E m e r g i n g I s s u e s Changes to PAX Scheme T
he PAX insurance scheme will introduce an increase in premiums and some new benefits for personal accident from 1 March 2008. Optional Life premiums will
remain unchanged. Te new benefits are:
• Burns benefits paid at a rate per unit of cover instead of a flat rate.
• The addition of benefit for gunshot wounds, shrapnel damage and blast injuries. • Members can cancel at any time.
A freephone number will be made available, full details will be included in new PAX literature. Existing scheme members on 1 March 2008 will automatically be entitled to the revised benefits.
The revised monthly premiums for a single unit are as follows:
• PAX Individual £2.75 (previously £2.10) Family £3.90 (previously £3.00) This represents a 30% increase.
• Policyholders can buy cover in units, up to a maximum of 15 units.
• Optional Life insurance premiums remain unchanged at £1.00 and £1.50 per unit for individual and family cover respectively.
SSAFA SERVICE VOLUNTEER AWARDS LAUNCHED
N
ominations are now open for the SSAFA Forces Help annual Service Volunteer Awards.
Last year’s winner was Cpl Michelle Haspey from RAF Cranwell. She received her “Volunteer of the Year” award from HRH Prince Michael of Kent. Despite having a demanding job as a Community Mental Health Nurse and having her own child, Cpl Haspey was recognised for launching the SSAFA Community Volunteers Scheme at the station and for her on-going commitment.
There are over 500 SSAFA volunteers and 53 Service committees in the UK and around the world. SSAFA Forces Help Chief Executive, Maj Gen Cumming,
commented, “Our volunteers provide a confidential service that is trusted and respected by the Armed Forces at all levels. Working within the Service communities but outside the formal chain of command, SSAFA volunteers and committees are in a unique position to understand and assist those in need of support. These awards are a chance for the service community to show their appreciation to those volunteers who have demonstrated exceptional dedication or innovation in their duties.”
Anyone can make nominations and details are available from HIVEs and welfare offices or direct from SSAFA by contacting Victoria Stewart on 020 7463 9256 or via email at
victoria.s@ssafa.org.uk . Nomination forms are also available at
www.ssafa.org.uk. The deadline for nominations is Friday 11th April 2008.
RAFA CONFERENCE: This year's Annual RAFA Conference is to take place at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool from Friday 16th to Sunday 18th May 2008.
For more information go to:
www.rafa.org.uk/events HIVE and Start Here T 6
Working together to help you help yourself!
he HIVE Information Service is committed to updating and improving the way in which we provide the Service community with timely, impartial and relevant information. HIVE have launched a partnership with Start Here to allow our customers access to a national and local database of civilian welfare related
help and information via the HIVE website (
www.hive.mod.uk). Tis partnership has been sponsored and funded by EDS Ltd.
Start Here is a programme that links people, simply and quickly, to the most relevant organisations and services. It is an easy-to use starting point for information on a range of health, housing, education, employment and social issues. The self-help service is simple to use and accessible, ensuring that even those not confident with technology can navigate their way to help. Remember all HIVE staff are familiar with the Start Here program and are happy to assist or research on behalf of the customer.
Here is an example of how HIVE and Start Here helped one service family:
Mrs Jones has a daughter with Cerebral Palsy. She has moved from Harrogate down to Salisbury. She wants to find help about which organisations are in the Salisbury area that can offer her support: Using Start Here Mrs Jones can click on the map of Wiltshire, then click on Cerebral Palsy, She then will get a list of organisations that can help – and the full contact details supplied can be easily printed off. Mrs Jones was able to find the Salisbury “Children with Disability Team” which offered her practical support and advice.
Let HIVE and Start Here help you find the help you need.
Visitwww.hive.mod. uk and look out for the Start Here link on the right hand side of every page of the HIVE website. You ask – we answer.
COUNCIL TAX RELIEF EXTENDED
FOR THOSE ON OPS Council Tax Relief to Service personnel is now extended to include new operational locations, with effect from 1 April 2008, and backdated to 1 February 2008. These are: Bahrain, Bosnia, British Forces South Atlantic Islands, Diego Garcia, Kosovo, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, RN Ships in receipt in DWP, UN Operations.
Spring 2008
The relief will be paid as a tax free lump sum on completion of the deployment, based on the number of days in theatre. Full details of eligibility and methods of claiming, which should be made on return from deployment, will be published in JSP 754 before 1 April 2008.
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