Allowances
Lodging
It is the responsibility of each employee to request the lowest available lodging rate at the time of making reservations. However, a person who may require special lodging consideration, due to a handicap, may be reimbursed for the actual cost of the least costly lodging that is substantially accessible.
The lodging allowances listed at GSA Per Diem Rates are the maximum amounts allowable per area. State of Illinois travel regulations allow for payments in excess of GSA rates when pre-approved by the agency head and approved by the Travel Control Board.
Conferences/Official Meetings
Advance approval of amounts in excess of the maximum amounts allowable are not required for conferences. To prevent confusion between an official meeting and a conference, a copy of a brochure or registration form which indicates the hotel in which the conference was held should be attached to the Travel Voucher for all conferences regardless of the room rate. If the conference is held somewhere other than the hotel, a list of the recommended hotels must be attached.
Lodging Exceptions
If hotel documentation is not available, a Lodging Exception must be completed. A report of all lodging exceptions granted by an Institution shall be submitted for approval at the quarterly Higher Education Travel Control Board meeting.
Allowance Maximums
Effective January 1, 2024, allowance maximums should be verified through the GSA Per Diem Rates.
The GSA may modify lodging rates and time periods at intermittent intervals throughout Federal FY24.
Lodging maximums prior to January 1, 2024:
IN-STATE
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Chicago Metropolitan Area
Cook County
Federal FY24 – Seasonally Adjusted Rates Effective October 1, 2023
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October 1, 2023 through November 30, 2023
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$233.00
|
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December 1, 2023 through March 31, 2024
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$146.00
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Federal FY23 – Seasonally Adjusted Rates Effective October 1, 2022
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October 1, 2022 through November 30, 2022
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$218.00
|
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December 1, 2022 through March 31, 2023
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$134.00
|
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April 1, 2023 through June 30, 2023
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$216.00
|
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July 1, 2023 through August 31, 2023 |
$187.00 |
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September 1, 2023 through September 30, 2023
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$218.00
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DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties
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$95.00
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Major Downstate Areas
Champaign, Kankakee, LaSalle, McLean, Macon, Madison, Peoria, Rock Island, St. Clair, Sangamon, Tazewell, and Winnebago Counties
Major Cities include: Belleville, Bloomington, Bourbonnais, Bradley, Champaign, Collinsville, Decatur, East Peoria, Fairview Heights, Kankakee, LaSalle, Normal, Pekin, Peoria, Peru, Rockford, Springfield, Urbana.
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$85.00
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Other Downstate Areas
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$75.00
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OUT-OF-STATE
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All Areas (except for District of Columbia)
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$110.00
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District of Columbia Only
Also the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church and Fairfax, and the counties of Arlington and Fairfax in Virginia; and the counties of Montgomery and Prince George's in Maryland
Federal FY24 Seasonally Adjusted Rates effective October 1, 2023
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October 1, 2023 through October 31, 2023
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$261.00
|
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November 1, 2023 through February 29, 2024
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$193.00
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Federal FY23 Seasonally Adjusted Rates effective October 1, 2022
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October 1, 2022 through October 31, 2022
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$257.00
|
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November 1, 2022 through February 28, 2023
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$188.00
|
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March 1, 2023 through June 30, 2023
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$258.00
|
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July 1, 2023 through August 31, 2023
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$172.00
|
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September 1, 2023 through September 30, 2023
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$257.00
|
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FOREIGN TRAVEL
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With Receipts
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Actual, reasonable cost
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Without Receipts
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State Department Foreign Per Diem Rates
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Specially Discounted FY24 Hotel Rates Negotiated by the Central Management Services
The State has negotiated special rates with certain hotels in Illinois. Employees should review the list of hotels when lodging is required and attempt to obtain the discounted rate before reserving a hotel room at the State's maximum allowed rate. The rates listed do not include applicable taxes. Identification as a State of Illinois employee may be required at check-in. The preferred hotels listing can be found on the CMS website.
Per Diem Allowances
A daily allowance for meal expenses that includes an overnight stay.
Effective January 1, 2024, per diam allowances should be verified through the GSA Per Diem Rates
Quarter days are as follows:
12:00 a.m. to 5:59 a.m.
6:00 a.m. to 11.59 a.m.
12:00 p.m. to 5:59 p.m.
6:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
Prior to January 1, 2024, the in-state rate was $11.00 per quarter day and the out-of-state rate was $12.00 per quarter day for a total per diem rate of $44.00 per day for in-state travel and $48.00 per day for out-of-state travel.
When the cost of meals for approved conferences is a part of the registration fee, and paid or reimbursed by the HETCB member institution, the traveler shall deduct the following amounts from the per diem or per meal allowance:
Meal type |
In-State
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Out-of-State
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Breakfast
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$8.50
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$9.50
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Lunch
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$12.50
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$13.50
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Dinner
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$23.00
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$25.00
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