Army - The Soldiers' Newspaper

New living conditions

MEMBERS Without Dependants (MWOD) required to live in service accommodation will now be given priority over those who only choose to live-in this accommodation.

Under revised Living-In Accommodation (LIA) arrangements – which came into effect on December 10 – COs must authorise LIA for members based on specific eligibility criteria.

Members are eligible for LIA if they:

are undertaking a training course;

performing as duty personnel, such as sentry or watchkeeper;

participating in a unit deployment or exercise;

filling a specific position on base;

posted to a seagoing billet;

are under the age of 18 and are the responsibility of the ADF; or

below the rank of lieutenant colonel and are either in transit or on a short visit to the locality.

If surplus accommodation is available, a member who is not required to live-in under the specified criteria can apply to their CO for LIA for a maximum of 12 months.

Approval will only be given to those who are either Members With Dependants (Separated) or do not have a suitable home in the posting locality.

While a fixed period of LIA may be approved, the CO can cease that entitlement if accommodation is needed for another member required to live-in.

As of February 10, any members currently living-in who are not eligible under the new arrangements can remain in LIA until their CO decides their accommodation is needed for an eligible member.

In this instance, that member would then be entitled to rent allowance.

Members eligible for LIA will pay the current subsidised LIA contribution rates, while members who choose to live-in may be required to pay the unsubsidised rates, as found in Pacman 7.1.24.

For more information on LIA changes, visit http:defweb.cbr.defence.gov.au/pac