Ministry Of Defence
Overview
The widened entitlement accommodation policy will launch on 31 October and will run until the New Accommodation Offer goes live on 11 March 2024. This is a first step in delivering the commitment made in the Defence Accommodation Strategy (2022) to allocate accommodation to Service personnel (SP) in long-term relationships (LTR) on the same basis as those who are married.
What is the widening of accommodation entitlement at limited locations?
Under the widening of accommodation entitlement at limited locations, WAE(LL) SP who are in an established LTR and are assigned to select locations after 31 October 2023 will be entitled to Service Family Accommodation (SFA) under current policy, in the same way as those who are married or in civil partnerships.
The following sites are part of WAE(LL):
RNAS Yeovilton
RMB Norton Manor
Leuchars Station
JHC FS Aldergrove
Palace Barracks Holywood
Thiepval Barracks Lisburn
RAF Shawbury
RAF Cosford
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for widened accommodation entitlement you must:
- receive an assignment order to one of the eight sites with a report for duty date on or after 31 October 2023, and before 11 March 2024
- be in a relationship defined as an established LTR. In line with current policy, SP will need to register their relationship status on JPA and have it verified by Unit HR
- the evidence requirements and registration process for an established LTR are defined at paragraphs 0116 and 0117 in JSP 464, volume 1, part 1
How do I apply for widened accommodation entitlement?
From 20 September, any eligible E1132 forms submitted will be treated under the WAE(LL) policy.
If SFA is unavailable, Substitute Service Family Accommodation (SSFA) in line with your entitlement will be sourced for you from the private rental sector.
Definitions
Accompanied service
At WAE(LL) sites, SP in a registered LTR will be deemed to be accompanied when they maintain a home with their registered long-term partner and any dependent children, from which SP travel daily to work at their normal duty station.
Child
The definition of a child for SP in a registered LTR is contained in JSP 464, volume 4, part 1, section 3: Close Family. The close family of SP or their registered long-term partners includes those persons listed below, in addition to those listed as Immediate Family (at JSP 752, paragraph 02.0124):
- parent or step-parent
- legal guardian
- non-dependent child
- grandchild or step-grandchild
- grandparent
- sibling, including half and step-sibling, or person nominated as emergency contact
Family home LTR
A family home for SP in Personal Status Category (PStat) category 2, 3, 4 or 5 in a registered LTR is defined as the residence (which may be SFA or SSFA) in which they would normally live with their family, except when unable to do so for Service reasons.
Immediate family
In the case of SP in a registered LTR at a WAE(LL) site, the immediate family will also include their registered partner and any children registered at the same time.
LTR
Eligibility policy for LTR can be found in JSP 464, volume 1, part 1, chapter 1, paragraph 116-117.
What if Im already at one of the sites or my report for duty is before 31 October 2023?
If you are in an established LTR and assigned to one of the eight sites prior to 31 October 2023, you will not be entitled to SFA. You may still apply for surplus SFA as per JSP 464, volume 1, part 1, section V.
If you are in an established LTR and are already living in surplus SFA at any of the sites, you will not be required to move out of your SFA to accommodate SP arriving on assignment.
If Im covered by the widened accommodation entitlement policy will I be entitled to anything else as well?
Where SP in an established LTR meet the entitlement for SFA, they will be entitled to allowances in support of their move on assignment as outlined:
Disturbance expense (DE)
SP are already entitled to DE and the rate is dictated by the type of accommodation being occupied, in this case SFA or SSFA.
Movement and storage of personal effects (MSPE)
SP in a LTR occupying SFA or SSFA are entitled to MSPE as if they were in PStat category 1 or 2.
Travel & subsistence (T&S)
SP are already entitled to T&S on relocation. In addition, their partner (and any dependent children) are entitled to T&S as immediate family members as per JSP 752.
Preliminary visit to arrange SSFA at a WAE(LL) site
SP that are required to occupy SSFA at a WAE(LL) site in the UK (because SFA is not available) may make one return journey to the new duty station with their registered partner and children, but not any other member of the immediate family at public expense, in order to arrange SSFA.
Change of permanent assignment station within the UK for SP due to be accommodated in SSFA - preliminary viewing
SP assigned to a WAE(LL) site, when in receipt of a Non-Availability Certificate (NAC), will be eligible for one night of Night Subsistence (NS) for themselves and, if they are viewing SSFA, their accompanying immediate family members, to facilitate their preliminary viewing and selection of SSFA accommodation.
Change of permanent assignment station from overseas to the UK for SP due to be accommodated in SSFA - preliminary viewing
SP assigned to a WAE(LL) site from overseas, when in receipt of an NAC, are eligible for official subsistence for up to 4 nights for themselves only, to facilitate their preliminary viewing of SSFA prior to their relocation to the UK.
Immediate family travel entitlements on termination of service
Immediate Service families accompanying registered long-term partners will have the same entitlements to travel on termination of their long-term partners service as the Service member of the family. The registered long-term partners entitlement is detailed in JSP 752.
SP and registered long term partner owning separate cars
Where SP and their registered long-term partners each own a private motor vehicle, more mileage allowance (MMA) may be paid in respect of both motor vehicles for assignment journeys to the WAE(LL) site. MMA will not be paid in respect of any private motor vehicle belonging to any other member of the household.
Concessionary travel for families (CTF)
CTF is provided to enable the immediate family of SP to benefit from the support of the Service persons close family during extended periods of deployment by their registered long-term partner, as detailed in JSP 752.
Allowances out of scope
This does not give entitlement to other allowances unless stated otherwise in JSP 752.
Commencement of eligibility
Entitlement for SP assigned to a WAE(LL) site commences on the day the established LTR is registered.
Validity
This Remuneration (REM) Directed Letter (DL) is valid for assignments taking place from 1 November 2023 to 10 March 2024.
Cessation