New figures show that, over the last 2 years, more than 780 armed forces
households have either bought or reserved a new home through FirstBuy
and its successor Help to Buy: equity loan. Both initiatives intended to
help people purchase a new build home with a fraction... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link
We are running a survey for partners and spouses of serving Armed Forces
personnel. Your feedback is also welcome if you are a partner that also
serves in the Armed Forces. This is an important survey as it looks at
overseas employment and... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link
The Royal British Legion in conjunction with Standard Life Charitable
Trust and with the full co-operation of the MoD have launched a new
Money website especially for Armed Forces Personnel and members of their
family. Dame Kelly Holmes on the introductory video says: "You might be
really fit, really strong or even really fast but how fit are you when
it comes to your money?...More information »
A meeting in Brussels today (Tue) is likely to result in the UK agreeing
to send more Armed Forces personnel to Mali as part of a joint EU
mission. The Prime Minister is said to be awaiting a specific request
but it is thought UK personnel will be given in a training role with
further uplift of assistance with logistics, surveillance and
intelligence already provided by the RAF. There is still insistence
that no combat role...More information »
It has been reported in the media that Armed Forces personnel will have
to pay more tax on their pensions as a result of changes to National
Insurance contributions. In response the MoD has said: "This story is
misleading. The 1.4% increase in National Insurance contributions
relates to the State Pension - it has nothing to do with the entirely
separate Armed Forces Pension Scheme...More information »
Amongst coverage in the media about the Prime Minister's announcement that 3,800 British personnel are to be withdrawn from Afghanistan during 2013, the Daily Mirror runs a piece headlined 'Left in Danger'. In response the MoD has said: 'This article suggests that the 5,200 personnel remaining in Afghanistan will be left at greater risk because they 'may be left with the worst equipment'. This is categorically untrue...See full details
The Government is showing commitment to Armed Forces personnel by giving
extra financial support to injured Service personnel, Service children
and Reserves. There is a £5 million boost for the Headley Court; The
Pupil Premium is increased from £250 to £300 per pupil and in a new
measure civil servants from Government Departments who volunteer as
Reservists will be guaranteed a 10 days Special Paid Leave...More information »
The RAF FF survey on Pay, Pensions and other money issues has so far not stuck a chord and the response has been disappointing - With a week to go please complete our short survey. If you are Serving or a spouse/partner of someone who is then we would particularly like to hear from you. It is anonymous but we ask enough about your profile for it to make a difference. Results will be presented as evidence to the Armed Forces Pay Review Body who will be recommending to the Government whether or not the Armed Service merit a pay rise or not. Also up for its 5 year review is X-Factor - this could go up, it could go down. It depends on how persuasive we can be on your behalf - but to do that we need your opinions. Please click on the link - now!...More information »
The SDSR resulted in the grounding of the much-loved Nimrod R1 and Harrier, the future closure of RAF Kinloss and Leuchars, a cut in allowances and a 2-Phase redundancy programme to reduce the RAF to its lowest level ever. At the same time, the Government published the first Armed Forces Covenant, enshrined in law, and promising to deliver enhanced support to serving personnel and their families. The Covenant made over 100 commitments to identify and address disadvantage arising from service in the Armed Forces. As part of our remit to represent the RAF family view, the Federation is running a survey to inform future policy development on these important issues. It is live during April (only). It asks whether or not you consider the Nation to be behind its RAF and seeks your views on the impact of the SDSR and your understanding and expectations of the Covenant. Click on the survey icon above to go straight to the survey...More information »
The Telegraph reports that an official review [AFPRB] has found that pay cuts and other reductions in allowances 'risk damaging the morale and motivation' of Armed Forces personnel. A spokesman for the MoD said: "Tough decisions have had to be made to tackle the MoD's financial black hole...In addition, the report itself says 'morale and motivation among those serving on operations appear generally to be good...More information »
All partnership breakdowns involving children are likely to be stressful and distracting and there is a move to do more to encourage Armed Forces personnel to be better informed of the implications and to encourage them to make their own maintenance arrangements, rather than have the CMEC system chase them...More information »
The Sun reports that fewer than one in three Armed Forces personnel are eligible for frontline bonuses and that only 45,000 of the UK's 158,000 Service personnel are likely to receive the Operational Allowance before 2015. The MoD said: "That is the number who are expected to deploy. It would be curious for an OA to be made available to personnel who stay in the UK...More information »
