FEDERATION
• Building condition in a reasonable state of repair
• Electrics in a reasonable state of repair • Effective drainage of foul/waste and surface water
• Free from serious mould and damp • Adequate provision of lighting/heating and ventilation
• Appropriately located bathroom • Kitchen is of adequate size and layout.
What this will mean in practice is that the standard of the fabric of the housing stock, which does not currently reach those standards, will not attract the highest charges. Conversely, the opportunity to select the lowest grade for charge properties will be diminished.
CAAS Implementation Timetable Throughout 2015, properties will be assessed for their new charge. Some Service Personnel (SP) will receive letters requesting access to survey their property. They will be assessed by professionally trained housing specialists to ensure accurate, property-specific assessments are used to set charges.
Around July 2015, an information pack about the CAAS process will be sent to SFA occupants and this will include an estimate
of the charge that will be applied to the quarter in April 2016, to help families plan their finances. From autumn 2015, a series of events and publications will be available to SP and their families to see in more detail how the new system will work.
Prior to CAAS being launched in April 2016, a property-specific assessment will be sent to all occupants confirming their banding and the new charging rates will then be implemented from April 2016. You will be able to appeal against the new charges if you don’t believe your new charge has been calculated correctly.
As we receive updates from the CAAS Programme Steering Group, we will make them available to you on our ‘scrolling news’ on the website, our e-bulletins (if you haven’t already, enrol now), Envoy and, of course, you can contact us direct with any queries you may have.
Some interesting UK Family statistics: • In 2014 there were 18.6 million families in the UK. Of these, 12.5 million were married couple families. This is the most common family type in the UK.
• Cohabiting couple families grew by 29.7% between 2004 and 2014. This is the fastest growing type of family in the UK.
• In 2014 there were 2 million lone parents with dependent children in the UK. Women accounted for 91% of lone parents with dependent children.
• There were 26.7 million households in the UK in 2014. 28% of these contained only one person.
• Households containing two or more families were the fastest growing household type in the decade to 2014, increasing by 56% to 313,000 households.
(Source: Statistics were taken from the Office of National Statistics website and are correct as of January 2015)
Last words
In the next issue of Envoy I plan to provide you with some insight to the Complaints System and the levels of advice and support available locally on Stations for personnel and families in SLA and SFA.
Finally, as I have mentioned before, I invite you to submit interesting articles for publication in Envoy. The articles can be of your personal experiences of SFA. The articles can be as light-hearted or as serious as you wish. However the Editor of Envoy will have the final editorial authority.
WE WILL ALWAYS BE ON DUTY TO SUPPORT YOU
FOR VETERANS, SERVING MILITARY PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAMILIES
CALL 0800 138 1619,
TEXT 07537 404 719 OR EMAIL
COMBATSTRESS@RETHINK.ORG
(Standard charges may apply for texts, please check with your provider.)
WE’RE HERE 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR. DO YOU SUFFER WITH ANXIETY, FLASHBACKS OR SLEEPLESS NIGHTS? IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE NEED OUR SUPPORT, WE’LL LISTEN AND CAN HELP. CALL NOW.
Find out more about our work at
www.combatstress.org.uk
Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society Company registered in England and Wales No. 256353.
Charity registration no. 206002. Charity registration Scotland no. SC038828 Rethink Mental Illness charity registration no. 271028
Delivered by the mental health charity
www.raf-ff.org.uk
Envoy Spring 2015
21
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