If DFAS garnishes your wages for Travel Debt does the money go to your citibank account to pay off your GTCC?

Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 03:48:02 -0500

In September, I went on TDY and got back with only a week left in the fiscal year. I'm AGR, and in my BN, the MILTECHs managed the funding and didn't approve my voucher in time, although I submitted well in advance. I also got an extra day due to maintenance issues with my connecting flight. Because of that my voucher was more than the authorization with a hotel and extra per diem. I waited and waited for the government to reopen so my unit could pay off my voucher, but then it rolls around and I asked about and they said to wait a little longer. So now its this month and I notice that my pending deposit is $198 less than what it is supposed to. I got to DFAS and see a Travel Debt added to the deductions for that amount. Now it is Christmas coming up, and I have had several gift purchases as well as other large purchases, such as snow tires. That $198 isn't going to sink me because I've saved over the years to build a large rainy-day fund, but I don't like drawing from my savings if I don't have to. I also have rent coming at the first of the month because I live off base due to the housing situation where I'm stationed, so it's not like I can live like a barracks Spartan that just stops spending money. Also, I called Citibank on the 14th of this month after the government reopened and asked them what the due date was, and they said I had 30 days after the shutdown.

So, finally getting to the question: is $198 going to be taken by DFAS and paid to my CitiBank account to pay down my card debt, and can I get that money on the back end through a refund from CitiBank? If it doesn't go to the most logical place imaginable, then where would that money go? Is there anyway in getting that money back? Would I have to file a complaint against DFAS through IG if they are unwilling to assist in telling me what they are doing with my money? If my unit refuses to pay off my voucher, is that grounds for an IG complaint? I have many of these questions keeping me up tonight in anger over a trigger of counting on my coming paycheck in this more expensive time of the year only to see it reduced?

Response by COL Randall C. made Nov 26 at 2025 8:00 AM

COL Randall C. — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 08:00:44 -0500

First, I applaud you for recognizing the need for a rainy-day fund. You won't believe how many people assume that they will never run into a situation where they are in a bind because money that was supposed to come in doesn't arrive in a timely manner.

To answer the question – No, travel debts from DFAS are not for your Government Travel Credit Card (GTCC) bill, they are debts owed to the government. A travel debt is for money you were paid by the government that is being recouped because you received an overpayment, an advanced payment for a trip that was canceled, or a post-payment review of a previous voucher determined that you were paid for things that you shouldn't have been (unauthorized payment).

Bottom line - a DTS travel debt is for money you were already paid but weren't eligible for and not pending or overdue charges on your GTCC.

Go back to your DTS account and review previous vouchers (look at the financial summary screen) and you'll be able to find out which one is causing your travel debt.

As a side note, although it's not the culprit of your situation, payments on a GTCC are your responsibility as the card holder, not the government's. Regardless if the processing of your voucher is quick enough to cover the split payment or not, you're on the hook for missed payments, so when the bill becomes due, you need to pay it regardless of that status of your voucher (although they recommend you do it so the voucher will pay the bill, my 'school of hard knocks' lesson was to pay the bill myself and get reimbursed when the voucher cleared).

To your question about the IG. If your unit is not processing vouchers in a timely manner, it is a systemic problem, and you've already discussed it with your leadership and nothing has changed, then yes it falls into the category of something the IG might be willing to listen to. If it's something that was affected by events (such as the shutdown), but otherwise it's not an issue, then no.

However, if you haven't discussed it with your unit leadership, then you'll be referred back to them to take action first.

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Nov 29 at 2025 5:35 AM

SSG Roger Ayscue — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 05:35:00 -0500

I still wonder how the GTC is a good deal for either the Soldier or the Army. If a Soldier had the money to go on a TDY or PCS move to begin with, they would not need the card. If the card is how the Army provides for the Soldier for covered expenses, then why does the Army expect the Soldier to pay the bill before the TDY settlement is paid? In most cases the Soldier does not have the money to cover those expenses upfront.
It seems to me that the only people that this is a good deal for are the Credit Card company.