Changes to CEA
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When you are given a new assignment on JPA you have to tick the box accepting the new assignment. If you do not want to accept the assignment order then back onto the front page of JPA there is a box which will allow you to refrain from accepting any further assignments. Tick that box and you no longer have to accept any further assignment orders. You will also see your flying pay reduce.
Thread Starter
Children's Education Advisory Service
Has anyone had any dealing with CEAS? I have been in long communication with them over an entitlement matter and in spite of numerous emails, letters, faxes and telephone calls, I have had no substative reponse. A case was put up for senior school boarding rate from my son in Year 7, but it was dismissed over the phone on the grounds of 'you should have picked a cheaper school' which completely ignored the independent recommendations forwarded to them (and also an incorrect assumption). It is clear that the CEAS have a mandate to save money irrespective of the argument.
Similarly, prior to moving abroad on yet another overseas posting we asked for advice on suitability of schools for our daughter (6) - there being no BFS or other English-language schools in this location. The advice was 'find a school and send us the invoice'. No added value. Anyone else have experience of them?
Similarly, prior to moving abroad on yet another overseas posting we asked for advice on suitability of schools for our daughter (6) - there being no BFS or other English-language schools in this location. The advice was 'find a school and send us the invoice'. No added value. Anyone else have experience of them?
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Blinding!
Erm...I thought the whole reason MoD postings were INVOLSEP was due to the cost of providing SFA in Central London? So, when I return from another Optour in the middle of 2011 and head off to Town, can I look forward to a swanky SSFA perhaps near SW1A? Oh hang on a mo, there's the 50 mile ruling which means we can move to a married patch somewhere nowhere near where I actually work and face a commute of about an hour each way...the RNHQ and RAFHQ chaps would be far better staying put and saving the Queen's money...but something must be seen to be done to curb these expenses...even if it costs more.
Brilliant, I love it when a plan comes together!!!
Brilliant, I love it when a plan comes together!!!
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I think you have missed the subtlety. You will no longer be INVOLSEP so you will want SFA to get CEA. The 50 mile rule will mean they can make you stay at SFA at HQ AIR or PJHQ. If you are already posted to HQ AIR or PJHQ (an dets don't count because your family stays put) you will not move house and therefore you will not be able to claim CEA anyway. As the change also means that entitlement can be withdrawn if you do not remain mobile it means that CEA will essentially be unclaimable if you are an officer who wants a career beyond unit level (ie a series of HQ and MOD tours). As personnel who are only interested in unit level careers will increasingly be limited to one unit anyway - voila, you have effectively removed CEA at a stroke without looking as though you have. The other thing to watch out for is what they will do to Home to Duty (Public). EG having forced you to stay in one SFA and commute they will then also give you less in allowances to help pay the cost.
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Already mentioned at post #12.
Looks as if it will affect the light blue
more than Naval Service and Army as HW is within 50 miles of both MOD MB and PJHQ.
Unless we start rusticating staff appointments at wg cdr and above so that 50% of them are away from the SE.
Looks as if it will affect the light blue
more than Naval Service and Army as HW is within 50 miles of both MOD MB and PJHQ.
Unless we start rusticating staff appointments at wg cdr and above so that 50% of them are away from the SE.
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I'm hearing several stories of cea eligibility being questioned/entitlement removed. In some cases, extremely large bills being presented.
Anyone know what is reallly going on here?
Anyone know what is reallly going on here?
Thread Starter
I heard the other day of a scam on a large Army unit where the RAO quietly settled out the 'extras' bill received each term. Apparently this has been a widespread practice which is under investigation.
Further to the changes highlighted above, remember that SofS has called for a wider review of CEA which is due to report 'shortly'.
Further to the changes highlighted above, remember that SofS has called for a wider review of CEA which is due to report 'shortly'.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
And therein lies the catch.
Assumption:
All aircrew will remain at one unit for the duration.
The Practice:
Aircrew and manay engineers remain on one type for the duration
However who would have predicted the Harrier move from Yeovilton to Cottesmore? The F3 move to Leuchars? The FJTS move to Coningsby? The Jaguar move from Coltishall?
Swapping between Benson and Odiham or Lyneham and Brize fall well inside the 50 mile rule but who would want a daily commute of 60+ miles via Reading?
Yes, some will remain static through the main period of an aircraft's life in service but others will be caught at either end and neither end it evry guaranteed to be fixed. That is the main raison d'etre for aircrew on one type getting CEA no matter how unlikely that they will remain static.
PS
And not to forget the staff officers at rusticated locations.
an aircraft's life in service but others will be caught at either end and neither end it evry guaranteed to be fixed.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
The issue is not one uprooting in in a career but one uprooting in a child's critical education.
Stating the bleedin obvious, CEA is only payable for short periods of one's career that coincide with specific periods of a child's education.
