LOA
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 806
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Believe that the heating and light system is different. A set amount is deducted at source per month and your bill is then reimbursed after you pay it.
Issue of jobs is true though.
Issue of jobs is true though.
FFP - "Believe that the heating and light system is different."
that is the very system to which I refer. Whilst it cost less to pay the "heat and light" charge at £80 this was still double the £40 a month I paid in the UK.
that is the very system to which I refer. Whilst it cost less to pay the "heat and light" charge at £80 this was still double the £40 a month I paid in the UK.
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Right that's it. See what you have done now Tac Queen, I hope you are happy with yourself. Now I have got a torrent of abuse because of you. Cheers mate! And what the hell is an anagrame? And I can't even begin to think why anyone would think that Tac Queen is discerning? Do you know him/her? S/He sounds like some kind of mover to me. 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Lincs
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As they are there on a NATO2 visa, spouses of personnel serving in the US can work as long as they have the relevant document (Employment Authorisation) issued by the State Department on application. The comment about qualifications is true enough, however, but not insurmountable.
Heating and aircon bills can be v. expensive depending on where you are based, but signing up to the overseas fuel and light (X/Y scheme) can alleviate this. More paperwork, as you pay the bill and claim back from the Embassy, but cheaper in the long run. The contribution for a pool is indeed 10% of the relevant bill.
The LOA was reviewed recently and was cut by about 30% - to take effect in May as D-IFF Ident points out. The amount of the reduction is dependant on circumstances and is the third or fourth time a review has led to reductions in the last 3-4 years. Nothing to do with cost-cutting, of course....
Cheers
SBG
Heating and aircon bills can be v. expensive depending on where you are based, but signing up to the overseas fuel and light (X/Y scheme) can alleviate this. More paperwork, as you pay the bill and claim back from the Embassy, but cheaper in the long run. The contribution for a pool is indeed 10% of the relevant bill.
The LOA was reviewed recently and was cut by about 30% - to take effect in May as D-IFF Ident points out. The amount of the reduction is dependant on circumstances and is the third or fourth time a review has led to reductions in the last 3-4 years. Nothing to do with cost-cutting, of course....
Cheers
SBG
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Tennessee - Smoky Mountains
Age: 55
Posts: 1,602
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Aeronut:
A couple of observations, if I may.
Car insurance for foreigners. About double the UK.
Well, depends on your negotiation skills. If you get a home contents policy with the same agency (mine is Allstate), tell them the deal is theirs if they credit you with your UK driving history. The copied my counterpart driving licence, and I got credit for 20 years clean history. I pay considerably less than I did in the UK. (About half!)
Mobile phones are much more expensive than in the UK.
Free unlimited calls in the same network. Depends on what you were used to, but nothing like the same in my opinion. My bill is 25% of what it used to be, although I will admit I used to travel a lot.
Petrol is cheaper but you end up using a hell of a lot more.
Well, I filled up my 20 US gallon tank the other day, it cost $47. What's that, about GBP 25 for 76 litres? You're right though, my car does 19 (US) mpg. So that's about 24 UK mpg. Maybe 30% less than a typical UK car. But the fuel is much less than half the cost.
LOA does not compensate sufficiently for having to sell your cars in the UK early and then having to buy again. Wives definitley need their own car too despite being unable to work.
I agree with the idea of selling your cars etc, and those here too. I didn't think LOA was intended to cover that though.
You have to repurchase all of your electrical kit. They will let you claim for a kettle though.
US electric kettles are terrible since P=IV, and V is half UK, and so I must double, which it can't in a domestic situation. Hence P falls, and makes for a terrible kettle. Get a stove top one. Works just fine.
As for other stuff, TVs would be bad, but much equipment (if bought here) is dual voltage. Always check. It's waaay cheaper than the UK in any event.
Disturbance allowance doesn't stretch far enough to cover the effects of terminating insurances and subscriptions that are not transferable overseas.
No chance of suspending them?
So overall a US tour will cost you. Best enjoy it.
