Oct. 22, 1968, see section 6 of Pub. L. 90–623, set out as a note under section 5334 of this title.

§5522. Advance payments; rates; amounts recoverable

(a) The head of each agency may provide for the advance payment of the pay, allowances, and differentials, or any of them, covering a period of not more than 30 days, to or for the account of each employee of the agency (or, under emergency circumstances and on a reimbursable basis, an employee of another agency) whose departure (or that of his dependents or immediate family, as the case may be) from a place inside or outside the United States is officially authorized or ordered—

(1) from a place outside the United States from which the Secretary of State determines it is in the national interest to require the departure of some or all employees, their dependents, or both; or

(2) from any place where there is imminent danger to the life of the employee or the lives of the dependents or immediate family of the employee.

(b) Subject to adjustment of the account of an employee under section 5524 of this title and other applicable statute, the advance payment of pay, allowances, and differentials is at rates currently authorized with respect to the employee on the date the advance payment is made under agency procedures governing advance payments under this subsection. The rates so authorized may not exceed the rates to which the employee was entitled immediately before issuance of the departure order.

(c) An advance of funds under subsection (a) of this section is recoverable by the Government of the United States or the government of the District of Columbia, as the case may be, from the employee or his estate by—

(1) setoff against accrued pay, amount of retirement credit, or other amount due to the employee from the Government of the United States or the government of the District of Columbia; and

(2) such other method as is provided by law.

The head of the agency concerned may waive in whole or in part a right of recovery of an advance of funds under subsection (a) of this section, if it is shown that the recovery would be against equity and good conscience or against the public interest.

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 480; Pub. L. 96–465, title II §2303(a), (b), Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2164, 2165.)

Historical and Revision Notes

Derivation	U.S. Code	Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large
	5 U.S.C. 3072.	Sept. 26, 1961, Pub. L. 87–304, §2, 75 Stat. 662.

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1980—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–465, §2303(a), substituted "departure" for "evacuation", substituted "is officially authorized or ordered" for "is ordered for military or other reasons which create imminent danger to the life or lives of the employee or of his dependents or immediate family", and added pars. (1) and (2).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–465, §2303(b), substituted "departure" for "evacuation" after "issuance of the".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–465 effective Feb. 15, 1981, except as otherwise provided, see section 2403 of Pub. L. 96–465, set out as an Effective Date note under section 3901 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.

§5523. Duration of payments; rates; active service period

(a) The head of each agency may provide for—

(1) the payment of monetary amounts covering a period of not more than 60 days to or for the account of each employee of the agency (or, under emergency circumstances and on a reimbursable basis, an employee of another agency) whose departure (or that of the employee's dependents or immediate family, as the case may be) is authorized or ordered under section 5522(a); and

(2) the termination of payment of the monetary amounts.

The President, with respect to the Executive agencies, may extend the 60-day period for not more than 120 additional days if he determines that the extension of the period is in the interest of the United States.

(b) Subject to adjustment of the account of an employee under section 5524 of this title and other applicable statute, each payment under this section is at rates of pay, allowances, and differentials, or any of them, currently authorized with respect to the employee on the date payment is made under agency procedures governing payments under this section. The rates so authorized may not exceed the rates to which the employee was entitled immediately before issuance of the departure order. An employee in an Executive agency may be granted such additional allowance payments as the President determines necessary to offset the direct added expenses incident to the departure.

(c) Each period for which payment of amounts is made under this section to or for the account of an employee is deemed, for all purposes with respect to the employee, a period of active service, without break in service, performed by the employee in the employment of the Government of the United States or the government of the District of Columbia.

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 480; Pub. L. 96–465, title II, §2303(c), (d), Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2165; Pub. L. 102–138, title I, §147(a), Oct. 28, 1991, 105 Stat. 669.)

Historical and Revision Notes

Derivation	U.S. Code	Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large
	5 U.S.C. 3073.	Sept. 26, 1961, Pub. L. 87–304, §3, 75 Stat. 663.

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1991—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 102–138 substituted "agency) whose departure (or that of the employee's dependents or immediate family, as the case may be) is authorized or ordered under section 5522(a); and" for "agency)—

"(A) whose departure is authorized or ordered under section 5522(a) of this title; and

"(B) who is prevented, by circumstances beyond his control and beyond the control of the Government of the United States or the government of the District of Columbia, or both, as the case may be, from performing the duties of the position which he held immediately before issuance of the departure order; and".

1980—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 96–465, §2303(c), in subpar. (A) substituted "whose departure is authorized or ordered under section 5522(a) of this title; and" for "whose evacuation from a place inside or outside the United States is ordered for military or other reasons which create imminent danger to the life of the employee; and", and in subpar. (B) substituted "departure" for "evacuation" after "issuance of the".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–465, §2303(d), substituted "departure" for "evacuation" in two places.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–465 effective Feb. 15, 1981, except as otherwise provided, see section 2403 of Pub. L. 96–465, set out as an Effective Date note under section 3901 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.

