diff --git a/metplus/wrappers/pcp_combine_wrapper.py b/metplus/wrappers/pcp_combine_wrapper.py
index f36dc37fa..3324f519f 100755
--- a/metplus/wrappers/pcp_combine_wrapper.py
+++ b/metplus/wrappers/pcp_combine_wrapper.py
@@ -649,7 +649,8 @@ def get_accumulation(self, time_info, accum, data_src,
         accum_relative = get_relativedelta(accum, 'S')
         # using 1 hour for now
         smallest_input_accum = min(
-            [lev['amount'] for lev in self.c_dict['ACCUM_DICT_LIST']]
+            [ti_get_seconds_from_relativedelta(lev['amount'], search_time)
+             for lev in self.c_dict['ACCUM_DICT_LIST']]
         )
         if smallest_input_accum == 9999999:
             smallest_input_accum = 3600
@@ -743,8 +744,9 @@ def _add_file_and_field_info_to_args(self, search_file, field_info,
 
     def _find_file_for_accum(self, accum_dict, total_accum, time_info,
                              search_time, data_src, custom):
-        if (accum_dict['amount'] > total_accum and
-                accum_dict['template'] is None):
+        # get number of seconds from relativedelta accum amount using search time
+        accum_seconds = ti_get_seconds_from_relativedelta(accum_dict['amount'], search_time)
+        if accum_seconds > total_accum and accum_dict['template'] is None:
             return None, None, None
 
         self.c_dict['SUPPRESS_WARNINGS'] = True
@@ -771,7 +773,7 @@ def _find_file_for_accum(self, accum_dict, total_accum, time_info,
                                   "than remaining accumulation.")
                 return None, None, None
         else:
-            accum_amount = accum_dict['amount']
+            accum_amount = accum_seconds
 
         search_time_info = {
             'valid': search_time,
@@ -806,7 +808,8 @@ def get_lowest_fcst_file(self, valid_time, data_src, custom):
             self.c_dict[data_src+'_MAX_FORECAST'], 'H'
         )
         smallest_input_accum = min(
-            [lev['amount'] for lev in self.c_dict['ACCUM_DICT_LIST']]
+            [ti_get_seconds_from_relativedelta(lev['amount'], valid_time)
+             for lev in self.c_dict['ACCUM_DICT_LIST']]
         )
 
         # if smallest input accumulation is greater than an hour, search hourly
@@ -860,6 +863,9 @@ def find_input_file(self, init_time, valid_time, search_accum, data_src,
                         custom):
         lead = 0
         in_template = self.c_dict[data_src+'_INPUT_TEMPLATE']
+        # use rel_time as offset to compute seconds from
+        # relativedelta search_accum for time_info level -- can be init or valid
+        rel_time = valid_time
 
         if ('{lead?' in in_template or
                 ('{init?' in in_template and '{valid?' in in_template)):
@@ -870,15 +876,17 @@ def find_input_file(self, init_time, valid_time, search_accum, data_src,
             # ti_calculate cannot currently handle both init and valid
             lead = (valid_time - init_time).total_seconds()
             input_dict = {'init': init_time, 'lead': lead}
+            rel_time = init_time
         else:
             if self.c_dict[f'{data_src}_CONSTANT_INIT']:
                 input_dict = {'init': init_time}
+                rel_time = init_time
             else:
                 input_dict = {'valid': valid_time}
 
         time_info = ti_calculate(input_dict)
         time_info['custom'] = custom
-        time_info['level'] = int(search_accum)
+        time_info['level'] = ti_get_seconds_from_relativedelta(search_accum, rel_time)
         input_path = self.find_data(time_info, data_type=data_src,
                                     return_list=True, mandatory=False)
         if input_path:
@@ -1003,8 +1011,8 @@ def _build_input_accum_list(self, data_src, time_info):
                 template = accum
                 accum = '9999999S'
 
-            # convert accum amount to seconds from time string
-            amount = get_seconds_from_string(accum, 'H', time_info['valid'])
+            # convert accum amount to relativedelta from time string
+            amount = get_relativedelta(accum, default_unit='H')
 
             accum_dict_list.append({'amount': amount,
                                     'name': name,