<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Allowances and Benefits > Daily Subsistence Allowance > What kinds of DSA rates exist?

In principle, there are three types of DSA: standard, special and ad hoc. Only standard and special DSA rates are established  through ICSC DSA surveys. Standard DSA rates are the most common. Special DSA rates are set up for locations where travelers may be faced with the unavailability of hotels that are used for establishing standard DSA rates. These rates are applicable only when suitable standard hotels are not available, as confirmed by a respective UN office in the duty station (for instance, due to large event, etc.). Ad hoc rates are established to cover the instances where standard DSA does not cover the total cost of the accommodation, meals and instances due to the venue of the event (for instance, special hotel) or the timing of the meeting (coinciding with another event in the duty station that leads to higher than usual accommodation rates). ICSC does not establish ad hoc rates. Each organization typically has its own administrative procedures to address situations for establishing and calculating ad hoc rates.