§5524. Review of accounts

The head of each agency shall provide for—

(1) the review of the account of each employee of the agency in receipt of payments under section 5522 or 5523 of this title, or both, as the case may be; and

(2) the adjustment of the amounts of the payments on the basis of—

(A) the rates of pay, allowances, and differentials to which the employee would have been entitled under applicable statute other than this subchapter for the respective periods covered by the payments, if he had performed active service under the terms of his appointment during each period in the position he held immediately before the issuance of the applicable evacuation order; and

(B) such additional amounts as the employee is authorized to receive in accordance with a determination of the President under section 5523(b) of this title.

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 481.)

Historical and Revision Notes

Derivation	U.S. Code	Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large
	5 U.S.C. 3074.	Sept. 26, 1961, Pub. L. 87–304, §4, 75 Stat. 663.

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

§5524a. Advance payments for new appointees and employees relocating within the United States and its territories

(a)(1) The head of each agency may provide for the advance payment of basic pay, covering not more than 2 pay periods, to any individual who is newly appointed to a position in the agency.

(2) The head of each agency may provide for the advance payment of basic pay, covering not more than 4 pay periods, to an employee who is assigned to a position in the agency that is located—

(A) outside of the employee's commuting area; and

(B) in the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any territory or possession of the United States.

(b)(1) Subject to adjustment of the account of an employee under paragraph (2) and other applicable statutes, the advance payment of basic pay shall be made, under agency procedures governing advance payments under this section, at the initial rate of basic pay to be payable to the employee upon the commencement of service in the position to which appointed or assigned.

(2) The head of each agency shall provide for—

(A) the review of the account of each employee of the agency in receipt of any payment under this section; and

(B) the adjustment of the amount of any such payment on the basis of the rate of basic pay to which the employee would have been entitled under applicable statute other than this section for the respective periods covered by the payments, if the employee had performed active service under the terms of such employee's appointment or assignment during each period in the position to which appointed or assigned.

(c) An advance payment under this section is recoverable by the Government of the United States or the government of the District of Columbia, as the case may be, from the employee or such employee's estate by—

(1) setoff against accrued pay, amount of retirement credit, or other amount due to the employee from the Government of the United States or the government of the District of Columbia; and

(2) such other method as is provided by law.

The head of the agency concerned may waive in whole or in part a right of recovery of an advance payment under this section if it is shown that the recovery would be against equity and good conscience or against the public interest.

(Added Pub. L. 101–509, title V, §529 [title I, §107(a)], Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1427, 1449; amended Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title XI, §1134(a)–(c)(1), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2459.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2016—Pub. L. 114–328, §1134(c)(1), inserted "and employees relocating within the United States and its territories" after "appointees" in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 114–328, §1134(a), designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 114–328, §1134(b)(1), inserted "or assigned" after "appointed".

Subsec. (b)(2)(B). Pub. L. 114–328, §1134(b)(2), inserted "or assignment" after "appointment" and "or assigned" after "appointed".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective on such date as the President shall determine, but not earlier than 90 days, and not later than 180 days, after Nov. 5, 1990, see section 529 [title III, §305] of Pub. L. 101–509, set out as an Effective Date of 1990 Amendment note under section 5301 of this title.

§5525. Allotment and assignment of pay

The head of each agency may establish procedures under which each employee of the agency is permitted to make allotments and assignments of amounts out of his pay for such purpose as the head of the agency considers appropriate. For purposes of this section, the term "agency" includes the Office of the Architect of the Capitol.

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 481; Pub. L. 107–68, title I, §133(b)(1), Nov. 12, 2001, 115 Stat. 582.)

Historical and Revision Notes

Derivation	U.S. Code	Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large
	5 U.S.C. 3075.	Sept. 26, 1961, Pub. L. 87–304, §5, 75 Stat. 663.

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2001—Pub. L. 107–68 inserted at end "For purposes of this section, the term 'agency' includes the Office of the Architect of the Capitol."

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2001 Amendment

Pub. L. 107–68, title I, §133(b)(2), Nov. 12, 2001, 115 Stat. 582, provided that: "The amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to pay periods beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 12, 2001]."

§5526. Funds available on reimbursable basis

Funds available to an agency for payment of pay, allowances, and differentials to or for the accounts of employees of the agency are available on a reimbursable basis for payment of pay, allowances, and differentials to or for the accounts of employees of another agency under this subchapter.

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 481.)

Historical and Revision Notes

Derivation	U.S. Code	Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large
	5 U.S.C. 3078.	Sept. 26, 1961, Pub. L. 87–304, §8, 75 Stat. 664.

The word "civilian" is omitted as unnecessary in view of the definition of "employee" in section 5521(2), and the fact that military personnel are not "employed".

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

§5527. Regulations

(a) To the extent practicable in the public interest, the President shall coordinate the policies and procedures of the respective Executive agencies under this subchapter.

(b) The President, with respect to the Executive agencies, the head of the agency concerned, with respect to the appropriate agency outside the executive branch, and the District of Columbia Council, with respect to the government of the District of Columbia, shall prescribe and issue, or provide for the formulation and issuance of, regulations necessary and appropriate to carry out the provisions, accomplish the purposes, and govern the administration of this subchapter.

