Service Leavers Guide Service Leavers Guide This booklet has been produced to provide The information in this booklet is not help and advice on a range of topics as you a definitive statement of the law. plan for your transition to civilian life. It aims All contact details were correct at time to give useful information on the sort of help of print (12/2014). It can also be found you can get, who can provide it and the on Defence intranet at: action you need to take. https://www.gov.uk/government/ publications/service-leavers-guide Termination Timeline Arrange to have final medical at your current unit Arrange dental examination 9 – 6 months Arrange Resettlement Officer interview Arrange assignment to terminating unit if needed (RN only) Arrange move from MOD accommodation on discharge 6 – 3 Make sure your JPA record is accurate months Attend final medical examination Claim refund of any resettlement fees Contact the mail office with forwarding address Check medical and dental documents are with terminating unit SubmitIMPORTANT AFPS -application complete and using return JPA self-serviceAFPS Form Pen1 3 – 1 Check unit terminating routine months Get a copy of your Testimonial (Army & RAF) (NCA & GTP) only) Return all appropriate clothing and equipment Leave MOD accommodation Eligible Foreign or Commonwealth personnel subject to immigration control on discharge should apply for leave to remain in the UK up to 10 weeks before discharge date. Take terminal leave Last Return Armed Forces ID card month Return service stores and record books (if no reserve liability) 3 Contents The Termination Process The Termination Process Page General (including): Medical and Dental 6 JPA Records 7 MOD Accomodation and Terminal Leave 8 Travel Entitlements 9 Resettlement, Jobs and Housing Resettlement 11 The Career Transition Partnership 12 Regional Resettlement Centres 14 Educational Support 15 The Joint Service Housing Advice Office (JSHAO) 17 Housing Matters Magazine and SPACES 18 XPAX 19 Pay, Pensions and Other Benefits General 21 Armed Forces Pension Schemes 22 Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 (AFPS 75) 24 Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2005 (AFPS 05) 25 Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2015 (AFPS15) 26 Pension Contacts 27 Reserve Forces Pension Schemes 28 Reserve Forces Pension Scheme 05 (RFPS 05) 28 Veterans and Compensation 30 Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) 31 Dependant’s Fund & Dependant’s (Income) Trust 32 Other Sources of Help-State and Service Charities General 34 Veterans Welfare Service (VWS) 34 Confederation of Service Charities 35 Service Charities 36 Financial Help 37 Health Issues 38 Big White Wall 39 SSAFA 40 Royal British Legion 42 Poppyscotland 44 Veterans Welfare Service (VWS) 45 Reserve Forces and Cadets Reserve Liability 47 Defence Discount Service 50 Royal Navy Reserves 52 Royal Marines Reserve 54 Army Reserve 56 RAF Reserve 58 Cadet Forces 60 SaBRE 62 Enclosed in Folder Consent for Release of Personal Details to Charities Form. General Before you leave, there are a number of Important Your JPA Record Mail important procedures to follow. To help you to make the necessary arrangements in the Do not forget – you will need to register with It is important that you keep your JPA record You must remember to give your discharging short time available, we have provided a a GP and a dentist wherever you settle after up to date, especially during the months unit’s mail office a forwarding address. If you timeline of events, which is enclosed in the you leave. leading up to your termination date. live in Service Families Accommodation (SFA) folder and appears on page 3 of this booklet. Information from your JPA record is used we recommend you use the Post Office You will need to complete a Family for a number of different things including; redirect service. You can get more doctor services registration (GMS1) pension payments, delivery of your information about this from any Terminating Routine to register, this is available from any Certificate of Service, Veterans Badge, Post Office or visit: www.royalmail.com All units have their own terminating routine. GP surgery or online. P45 and will form (if held). They will give you details of what is expected Personal References of you at unit level and you should follow that As a veteran you will be entitled to priority You are able to change some of the details direction in conjunction with the advice given access to NHS secondary care for any yourself whilst others require the assistance If you would like a personal reference your in this guide. conditions which may be related to your of a HR Admin. You must update your line manager, without obligation, may be service, whether you receive a war permanent home address details with your/ able to provide you with one. You must Medical and Dental disablement pension or Armed Forces any new post termination address, this is vital arrange it yourself, please allow plenty Compensation Scheme payment or not. as your P45 and all other post termination of time. A full medical examination is required This is subject to the clinical needs of all paperwork will be sent to this address. before you leave; this should be carried out patients – make sure your GP knows you This is not the same action as “update post Security approximately 3 months before your last day are a veteran.