Member's Guide to ADF Pay and Conditions in Australia – see Disclaimer – check PACMAN for full details

 

7.3 Living-in accommodation

 

Members may be required to live in at different times in their career. ‘Living-in’ means living in a barracks, mess or similar accommodation.

 

Who has to live in?

The CDF can require a member to live in for one of these reasons.

 

·          They are on a training course.

·          They are under 18 years old.

·          They have an operational role or specific position to fill at a base.

·          They are in transit or on a short visit to the location.

 

Who can choose to live in?

Living-in accommodation may not be needed for members who are required to live in. It can be made available for a fixed time to a member without dependants or a member who is not accompanied by their dependants (see 8.1, What category are you in?) who chooses to live in.

 

If you own a suitable home at your posting location, you cannot choose to live in, unless you are a member with dependants (unaccompanied).

 

What if I want to live out?

If you are not required to live in, you might be able to rent a home on the private market and be paid rent allowance (see 7.7). You may get a lower rate of rent allowance if there is living-in accommodation available for you. You may be able to live in a surplus Service residence (see 7.5).

 

Contributions

If you live in, you usually have to pay a contribution towards the cost of the accommodation. The amount you pay depends on your rank and the quality of the living-in accommodation. If you share accommodation, you pay less.

 

Some members do not have to pay a contribution. They include a member with dependants (unaccompanied), a member with dependants who has to live in temporarily for Service reasons, a submariner or a recruit.

 

If you live on a seagoing ship and you keep living-in accommodation ashore, your contribution stops when you are at sea for more than 21 days. If you are living under field conditions, your contribution stops when you are there for more than 21 days. A separate contribution is made towards the cost of utilities (see 7.10).

 

Application to Reservists:  Yes. In some cases you may not need to pay a contribution. If you live in when you are not on Reserve service, you pay civilian contribution rates.

 

References:  ADF Pay and Conditions Manual, Chapter 7 Part 3

Information about contribution rates is in the ADF Pay and Conditions Manual, Chapter 7 Part 3 Division 2.

The full list of members who do not pay living-in contributions is in the ADF Pay and Conditions Manual, Chapter 7 Part 3 Division 3