Not a happy camper then? Each to their own. I'm making a good life here, much more so than I would have in the UK at the same time of life.
I honestly thought LOA was to compensate for those items that are more expensive in daily life than the UK. Few and far between here.
A couple of observations, if I may.
Car insurance for foreigners. About double the UK.
Well, depends on your negotiation skills. If you get a home contents policy with the same agency (mine is Allstate), tell them the deal is theirs if they credit you with your UK driving history. The copied my counterpart driving licence, and I got credit for 20 years clean history. I pay considerably less than I did in the UK. (About half!)
Mobile phones are much more expensive than in the UK.
Free unlimited calls in the same network. Depends on what you were used to, but nothing like the same in my opinion. My bill is 25% of what it used to be, although I will admit I used to travel a lot.
Petrol is cheaper but you end up using a hell of a lot more.
Well, I filled up my 20 US gallon tank the other day, it cost $47. What's that, about GBP 25 for 76 litres? You're right though, my car does 19 (US) mpg. So that's about 24 UK mpg. Maybe 30% less than a typical UK car. But the fuel is much less than half the cost.
LOA does not compensate sufficiently for having to sell your cars in the UK early and then having to buy again. Wives definitley need their own car too despite being unable to work.
I agree with the idea of selling your cars etc, and those here too. I didn't think LOA was intended to cover that though.
You have to repurchase all of your electrical kit. They will let you claim for a kettle though.
US electric kettles are terrible since P=IV, and V is half UK, and so I must double, which it can't in a domestic situation. Hence P falls, and makes for a terrible kettle. Get a stove top one. Works just fine.
As for other stuff, TVs would be bad, but much equipment (if bought here) is dual voltage. Always check. It's waaay cheaper than the UK in any event.
Disturbance allowance doesn't stretch far enough to cover the effects of terminating insurances and subscriptions that are not transferable overseas.
No chance of suspending them?
So overall a US tour will cost you. Best enjoy it.
Not a happy camper then? Each to their own. I'm making a good life here, much more so than I would have in the UK at the same time of life.
I honestly thought LOA was to compensate for those items that are more expensive in daily life than the UK. Few and far between here.
Presumably the US $ to UK £ exchange rate may have something to do with all this?
I cannot think of a single item which is more expensive in the USandA....
And I understand that you now have the right to a free flight back to the UK every year?
I cannot think of a single item which is more expensive in the USandA....
And I understand that you now have the right to a free flight back to the UK every year?
Yes, Maglites, Weber BBQs and CDs are cheap in the BX and Walmart..... but that's not the point I make.
...........................................the whole business of moving out to the States will cost you over 2 1/2 year tour. It depends on personal circumstances but losing money on selling a couple of decent cars prematurely in the UK only to have to replace and pay through the nose for insurance as a foreigner, combined with the wife giving up a decent specialist job for which her lengthy training was not deemed equivalent in the USA proved a significant cost to our family. We estimated that cost at approximatley 2 years RAF net wages!
Would I do it all again?.......................probably!
...........................................the whole business of moving out to the States will cost you over 2 1/2 year tour. It depends on personal circumstances but losing money on selling a couple of decent cars prematurely in the UK only to have to replace and pay through the nose for insurance as a foreigner, combined with the wife giving up a decent specialist job for which her lengthy training was not deemed equivalent in the USA proved a significant cost to our family. We estimated that cost at approximatley 2 years RAF net wages!
Would I do it all again?.......................probably!
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Tennessee - Smoky Mountains
Age: 55
Posts: 1,602
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
I've thought of one item that is more expensive: UK newspapers. These are ridiculously expensive, despite some of them actually being printed in the US, and carrying US adverts.
I believe newspapers are one of the items that LOA is intended to cover too. However, I can't say I've bought a newspaper in years. In the age of the internet, yesterday's news is just that. Far more timely information online, instantly, doesnt cost half a forest eery print run, and is free (less access charges, which cost about the same as a daily newspaper!)