(c) The head of each Executive agency may prescribe and issue regulations, not inconsistent with the regulations of the President issued under subsection (b) of this section, necessary and appropriate to carry out his functions under this subchapter.

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 481; Pub. L. 90–623, §1(11), Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1312.)

Historical and Revision Notes

Derivation	U.S. Code	Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large
	5 U.S.C. 3076.	Sept. 26, 1961, Pub. L. 87–304, §6, 75 Stat. 664.

In subsection (b), the last sentence of former section 3076, which provided for the issuance of the regulations not later than December 25, 1961, and the effective date of the regulations as not later than March 25, 1962, is omitted as executed.

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1968—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 90–623 inserted reference to the District of Columbia Council, with respect to the government of the District of Columbia.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1968 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 90–623 intended to restate without substantive change the law in effect on Oct. 22, 1968, see section 6 of Pub. L. 90–623, set out as a note under section 5334 of this title.

Transfer of Functions

District of Columbia Council, as established by Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1967, abolished as of noon Jan. 2, 1975, by Pub. L. 93–198, title VII, §711, Dec. 24, 1973, 87 Stat. 818, and replaced by Council of District of Columbia, as provided by section 401 of Pub. L. 93–198.

Executive Documents

Ex. Ord. No. 10982. Administration of Provisions of Chapter

Ex. Ord. No. 10982, Dec. 25, 1961, 27 F.R. 3, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12107, Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055; Ex. Ord. No. 12748, Feb. 1, 1991, 56 F.R. 4521, provided:

By virtue of the authority vested in me by the act of September 26, 1961 (75 Stat. 662) [this subchapter] and by section 301 of title 3 of the United States Code, and as President of the United States, it is ordered as follows:

Section 1. As used in this order:

(a) The term "the act" means the act of September 26, 1961 (Public Law 87–304), 75 Stat. 662 [now this subchapter].

(b) The term "Federal agency" means any executive department of the Government of the United States of America, any agency or independent establishment in the executive branch of the Government, and any corporation wholly owned or controlled by the Government.

(c) The term "foreign area" means any area (including the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands) situated outside (1) the United States (including the District of Columbia), (2) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, (3) the Canal Zone, and (4) any territory or possession of the United States.

Sec. 2. (a) Except as otherwise provided by section 2(b) and section 3(c) of this order, the Secretary of State in respect of civilian employees of Federal agencies who are located in foreign areas immediately prior to an emergency evacuation, and the Office of Personnel Management in respect of all other civilian employees of Federal agencies, are hereby designated and empowered, without the approval, ratification, or other action of the President, to perform the functions conferred upon the President by section 3(a), section 3(b), and section 6(a) of the act [sections 5523(a), 5523(b), and 5527(a) of this title].

(b) The Office of Personnel Management is hereby designated and empowered to perform the functions conferred upon the President by the provisions of section 5527 of title 5, United States Code, with respect to allotments and assignments authorized by section 5525 of title 5, United States Code, and advance payments to new appointees authorized by section 5524a of title 5, United States Code, as added by section 107(a) of the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act of 1990, as incorporated in section 529 of Public Law 101–509.

Sec. 3. The following regulations are hereby prescribed as necessary and appropriate to carry out the provisions, accomplish the purposes, and govern the administration of the act:

(a) To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary of State, the Office of Personnel Management, and the heads of other Federal agencies shall exercise their authority under the act and this order so that employees of different Federal agencies evacuated from the same geographic area under the same general circumstances may be treated uniformly.

(b) Advance payments of compensation, allowances, and differentials, as authorized by section 2 of the act [section 5522 of this title], shall be held to the minimum period during which the order for evacuation is anticipated to continue, and shall in no event be made for a period of more than thirty days.

(c) It is hereby determined to be in the interest of the United States that payments of monetary amounts as authorized by section 3 of the act [section 5523 of this title] to and for the account of an employee whose evacuation is ordered and who is prevented from performing the duties of his position, under the circumstances set forth in section 3 of the act, should be extended beyond sixty days for not more than one hundred and twenty additional days only upon determination, pursuant to regulations of the head of the Federal agency concerned, that such additional payments are reasonably necessary to maintain a civilian staff available for performance of duty. Such payments of monetary amounts under the authority of section 3 of the act shall be terminated as of such dates as may be determined by the Secretary of State or the Office of Personnel Management, as appropriate, but not later than the date on which an employee resumes his duties at the post from which he has been evacuated or is assigned to another position.

Sec. 4. (a) The head of each Federal agency shall issue as soon as practicable such regulations as may be necessary and appropriate to carry out his functions under the act and this order.

(b) In order to coordinate the policies and procedures of the executive branch of the Government, all regulations of any Federal agency prepared for issuance under the provisions of section 6(c) of the act [section 5527(c) of this title] and section 4(a) of this order shall be submitted for prior approval to the Secretary of State, or to the Office of Personnel Management, as may be appropriate, under section 2 of this order. The Secretary of State and the Office of Personnel Management shall review such regulations for conformance with the purpose and intent of the act and of the regulations contained in section 3 of this order. No Federal agency shall make any payment under the provisions of the act or this order until such regulations have been approved by the Secretary of State, or the Office of Personnel Management, as appropriate.