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Subsistence Reimbursement


Albuquerque Service Center Travel Help Desk
Instructions for Requesting Subsistence Reimbursement 
for Forest Service Evacuees

USDA Forest Service employees who were evacuated are eligible for reimbursement of subsistence payments while in an evacuated status. The Forest Service Chief Financial Officer Budget & Finance has established processes and support for Forest Service employees to get their reimbursement as quickly as possible. We realize you may not have access to office equipment so cell phone photos of receipts can be emailed along with the additional information we need to process your reimbursement. Budget & Finance staff will prepare your reimbursement forms for you to help facilitate this process.
Additional assistance is available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) if your area is under a disaster declaration. You can register with FEMA at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

The following costs are reimbursable to evacuated employees:

  • Transportation: Travel expenses for the employee and dependents will be determined, in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR), from the evacuated area to the agency designated safe haven and for their return to the previously evacuated area, as authorized.

  • Lodging-plus: For the period of evacuation, employees are eligible for actual amount of lodging (if paid by employees) plus a set allowance for meals and expenses (per diem) for employees and dependents. Dependent: As defined under the Office of Personnel Management regulations, a dependent is a relative of the employee residing with the employee and dependent on the employee for support.

Please email the following information and all documentation to the ETS2 inbox:  SM.FS.ets2@usda.gov

  • Name of employee

  • Contact phone number

  • The evacuation orders

  • The evacuation lift notification

  • Evacuation start date

  • Evacuation end date

  • Identify your employment type:

    • Fire employee

    • Non-fire employee

    • State/Private employee

  • Region and unit

  • Location(s) you evacuated to

  • Names and ages of dependents

  • Receipts for expenses (excluding meal and gas receipts)

  • Only provide mileage to and from evacuated location(s):
    (No daily commuting mileage)

    • Number of miles on first day to evacuated location

    • Number of miles on last day returning home

    • Screen shot(s) of map showing number of miles and route

The Albuquerque Service Center Chief Financial Officer Budget & Finance Travel Help Desk is open during regular business hours to assist evacuees with their subsistence requests.

ASC CFO Travel Help Desk 1-877-372-7248, Option #1