Special Forces Disability Allowance

Air Force Acts On Special Forces Disability Allowance

The Royal Australian Air Force is taking action to resolve the Special Forces Disability Allowance issue as quickly as possible. Air Force is committed to ensuring its members receive all allowances to which they are entitled.

Air Force’s Special Tactics Flight is a new capability within Number 4 Squadron, located at RAAF Williamtown. These are Air Force personnel who undergo specific training to enable them to undertake a range of activities including operations with Special Forces. However, 4 Squadron is not categorised as a 'Special Forces Unit’.

When 4 Squadron Special Tactics Flight personnel are deployed on operations or conducting associated training, they have an entitlement to a component of the Special Forces Disability Allowance (SFDA). Eighteen RAAF 4 Squadron members are entitled to receive a component of this allowance.

The policy allowing payment of SFDA for 4 Squadron Special Tactics Flight personnel was established in April 2009. At this time the required business rules were not developed enough to enable a change to the pay system for Air Force personnel.

Because business rules guiding how the allowance would be applied were still under development, some confusion at a number of levels as to actual entitlements led to an unfortunate incorrect application of SFDA to 4 Squadron personnel.

Air Force acted quickly to delay the payments of SFDA in order to avoid significant overpayment of some members, which would require debt recovery in the future.

Air Force is in the process of finalising the required business rules for payment of the allowance to ensure that all affected members are paid their correct entitlements. Air Force will keep affected members regularly updated on progress in resolving this issue.

The Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Mark Binskin, has directed resolution of the SFDA payment to 4 Squadron personnel be undertaken as a priority; ensuring the business rules are robust, well understood and effectively implemented

ENDS

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