No. Once the entitlement to Separation Allowance has been established, there is no requirement to re-establish eligibility post any reunion visit for the particular activity that caused the member to be separated for Service reasons. However, the daily rate of Separation Allowance is to be suspended for the entire period of the reunion visit that is:
No. Members are not entitled to the daily rate of Separation Allowance when in receipt of Travelling Allowance or the incidental rate thereof.
No. The policy intent with regard to establishing eligibility for Separation Allowance is that individuals must meet the initial qualifying period of 14 days separation (physical separation) away from the home location/dependants before payment of the allowance may commence. This is a critical first step and clearly, if the individual goes home during that initial qualification period, they have not met the intent and therefore remain ineligible for the allowance. The member in question would need to re-commence the qualifying period calculations upon return to the activity that caused the separation.
The purpose of Separation Allowance is to compensate members for the time they spend away from their dependants for Service reasons in recognition of the effects of separation from home and the additional costs that could be incurred due to that separation.
In order for members to receive the daily rate of Separation Allowance they must complete fourteen consecutive days separation from their dependants. Payment commences from the 15th day.
With regard to payment of Separation Allowance where both members are serving members and separated from their home for service reasons each member would be entitled to payment of the allowance provided they have met the eligibility criteria and continue to maintain their home.
Yes. Where reunion visits greater than two or five days are undertaken as described above, Separation Allowance is to be suspended for the duration of the visit. Entitlement to the allowance is to be reactivated on the day immediately after the last day of the reunion visit when returning to the activity that caused the separation. There is no need to perform a further 14 day qualifying period.
The requirement to perform another qualifying period upon cessation of one activity and commencement of another that continues to cause the member to be separated from their dependants, hinges on whether or not the member is reunited with their dependants at home location between each activity.
If the member is reunited with their dependants for any period at the home location prior to commencing the new activity, another 14 day qualifying period is to be undertaken in order to establish eligibility to the daily rate of separation allowance.
If not reunited with their dependants at the home location prior to commencing the new activity, there is no requirement to perform another qualifying period, as the member has not ceased eligibility.
In the circumstance described, reactivation of the entitlement to the daily rate of Separation Allowance is to occur on the day immediately after the last day of the reunion visit provided the member is returning to the same activity that caused the separation for Service reasons.
Last updated: 15 March 2012