Now there are several stages the most critical being the GCSE stage and the A-level stage. Less critical and more career induced is the primary period when postings to places where there are inadequate primary schools is the issue.
It would be tempting to freeze postings during the two secondary stages, with postings occuring between the two, but this could delay staff courses and disrupt posting patterns for other people too.
The availability of CEA removes the excuse of 'can't accept that posting because . . . '
It really is going round the same buoy time after time - flexibility of employment and against the disruption of the child's future. The countries best interest is to ensure the education of its future citizens.
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Army and Navy officers in fraud inquiry
Ouch.
A total of 16 service personnel are under investigation for fraud over allowances for children at a Penzance school.
A Royal Navy lieutenant commander, an Army lieutenant colonel and at least one other officer are among those under investigation.
The investigation surrounds the alleged misuse of the Continuity of Education Allowance, which is worth up to £5,833 each term for children who board.
It is alleged some claimants have cheated the taxpayer out of up to £20,000 through misuse of the allowance.
A Royal Navy lieutenant commander, an Army lieutenant colonel and at least one other officer are among those under investigation.
The investigation surrounds the alleged misuse of the Continuity of Education Allowance, which is worth up to £5,833 each term for children who board.
It is alleged some claimants have cheated the taxpayer out of up to £20,000 through misuse of the allowance.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
I hear one way that people are bending the rules.
You apply for boarding allowance and you place your child in boarding at a nearby school. The school bills you the full boarding fees and you claim your allowance.
The fraud arises because little Johnny is collected every night and taken back to school the next day and is effectively a day-boarder.
It would be argued however that Daddy and Mummy may be detached at short notice or posted and Johnny would then become a full-time boarder.
As I have heard it, there is nothing improper done by the school and the only financial advantage to the parent is the placement of Johnny in a private school. Rule bending rather than outright fraud?
I don't have access to the full rules but I think what I have outlined is not strictly within the rules.
You apply for boarding allowance and you place your child in boarding at a nearby school. The school bills you the full boarding fees and you claim your allowance.
The fraud arises because little Johnny is collected every night and taken back to school the next day and is effectively a day-boarder.
It would be argued however that Daddy and Mummy may be detached at short notice or posted and Johnny would then become a full-time boarder.
As I have heard it, there is nothing improper done by the school and the only financial advantage to the parent is the placement of Johnny in a private school. Rule bending rather than outright fraud?
I don't have access to the full rules but I think what I have outlined is not strictly within the rules.
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Schools are certainly becoming more flexible about boarding. When we first started, the school was 75 mins away (closest we've ever been), making weekly boarding possible but it simply wasn't available. The kids came home some weekends but not others, especially when they were younger. All at parents' expense of course, and no pecuniary advantage obtained. Now there's flexi-boarding where kids opt in and out on an ad hoc basis (2-4 nights a week) - must be a nightmare to administer. Remember also that in most secondary boarding schools, the children are in school 6 days each week.
If you claim for CEA (Boarding), I don't believe there is any laid-down limit on the number of nights the child actually has to stay in the school; I guess the offence occurs when the monies claimed are not passed-on to the school. That would presumably require some sort of positive action to achieve the 'receipting' of the Invoices for submission to the CEA Clerk each Term.
On the couple of occasions the kids have come home sick for a week or so, there has been no requirement to inform the CEA Clerk that I am aware of, and no refund from the school for nights away.
Edited to add that, as a Claimant, the MOD is becoming increasingly difficult to claim allowances from; perhaps that's part of the strategy?
If you claim for CEA (Boarding), I don't believe there is any laid-down limit on the number of nights the child actually has to stay in the school; I guess the offence occurs when the monies claimed are not passed-on to the school. That would presumably require some sort of positive action to achieve the 'receipting' of the Invoices for submission to the CEA Clerk each Term.
On the couple of occasions the kids have come home sick for a week or so, there has been no requirement to inform the CEA Clerk that I am aware of, and no refund from the school for nights away.
Edited to add that, as a Claimant, the MOD is becoming increasingly difficult to claim allowances from; perhaps that's part of the strategy?
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Generally speaking then, is it time up for CEA?
If the personnel mentioned in the newspaper article on this thread are found to have claimed fraudulently (big if), then it will be really damaging to those of us claiming legitimately. The press will be all over it obviously, what with all the cuts in frontline military capability and pay freezes.
Will they just cut the allowance with a term's notice?
Will they increase the parental contribution? I cannot afford this at all on an overseas posting with a now unemployed wife, greatly reduced LOA and less than half my mortgage covered by the rent in the UK.
Will they allow those claiming it to continue but stop it for those not already claiming it?
......or will they just police it more vigourously?
I'm getting tired of my terms and conditions being eroded. Worrying times for some of us.
