Division 2: Disturbance allowance

6.1.12   Purpose
6.1.13   Members eligible
6.1.14   Members not eligible
6.1.15   Amount of allowance
6.1.16   Number of current removal
6.1.17   Removal with dependants following later
6.1.18   Removal on enlistment
6.1.19   Removals to and from overseas – number of removals
6.1.20   Death of a member
6.1.21   A child changing school – additional payment
6.1.22   Telephone installation or reconnection costs
6.1.23   Private vehicle transfer costs
6.1.24   Payment in special circumstances

6.1.12   Purpose

 

TAX ALERT: PACMATE Annex 3.A, item 94.

 

A member may be compensated for some of the costs involved in a Commonwealth removal to a new dwelling within Australia. This Division outlines the kinds of costs covered, the conditions of entitlement and the amount payable.

6.1.13   Members eligible

 

TAX ALERT: PACMATE Annex 3.A, item 94.

 

A member is entitled to disturbance allowance if they are in either of the following situations.

 

a.

The member meets both the following conditions.

 

i.

They are granted a removal to a new home.

 

ii.

They are on continuous full-time service or cease continuous full-time service.

 

b.

The member meets all the following conditions.

 

i.

They are a member without dependants or a member with dependants (unaccompanied).

 

ii.

They have been deployed for six months or longer.

 

iii.

The member chose under subclauses 7.3.15A, 7.5.36A, 7.5A.11A or 7.6.28A  to leave their accommodation.

See: Chapter 7

Part 3 Division 1 subclause 7.3.15A, Living-in accommodation on deployment

Part 5 Division 7 subclause 7.5.36A, Service residence on deployment

Part 5A Division 1 clause 7.5A.11A, Choice Accommodation on deployment

Part 6 Division 5 subclause 7.6.28A, Rent allowance on deployment

 

Note: Clause 1.6.1 deals with situations where a member's adult dependant is also a member, and they would both be entitled to disturbance allowance. Only one of the members is entitled.

See: Chapter 1 Part 6 clause 1.6.1, Dual entitlement – member's adult dependant is also a member

 

6.1.14   Members not eligible

 

TAX ALERT: PACMATE Annex 3.A, item 94.

 

A member is not entitled to disturbance allowance in these cases.

 

a.

They are moving from living-in accommodation in an establishment, unit or base to different living-in accommodation in the same establishment, unit or base.

 

b.

They are moving overseas from Australia. These members get transfer allowance. However, they also get disturbance allowance for the removal within Australia on return from overseas.

See: Chapter 14 Part 3 Division 3, Transfer allowance

 

c.

They are moving between two seagoing ships that have the same home port.

 

d.

They are moving to another home because the number of their dependants has changed.

Example 1: A member has married and is moving to a larger home.

Example 2: The member's marriage or interdependent partnership has broken down and they are moving to a smaller home.

6.1.15   Amount of allowance

 

TAX ALERT: PACMATE Annex 3.A, item 94.

1.

In this clause, temporary accommodation includes commercial or living-in accommodation that the member occupies for less than six weeks.

2.

This table shows how much disturbance allowance a member is entitled to. The amount depends on their circumstances and how many times they have been removed.

 

Item

Circumstances of member

Number of the current removal (defined at Clause 6.1.16)

Amount $

1.

Member with dependants

 

Removal to a new location

1st or 2nd removal

1,086

3rd or 4th removal

1,448

5th or 6th removal

1,810

7th or subsequent removal

2,172

Removal within the same location

each time

543

Removal from overseas

1st or 2nd removal

217

3rd or 4th removal

434

5th or subsequent removal

652

 


 

Item

Circumstances of member

Number of the current removal (defined at Clause 6.1.16)

Amount $

2.

Member without dependants or member with dependants (unaccompanied)

 

Removal to a new location:

 

 

     from living out to living out

1st or 2nd removal

543

3rd or 4th removal

724

5th or 6th removal

905

7th or subsequent removal

1,086

     a.     from living out to living in, or

     b.     from living in to living out

1st or 2nd removal

272

3rd or 4th removal

362

5th or 6th removal

453

7th or subsequent removal

543

     from living in to living in

1st or 2nd removal

136

3rd or 4th removal

181

5th or 6th removal

226

7th or subsequent removal

272

Removal within the same location:

 

 

     from living in to living in, between      different establishments, units or      bases

each time

136

     a.     from living out to living in, or

     b.     from living in to living out

each time

136

     from living out to living out

each time

272

Removal from overseas

1st or 2nd removal

109

3rd or 4th removal

217

5th or subsequent removal

326

Removal from storage to living-in accommodation, after deployment of more than 6 months.

each time

136

Removal from storage to living-out accommodation, after deployment of more than 6 months.

each time

272

 

3.

A removal to or from living out is taken to be a single removal under subclause 2, regardless of whether temporary accommodation is used during the removal.

Example: A member without dependants living out is posted from Sydney to Brisbane. The member occupies temporary living in accommodation for a period less than six weeks while they secure live out accommodation in the new posting location. The member is entitled to be paid at the relevant living out to living out rate in the table in subclause 2.