I believe newspapers are one of the items that LOA is intended to cover too. However, I can't say I've bought a newspaper in years. In the age of the internet, yesterday's news is just that. Far more timely information online, instantly, doesnt cost half a forest eery print run, and is free (less access charges, which cost about the same as a daily newspaper!)
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Lincolnshire
Posts: 543
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Have to agree with all the comments
It cost an arm and a leg to get there and even more coming home. Its like being 18 again arriving with no bank account, credit rating, driving license or insurance. With a 17 year old son my annual rate of car insurance on arrival was $10k per year. Whilst there I paid council tax on my SFA and my own home in UK.
Once established, the cost of living is good and the LOA covers things just fine
On return, my house which had been empty needed major renovation. Had it been occupied it would have been done tricklefeed. All the expenses such as car insurance, car tax, MOT, house insurance fall at the same time when you return. My car insurance is astronomical because my NCB has lapsed.
Am I loking for sympathy - no. Would I do it again - yes. But if you're looking at a US tour, start saving and go in with your eyes open.
It cost an arm and a leg to get there and even more coming home. Its like being 18 again arriving with no bank account, credit rating, driving license or insurance. With a 17 year old son my annual rate of car insurance on arrival was $10k per year. Whilst there I paid council tax on my SFA and my own home in UK.
Once established, the cost of living is good and the LOA covers things just fine
On return, my house which had been empty needed major renovation. Had it been occupied it would have been done tricklefeed. All the expenses such as car insurance, car tax, MOT, house insurance fall at the same time when you return. My car insurance is astronomical because my NCB has lapsed.
Am I loking for sympathy - no. Would I do it again - yes. But if you're looking at a US tour, start saving and go in with your eyes open.
Do you get posted to the US, or do you have to volunteer and then be selected from a board?
If it is the former then you might get some sympathy, if the latter then fraid not!
If it is the former then you might get some sympathy, if the latter then fraid not!
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 806
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mil spouse must get Social Sy No; takes about 3 months
Most aircrew posts are volunteers that get selected by PMA though some are not (a few predator guys I know were "posted" there without it being a first choice shall we say)
I think it's inevitable that you'll take a financial hit in some respects. Things like selling your car in the UK and having to buy on your return for instance is a good example. But it's things like this that you'll need to consider before applying and weigh up individual circumstances before you go.
I had a crappy car anyway and will get another crappy car on my return !!
Below the Glidepath - not correcting
When our company seconds personnel to the US from Blighty we add a "sign on" bonus of anywhere from GBP 10-25K to cover the initial set up costs of everything from cars, car insurance, electrical goods, furnishings etc, etc. We also assume that not many people are making a profit from that number .
Many, many moons ago,in Cyprus, an increase in LOA was announced. One of our Sqn navs kept his spouse well out of touch with monetary matters. She went shopping in the NAAFI and overheard a couple of wives mentioning the LOA increase. Once at home she asked hubby, "What is this increase in LOA, I've just heard about, darling?" Quick as a flash, our hero replies, "Don't you worry your pretty little head about it, my love, I've already paid it" .............. 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow.
Age: 79
Posts: 621
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
TAC Queen why do you want to know the LOA rates? Have you secured a job out there?
Tell him nowt, you'll only encourage him to keep posting.
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 806
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This thread has crept onto LOA wrt Exchange postings. It could be of course that Tac Queen ended up spending a night or two in the Holiday Inn Bangor, for which he would be entitled to LOA. It could then be that his pay statement hasn't met his thoughts on the current LOA rates, and so is asking for help here.
Maybe.......
Maybe.......
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow.
Age: 79
Posts: 621
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It could be of course that Tac Queen ended up spending a night or two in the Holiday Inn Bangor, for which he would be entitled to LOA
TQ may well have spent a couple of nights in some hotel but are Loadies allowed in ANY Holiday Inn.
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: .....................................
Posts: 365
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
He may have spent a night or two in some hotel but are loadies allowed in any Holiday Inn ?