Joining Forces Credit Unions – now available to civilian staff on Discover My Benefits

As part of the commitment to improve financial wellbeing in the MOD, Joining Forces Credit Unions are now available to civilian staff as well as the military.

Credit unions are not-for-profit financial cooperatives that provide a range of savings and loan products to their members. They incentivise strong financial wellbeing by encouraging saving, as well as being ethical lenders that can provide lower interest rates than high street lenders.

There are three Credit Unions available to military and civilian MOD staff under the Joining Forces banner. You can find out more about what Credit Unions are, and about the three different types, on Discover My Benefits.

Discover My Benefits is regularly updated with the latest benefits and support available to both MOD civilians and those in the Armed Forces. It’s the place to go to find out the benefits you are entitled to and how to access them.

A survey is currently being run to find out what users think of the site, and to identify any areas of improvement to make the experience of using Discover My Benefits better. If you visit the site and spend a bit of time on there, you may be asked to complete the survey - it would be really helpful if you could take the time to give your views.

Enable GingerCannot connect to Ginger Check your internet connection
or reload the browserDisable in this text fieldRephraseRephrase current sentenceEdit in Ginger×

Future Accommodation Model Success Story

The way people live and work is changing and the Future Accommodation Model (FAM) reflects this. FAM gives more choice to support the needs of Service personnel over where, how and with whom they live. With FAM personnel can still select Single Living Accommodation (SLA) or Service Family Accommodation (SFA), but they can also choose to live in private rental accommodation or buy their own home with support from the MOD.

FAM applies equally to Service personnel whether single, married, in a civil partnership, long term established relationship or parents such as Lt Col Chris Farrelly, who have their children over 80 nights per calendar year. This means that Service personnel assigned to a pilot site, who are eligible, can choose the accommodation that best suits their needs, whether they want to live closer to a particular school or nursery, on the base, in town with their friends or somewhere they and their partner can both easily commute from.

Army Lt Col Chris Farrelly shares his story about how under FAM he’s received Service Family Accommodation as his daughter stays with him on a regular basis.

To find out more about FAM check out GOV.UK. You can also visit Discover My Benefits to find out which FAM payments, allowances and support could apply to your personal situation.

Enable GingerCannot connect to Ginger Check your internet connection
or reload the browserDisable in this text fieldRephraseRephrase current sentenceEdit in Ginger×

Norfolk: Service Pupil Premium Resource Directory

                                                                                    

Norfolk County Council has developed a resource for schools and parents, helping them develop their understanding of the Armed Forces Covenant, the Armed Force Community and the Service Pupil Premium.

The booklet was developed in partnership with a group of experienced local schools and the three families federations; the Army Families Federation, the RAF Families Federation and the Naval Families Federation.

Click above or HERE to view

The way people live and work is changing - FAM case study

The way people live and work is changing and the Future Accommodation Model (FAM) reflects this. FAM gives more choice to support the needs of Service personnel over where, how and with whom they live. With FAM personnel can still select Single Living Accommodation (SLA) or Service Family Accommodation (SFA), but they can also choose to live in private rental accommodation or buy their own home with support from the MOD.

FAM applies equally to Service personnel whether single, married, in a civil partnership, long term established relationship or parents who have their children over 80 nights per calendar year. This means that Service personnel assigned to a pilot site, who are eligible, can choose the accommodation that best suits their needs, whether they want to live closer to a particular school or nursery, on the base, in town with their friends or somewhere they and their partner can both easily commute from.

Army Major Lisa Brown shares her story about how she received support through FAM to help buy a dream home with plenty of room for her family.

YouTube video link (Army subtitled version): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB2LYbOCFdA

To find out more about FAM check out GOV.UK. You can also visit Discover My Benefits to find out which FAM payments, allowances and support apply to your personal situation.

Changes to Timeline for Submission of Indefinite Leave to Remain Applications Pre-Discharge

The MOD has agreed with the Home Office to extend the time limit before discharge that non-UK Service Personnel can submit applications for Indefinite Leave to Remain, with immediate effect.

Previously, non-UK soldiers had been able to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) up to 10 weeks prior to discharge. This has now been changed to up to 18 weeks prior to discharge.

It will take time to reflect this in Army / MOD and Home Office documents and websites, as well as other Army guidance documents. In the meantime, any questions should be directed to your soldier's chain of command.

Healthcare for the Armed Forces community: a forward view

Healthcare for the Armed Forces community: this forward view should be seen as a companion document to the NHS Long Term Plan (LTP), outlining the commitments NHS England and NHS Improvement is making to improve the health and wellbeing of the Armed Forces community, serving personnel (regulars and reservists), veterans and their families.

NHS England » Healthcare for the Armed Forces community: a forward view

Enable GingerCannot connect to Ginger Check your internet connection
or reload the browserDisable in this text fieldEditEdit in GingerEdit in Ginger×

Stay Safe - Domestic Abuse Awareness

 

Enable GingerCannot connect to Ginger Check your internet connection
or reload the browserDisable in this text fieldEditEdit in GingerEdit in Ginger×

Defence Integrated Review

Defence outlines 2030 vision for the Armed Forces

The Secretary of State has set out the future vision for the UK Armed Forces ensuring the military is prepared for new and emerging threats and challenges.

Outlined in ‘Defence in a competitive age’, the UK Armed Forces will become a threat-focused integrated force with a continued shift in thinking across land, sea, air, space and cyber domains.

Defence will spend over £85 billion on equipment over the next four years so our Armed Forces can adapt, compete effectively, and fight decisively when needed. This will support 400,000 jobs across all four nations of the UK.

To read in full please CLICK HERE

Enable GingerCannot connect to Ginger Check your internet connection
or reload the browserDisable in this text fieldEditEdit in GingerEdit in Ginger×

All Call Signs: What to do when a Veteran or Service Person Goes Missing

Click HERE for more information on what to do when a 

Veteran or Service Person goes missing

Enable GingerCannot connect to Ginger Check your internet connection
or reload the browserDisable in this text fieldEditEdit in GingerEdit in Ginger×

Future Accommodation Model - So Why FAM??

So... Why FAM?

Enable GingerCannot connect to Ginger Check your internet connection
or reload the browserDisable in this text fieldEditEdit in GingerEdit in Ginger×