6.1.16   Number of current removal

 

TAX ALERT: PACMATE Annex 3.A, item 94.

1.

The number of the current removal is defined as follows.

The number of removals for which a member has been entitled to disturbance allowance since they last began continuous full-time service. This number includes the current removal.

Note: When a member re-enters the ADF after a break in service, the number of removals re-starts at one. Their first removal is not added to the number of removals in their previous period of service.

2.

The member may have a spouse or interdependent partner who is also a member and they move together. In this case, the number of the current removal is the greater of the number of removals that one or the other undertook since they began continuous full-time service. This number includes the current removal.

3.

Separate removals to a new location by a member and their dependants are treated as one removal.

6.1.17   Removal with dependants following later

 

TAX ALERT: PACMATE Annex 3.A, item 94.

1.

A member who is removed without their dependants is entitled to the relevant amount for a member without dependants in subclause 6.1.15.2.

2.

If the member's dependants are removed to the same place at a later date, the total amount payable for both removals must not be more than if they had all been moved together.

6.1.18   Removal on enlistment

 

TAX ALERT: PACMATE Annex 3.A, item 94.

 

When a member without dependants is granted a removal on enlistment, they are entitled to the relevant amount for moving from living-out accommodation under subclause 6.1.15.2.

6.1.19   Removals to and from overseas – number of removals

 

TAX ALERT: PACMATE Annex 3.A, item 94.

 

A removal related to an overseas posting counts as only one move, even when both the following happen.

 

a.

The member’s furniture is stored at Commonwealth expense in Australia.

 

b.

Their furniture and effects are moved from storage to their posting when they return to Australia. This is whether they are accompanied on their return or not.

6.1.20   Death of a member

 

TAX ALERT: PACMATE Annex 3.A, item 94.

 

If a member dies and their dependants are granted a removal, the dependants are entitled to an amount of disturbance allowance. The amount is what the member would have been paid if the removal had been granted on ceasing continuous full-time service.

6.1.21   A child changing school – additional payment

 

TAX ALERT: PACMATE Annex 3.A, item 95.

1.

If a member’s child must change schools because of a removal, the member is entitled to $206 for each child. This applies only to full-time students at primary and secondary schools. It does not include a child at a pre-school.

2.

If a member’s spouse or interdependent partner is also a member, they are together only entitled to one payment for each child.

3.

If the child’s change of school is put off to a later date, no payment is made until they actually change school.

 

6.1.22   Telephone installation or reconnection costs

 

TAX ALERT: PACMATE Annex 3.A, item 96.

1.

A member entitled to disturbance allowance for a removal may be entitled to assistance with costs of installing or reconnecting a private telephone in the dwelling they move to. They qualify if either of these conditions are met.

 

a.

They had a private telephone disconnected from their former dwelling when they were removed from it.

 

b.

They had a private telephone disconnected from another earlier dwelling when they were removed from it. Since that earlier removal, they continuously occupied a dwelling where:

 

i.

a telephone was provided at Commonwealth expense, or

 

ii.

they were on long-term posting overseas.

2.

The member may be reimbursed the cost of the installation or reconnection service, up to a maximum of $299.

Note: The amount is based on what Telstra charges for connecting a telephone in a normal suburban environment where cabling is already available in the street the member intends to live in, or in living-in accommodation on a base. The amount is reviewed each year.

See: Telstra Home Phone Services

 6.1.23   Private vehicle transfer costs

 

TAX ALERT: PACMATE Annex 3.A, item 97.

1.

A member is entitled to assistance with the costs of transferring a private vehicle registration to another State or Territory. The vehicle may belong to the member or a dependant.

2.

The entitlement is an amount up to $63 for each removal. It is for one private vehicle only. It is to assist with fees and costs for registration plates, roadworthiness inspection, administration fees and ownership tests. It is not to assist with the registration fee for the vehicle.

 

Note: Drivers’ licence transfer fees (This note is policy guidance)

A separate payment for drivers’ licence transfer fees is no longer necessary. This is because states that impose a fee for transfer allow members to use their current licence until it expires. However, a member is expected to hold a Form AB135, Defence Driving Identification. Victoria and the Northern Territory require Service personnel to transfer their licence but they charge no fee for the transfer.

See: Defence Instruction (General) Personnel 17-2Defence Driving Licence Scheme, for details of the Defence Driving Licence Scheme.

6.1.24   Payment in special circumstances

1.

A member may qualify for an allowance or reimbursement under this Part even if they do not meet one or more of the criteria for qualification.

2.

The CDF may approve payment if the following conditions are satisfied.

 

a.

The member does not qualify for reasons beyond their control.

 

b.

Paying an amount is consistent with the purpose of the allowance.

3.

The CDF cannot approve an amount greater than the member would have received if they had been entitled to an allowance or reimbursement.

 

Persons who can make the decision under clause 6.1.24 on behalf of the CDF:

Contract Manager Relocation Services

Assistant Director Operations

Director Relocations and Housing

 

PACMAN                                                               AL16 (March 2012)                                     Chapter 6 – Part 1 Division 2 – 1