What is it?

The Emergency Support for Families Scheme (ESFS) has been developed to provide short term assistance to an ADF member’s dependants in an emergency situation where the member is absent from the dependants location for Service reasons.

The scheme is designed to provide confidence to the serving member and their dependants that if an emergency occurs in the member’s absence, their dependants will be supported appropriately.

For more information about ESFS, please see the PACMAN , Vol 2 Chapter 8 Part 5

What are the Eligibility Requirements?

The following requirements will need to be met:

• The emergency event was unforeseen, sudden and exceeds the coping mechanism of the dependants, and the ADF member is:
• Absent from the home location for Service reasons;
• Required to perform duty outside their normal work hours with less than 48 hours notice; or
• The member is in hospital or unable to care for their dependants for a medical reason.

What support is available?

A DCO Social Worker will develop a family support plan to meet the individual and unique need of a crisis in partnership with the family and unit command. To develop the support plan the social worker will assess:

• The extent of the emergency;
• Whether the family have sufficient immediate family or local (friends) support to assist during the emergency;
• The types of assistance that may be required;
• The immediate needs of the family; and
• The development of a longer term strategy to ensure the well-being of the family for the remainder of the member’s absence.

What Assistance is Available?

The following types of services may be provided:

• Dependant care;
• Specialist dependant care;
• Housekeeping;
• Child minding;
• Respite care; and
• Travel for immediate family to provide support to the member’s dependants

The assistance can be provided for up to five days to a combined maximum assistance level of a total of $2,500 GST inclusive for each emergency.

How to Apply for Emergency Support

The ADF member, their dependants or Command can apply for emergency support by contacting:

• During business hours - the local DCO Area Team
• After hours - the National Welfare Coordination Centre on 1800 801 026

The application for Emergency Support for Families Scheme must be completed and signed prior to the dependents receiving assistance under the scheme.

Fringe Benefits Taxation

Please note that assistance provided under ESFS, is Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) reportable on the ADF member's pay summary. If an ADF partner accesses the maximum level of ESFS services, up to $5000 could appear as FBT on an ADF member's pay summary, which could have a direct impact on families who are receiving Government payments such as Child Support and Family Benefit or paying child support. As FBT amounts can be significant you should check carefully the impact on your family before undertaking any program.

Payment for Services

If assistance is provided through the standing offer panel, or Defence arranges travel for immediate family, Defence will directly pay the provider.

If the dependants use other professional providers, payment may be made by Defence on receipt of a legitimate tax invoice or reimbursement can be made on the production of receipts or other documentary proof of costs to the local DCO office.

Further guidance on reimbursement is available on the ESFS application form.

NOTE: Owing to a recent change in Government funding guidelines additional documentation is required in order to process payment of your application. There are two payment options available:

1. Complete the Order to Pay Agent (at the bottom of the application form) and the payment will be made directly into your partner’s bank account as identified by the Defence accounting system.
2. Complete the No ABN Withholding Form (below) and the payment will go into any bank account identified by you.

If you choose not to complete either of the forms, Defence will be obliged under law to withhold from the payment an amount calculated at the top marginal rate of tax plus Medicare levy (currently 48.5%).

NO ABN WITHHOLDING FORM (PDF,140K)