* discharge contact details” mentioned on of service. If you have travel plans remember to check page 12 of this guide. Once you have with your security staff. This applies for For those Subject to changed your permanent home address, 2 years from your termination date, unless If you do not attend your Release Medical ask your Unit HR Admin to annotate this before starting your Terminal Leave your Immigration Control you have DV clearance, in which case it address as your “Primary Address” on JPA. applies for 5 years. termination date may be delayed. Seek guidance in order to ensure that If you are unsure about any of this, you applications for Settlement/Leave to should approach your HR Admin Should you wish to have a final dental check Service Clothing and Equipment Remain in the UK are made in good without delay. up you should arrange an appointment at a time to enable access to public funds, These must be returned before you start Defence Dental Services (DDS) dental centre housing assistance and eligibility to You can access your Statement of your terminal leave, but you will retain 6 to 9 months prior to completion of service. work upon discharge. Earnings via the Internet, through some items if you have a Reserve Liability. the Defence Gateway site: www.defencegateway.mod.uk *These arrangements do not cover Northern Ireland, where the aim is that all patients should have access to treatment within a reasonable timescale. 6 Service Leavers Guide | The Termination Process Service Leavers Guide | The Termination Process 7 Leaving MOD Accommodation Armed Forces Act 06 Travel Entitlements Occupants of Single Living Accommodation You are subject to the Armed Forces Act 06 on Termination (SLA) should make arrangements to hand until your termination date. Once you have If you terminate at your own request, travel accommodation back. If you live in Service left the Service you can still be charged with expenses to your civilian address will not Families Accommodation (SFA) your any offence committed against the Act while be paid unless you have more than accommodation charges may go up if you were still serving, provided this takes 4 years service. you do not move out. Make sure you notify place within six months of your termination Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) date. For the purposes of any disciplinary The amount you can claim will depend on of your termination date. action you will be treated as an ex-Regular your country of attestation and where you and will be tried by Court Martial. are serving at termination. Once you know Terminal Leave your termination date, and where you will be travelling to, your termination unit If you have completed your training and Re-Entry After Your HR admin staff will be able to give you served over 6 months, you will be entitled to Termination Date more information. terminal leave. You will get one day for each If you want to re-enter the Services after You should make sure you submit all claims completed month of reckonable service up your termination date you should apply to Applications for travel should normally be to unit HR admin staff before going on to a maximum of 20 days. an Armed Forces Careers Office. arranged through your unit HR admin staff terminal leave. Payments will be made Re-entry will depend on your past record, and unit travel office. They must give through JPA direct to your account. (Please Terminal leave is the same as any other leave an interview and current vacancies. approval before any arrangements note – all claims may be subject to audit so, but you are free to take up paid civilian are made. to avoid any delays, provide copies of employment during this time. If you re-enter soon after leaving you may be receipts.) The form can be downloaded able to re-join in the same rate or rank held Claims for motor mileage allowance (MMA), from the JPA Portal. If you are admitted to hospital during your on termination. Your previous Regular actual public transport costs or additional terminal leave make sure that your family, reckonable service may count towards fees should be made on JPA Form F016. friends, or the hospital staff contact your unit seniority, pay and pension. to let them know the nature of your illness or injury and the length of time you expect to be in hospital.