Is per diem adjusted when lodging or meals are provided at no cost to the employee?

Posted on Jan 9, 2014 in Travel.

When lodging is provided, employee is entitled to subsistence (meal) allowance only as follows:

Meal CONUS OCONUS
Breakfast (before 8:00am) See specific destination meal allowance 20% of M&IE
Lunch (leave before 12:00pm)or return after 12:30pm See specific destination meal allowance 30% of M&IE
Dinner (return after 7:00pm) See specific destination meal allowance 50% of M&IE

When meals are provided, the meal allowance is adjusted the prescribed rate as indicated above.

When meals are provided at no cost to the employee, the per diem allowance shall not be adjusted when meals are included in conference programs. There are two criteria that must be met to be accepted as a “conference program,” pursuant to CM 2012-15:

  • Must be sponsored by a governmental agency or an organization whose functions
    are directly related to the State’s department or agency functions; and
  • Must be supported by published program that includes dates and agendas.