# 302-6.8 Requirements and method for TQSE reimbursement.
Agencies will reimburse for TQSE under the “lodgings-plus” method (TQSE-LP). The TQSE-LP Reimbursement Method is outlined as follows:
(a) The employee must use the Government contractor-issued travel charge card as the method of payment for all official relocation expenses, including TQSE, unless exempted under part § 301-51.2 of this subtitle.
(b) The employee must file a voucher and provide documentation for their temporary quarters lodging expenses, lodging taxes, and other miscellaneous expenses. There is no requirement to document M&IE.
(c) The employee may receive an advance of funds if authorized in accordance with agency policy and listed on the travel authorization. The agency may advance the amount of funds necessary to cover the estimated TQSE expenses for up to 30 days. The agency may subsequently advance additional funds for periods up to 30 days.
(d) The agency will pay the actual daily temporary quarters lodging cost and a daily M&IE allowance not to exceed the single maximum lodging amount and the single maximum M&IE amount for the applicable rate in effect for the locality at the old or new official station or combination thereof, wherever temporary quarters will be occupied. The applicable rate could be the standard CONUS, CONUS non-standard area (NSA), or OCONUS non-foreign locality rate as determined by GSA or the Department of Defense.
(e) TQSE expenses must be reasonable and if expenses exceed the maximum allowable amount, the employee will not be reimbursed for more than the maximum allowable amount. The “maximum allowable amount” is the “maximum daily amount” multiplied by the number of days TQSE is actually incurred not to exceed the number of days authorized, taking into account that the rates change after 30 days in temporary quarters. The “maximum daily amount” (see note 1 to this section) is determined by adding the rates for the employee and each member of their immediate family authorized to occupy temporary quarters.
(1) For the first 30 days of temporary quarters:
(i) The employee and/or their unaccompanied spouse or domestic partner (see note 2 to this section) may receive 100 percent of the temporary quarters lodging portion of the applicable locality rate and 100 percent of the M&IE portion of the applicable locality rate.
(ii) An accompanied spouse, domestic partner, or a member of the immediate family who is age 12 or older may receive 50 percent of the temporary quarters lodging portion of the applicable locality rate and 50 percent of the M&IE portion of the applicable locality rate.
(iii) A member of the immediate family who is under age 12 may receive 40 percent of the temporary quarters lodging portion of the applicable locality rate and 40 percent of the M&IE portion of the applicable locality rate.
(2) For the second 30 days of temporary quarters:
(i) The employee and/or their unaccompanied spouse or domestic partner (see note 2 to this section) may receive 75 percent of the temporary quarters lodging portion of the applicable locality rate and 75 percent of the M&IE portion of the applicable locality rate.
(ii) An accompanied spouse, domestic partner, or a member of the immediate family who is age 12 or older may receive 45 percent of the temporary quarters lodging portion of the applicable locality rate and 45 percent of the M&IE portion of the applicable locality rate.
(iii) A member of the immediate family who is under age 12 may receive 35 percent of the temporary quarters lodging portion of the applicable locality rate and 35 percent of the M&IE portion of the applicable locality rate.
(3) For any additional authorized days of temporary quarters:
(i) The employee and/or their unaccompanied spouse or domestic partner (see note 2 to this section) may receive 55 percent of the temporary quarters lodging portion of the applicable locality rate and 55 percent of the M&IE portion of the applicable locality rate.
(ii) An accompanied spouse, domestic partner, or a member of the immediate family who is age 12 or older may receive 40 percent of the temporary quarters lodging portion of the applicable locality rate and 40 percent of the M&IE portion of the applicable locality rate.
(iii) A member of the immediate family who is under age 12 may receive 30 percent of the temporary quarters lodging portion of the applicable locality rate and 30 percent of the M&IE portion of the applicable locality rate.
Temporary quarters lodging and M&IE remain as separate maximum amounts for purposes of calculating TQSE-LP. Examples of TQSE calculations are published in an FTR bulletin at *https://gsa.gov/ftrbulletins.*
That is, when the spouse or domestic partner necessarily occupies temporary quarters in lieu of the employee or in a location separate from the employee.