In accordance with 31 U.S.C., section 3528 you may not be pecuniary liable for the full amount of any erroneous payment if you

• A. Have followed established official DoD and Air Force regulations, instructions, policies, and procedures
• B. Have followed informal guidelines
• C. Have acted with gross negligence
• D. Have requested relief from the accountable official

Answer: (A)

Relief from liability for erroneous payments comes from following official procedures. Under 31 U.S.C. 3528, if you act in good faith and in accordance with established official DoD and Air Force regulations, instructions, policies, and procedures, you are not liable for the full amount of an erroneous payment. This protection exists to recognize that honest errors can occur even when proper processes are followed, and it honors individuals who adhere to approved guidance.

Informal guidelines don’t carry the same official force, so following them wouldn’t trigger the same relief. If you act with gross negligence, the protection does not apply, because the error stems from a failure to exercise due care. Merely requesting relief from the accountable official isn’t the mechanism that grants this protection; the relief is provided by meeting the statutory condition of following established official guidance.