Maternity Leave Dilemma: Should My Travel and Patient Care Allowances Be Cut?

Hi, I am working in a government organization. I am on maternity leave, and they cut my travel allowance and patient care allowance from my salary. Am I eligible to receive a travel allowance, or should it be deducted?

Hi, any amount that is part of the fixed salary cannot be deducted, whereas any amount paid in addition to the fixed salary (e.g., reimbursement) can be deducted upon submission of bills.

I think the travel allowance can be reduced because obviously, you are not traveling. I do not know what the patient care allowance is.

Allowance Considerations

Technically, the 'allowance' may not be considered a part of the salary under the act if the company can prove that it was meant to defray the expenses of traveling to the office. Again, the contention may not be accepted by the authorities. However, generally, travel allowance is a small component of the salary, and it may not be worthwhile to fight over it, especially if you are considering working with them long-term.

If it is part of fixed emoluments like basic, DA, HRA, then TA shouldn't be recovered. On the other hand, if it is linked to attendance, then reduction is possible. Many employers obtain monthly claims towards TA and pay it as certified and as reimbursement (akin to tax planning). In this case, TA is not possible.

Patient care
Isn't it something like an allowance payable to paramedics who have to attend to patients? Isn't it linked to days on duty? No idea, please.

Traveling Allowance and Leave

Traveling allowance is paid to an employee who travels to the office. When you are on leave, you will not be entitled to receive it. Similarly, patient care allowance is paid only when on duty, and it will not be available during leave.

Allowances During Leave

Out of the total salary payable under a government pay scale, the only compensatory allowance that is admissible to an employee during leave, especially long leave such as maternity leave, is the house rent allowance. In private companies, however, most components of the salary are part of the remuneration. In such establishments, the CTC is typically decided first, with salary and all allowances following afterward.