---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 5922"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "5922"
heading: "General provisions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/5922"
units:
  - "Part III — Employees"
  - "Subpart D — Pay and Allowances"
  - "Chapter 59 — Allowances"
  - "Subchapter III — Overseas Differentials and Allowances"
---

# §5922. General provisions

- (a) Notwithstanding [section 5536 of this title](/usc/5/5536.md) and except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, the allowances and differentials authorized by this subchapter may be granted to an [employee](/usc/5/5921.md?p=3) officially stationed in a [foreign area](/usc/5/5921.md?p=6)—
  - (1) who is a citizen of the [United States](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-18); and
  - (2) whose rate of [basic pay](/usc/5/8401.md?p=4) is fixed by statute or, without taking into consideration the allowances and differentials provided by this subchapter, is fixed by administrative action pursuant to law or is fixed administratively in conformity with rates paid by the [Government](/usc/5/5921.md?p=1) for work of a comparable level of difficulty and responsibility in the [continental United States](/usc/5/5921.md?p=5).

  To the extent authorized by a provision of statute other than this subchapter, the allowances and differentials provided by this subchapter may be paid to an [employee](/usc/5/5921.md?p=3) officially stationed in a [foreign area](/usc/5/5921.md?p=6) who is not a citizen of the [United States](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-18).

- (b) Allowances granted under this subchapter may be paid in advance, or advance of [funds](/usc/5/8401.md?p=6) may be made therefor, through the proper disbursing official in such sums as are considered advisable in consideration of the need and the period of time during which expenditures must be made in advance by the [employee](/usc/5/5921.md?p=3). An advance of [funds](/usc/5/8401.md?p=6) not subsequently covered by allowances accrued to the [employee](/usc/5/5921.md?p=3) under this subchapter is recoverable by the [Government](/usc/5/5921.md?p=1) by—
  - (1) setoff against accrued [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4), compensation, amount of retirement credit, or other amount due the [employee](/usc/5/5921.md?p=3) from the [Government](/usc/5/5921.md?p=1); and
  - (2) such other method as is provided by law for the recovery of amounts owing to the [Government](/usc/5/5921.md?p=1).

  The head of the [agency](/usc/5/5921.md?p=2) concerned, under regulations of the President, may waive in whole or in part a right of recovery under this subsection, if it is shown that the recovery would be against equity and good conscience or against the public interest.

- (c) The allowances and differentials authorized by this subchapter shall be paid under regulations prescribed by the President governing—
  - (1) payments of the allowances and differentials and the respective rates at which the payments are made;
  - (2) the [foreign areas](/usc/5/5921.md?p=6), the groups of [positions](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-3), and the categories of [employees](/usc/5/5921.md?p=3) to which the rates apply; and
  - (3) other related matters.
- (d) When a quarters allowance or allowance related to education under this subchapter, or quarters furnished in [Government](/usc/5/5921.md?p=1)-owned or controlled buildings under [section 5912](/usc/5/5912.md), would be furnished to an [employee](/usc/5/5921.md?p=3) but for the death of the [employee](/usc/5/5921.md?p=3), such allowances or quarters may be furnished or continued for the purpose of allowing any child of the [employee](/usc/5/5921.md?p=3) to complete the current school year at post or away from post notwithstanding the [employee](/usc/5/5921.md?p=3)’s death.
- (e) When an allowance related to education away from post under this subchapter would be authorized with respect to an [employee](/usc/5/5921.md?p=3) but for the evacuation or authorized departure status of the post, such an allowance may be furnished or continued for the purpose of allowing any [dependent](/usc/5/8951.md?p=2) children of such [employee](/usc/5/5921.md?p=3) to complete the current school year.
- (f)
  - (1) If an [employee](/usc/5/5921.md?p=3) dies at post in a [foreign area](/usc/5/5921.md?p=6), a transfer allowance under [section 5924(2)(B)](/usc/5/5924.md?p=2-B) may be granted to the spouse or [dependents](/usc/5/8951.md?p=2) of such [employee](/usc/5/5921.md?p=3) (or both) for the purpose of providing for their return to the [United States](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-18).
  - (2) A transfer allowance under this subsection may not be granted with respect to the spouse or a [dependent](/usc/5/8951.md?p=2) of the [employee](/usc/5/5921.md?p=3) unless, at the time of death, such spouse or [dependent](/usc/5/8951.md?p=2) was residing—
    - (A) at the [employee](/usc/5/5921.md?p=3)’s post of assignment; or
    - (B) at a place, outside the [United States](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-18), for which a separate maintenance allowance was being furnished under [section 5924(3)](/usc/5/5924.md?p=3).
  - (3) The President may prescribe any regulations necessary to carry out this subsection.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 510; Pub. L. 102–138, title I, § 147(c), Oct. 28, 1991, 105 Stat. 669; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(7) [div. A, title III, § 335], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–441.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and<br>Statutes at Large |
| (a) | 5 U.S.C. 3033. | Sept. 6, 1960, Pub. L. 86–707, § 201, 74 Stat. 793. |
| (b) | 5 U.S.C. 3034. | Sept. 6, 1960, Pub. L. 86–707, § 202, 74 Stat. 793. |
| (c) | 5 U.S.C. 3035. | Sept. 6, 1960, Pub. L. 86–707, § 203, 74 Stat. 793. |

In subsection (a), the word “only” is omitted as surplusage.

In subsection (b), the words “disbursing official” are substituted for “disbursing officer” because of the definition of “officer” in section 2104 which excludes a member of a uniformed service.

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

1999—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 106–113 added subsec. (f).

1991—Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 102–138 added subsecs. (d) and (e).

### Executive Documents

### Delegation of Functions

Secretary of State empowered to prescribe regulations, see section 1(b) of Ex. Ord. No. 10903, Jan. 11, 1961, 26 F.R. 217, set out as a note under section 5921 of this title.