If the personnel mentioned in the newspaper article on this thread are found to have claimed fraudulently (big if), then it will be really damaging to those of us claiming legitimately. The press will be all over it obviously, what with all the cuts in frontline military capability and pay freezes.
Will they just cut the allowance with a term's notice?
Will they increase the parental contribution? I cannot afford this at all on an overseas posting with a now unemployed wife, greatly reduced LOA and less than half my mortgage covered by the rent in the UK.
Will they allow those claiming it to continue but stop it for those not already claiming it?
......or will they just police it more vigourously?
I'm getting tired of my terms and conditions being eroded. Worrying times for some of us.
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Have a look at the latest attempt at consultation - I've never seen a survey like it. Removing it completely for those not in receipt is one option as is increasing the parental contribution (tantamount to the same thing I believe).
It's worth a look even if you don't complete it, but only available on the Intranet.
What surprised me was the way the Questions were asked, in the form of "indicate on a sliding scale whether you would rather pay £1000 more or have the allowance withdrawn for those not already in receipt."
Of course paying more for it simply changes it from an all ranks alllowance to one which is available only for wg cdrs/gp capts and above.
It's worth a look even if you don't complete it, but only available on the Intranet.
What surprised me was the way the Questions were asked, in the form of "indicate on a sliding scale whether you would rather pay £1000 more or have the allowance withdrawn for those not already in receipt."
Of course paying more for it simply changes it from an all ranks alllowance to one which is available only for wg cdrs/gp capts and above.
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I do feel sorry for those genuine CEA claimants left behind in the wake of the the Prime Minister's cuts (and let's be honest here we can attempt to hold the civil serpents, or Dr FOx or either the Chancellor responsible for the lowest service morale for 2 generations - my once serving father talked of very poor officer morale in the 70s).
This moral covenant is also all smoke and mirrors - what exactly is Government of the day legally bound to do for service personnel? Tip up in parliament and 'report' - is that it?
But back to this thread and CEA, and I only have one more term to see through before I am out of the system (in more ways than one!)......but what I cannot fathom out is:
1. What will replace the current system that allows the relevant personnel agencies of each service the flexibility to move people around when each service requires it?
2. The very weighted and one sided questionaire that gives no choice or scope to add free text (and statistics carefully manipulated by the organisation commissioning the survey can demonstrate any side of the argument).
3. Before the 'survey' was sent out the respondents had absolutely no knowledge of the alternatives that were available:
- Has the MOD and Dept of Education agreed to relax catchment areas for serving personnel to enable service children to stay with friends and relatives?
-When service families do leave their children with friends and family to ensure continuity of education through key academic years, who will be paying for accommodation and lodging?
- Once the tour of duty is complete away from their 'home super base' can the children stay at the state school, outside of their parents catchment area even though their parents have moved back into the area (but out side of the catchment area of the school where the friends/relatives live).
-For some large garrison or station locations has the Local Education Authorities been consulted on the possible mass influx of service children?
- Will service families be forced to send their children to military schools and will these schools have a military system in place (this works for some parents, but others want their children as far a way as possible from the military for their education)?
- What is the current OFSTED status of some of the military schools on offer (loaded question).
- As per the CEA survey option, is it recognised that increasing the contribution will remove the eligibility for some ranks, and be deviscive through the services?
- Is there recognition in those that set the questions in the survey that leaving a wife to look after a children at your nominated base location will after the average 22/16 year career result in many marriage breakdowns, on top of the stress caused by operational tours and the current reduction in allowances.
- Is the Depmartment of Edloucation confident that an MOD payment of around £200-£250 per service child is enough to ensure the increase in resources and infrastructure required by some state schools in the proximity of (for example) Brize, Salisbury Plain, Colchester, Catterick etc?
- If service families no longer declare themselves mobile and the children are in key stages of education (GCSEs/A Levels) can they legally remain in post until after the children's exams have been completed?
- Once the personnel department has told the service family that they are no longer mobile then does that mean that they can no longer be given short notice (often global) postings or does the service lose that flexibility?
- What happens when a service claimant's mobility is removed, then reinstated, then removed (all feasible now under the new rules) - what happens to the child (into boarding school, out of boarding school, into boarding school?)
- Why wasn't the MOD's own specialist CEA 'advisory service' not been consulted by DASA (the MOD's own statistical analysis agency) in ensuring a fair, unbiased, apolitical and rationale process (not just sliding scales of statistical weighting software).
- How much did the DASA CEA cost the MOD or was it paid for by the Treasury?
Now if I were a service parent about to sit down and complete a CEA questionnaire with such importance for my future family and education of my children, then the above questions are but a few that I would ask.
What the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and the myriad of Civil Servants beavering away to rush through cuts to hit financial targets are forgetting is that unlike the Private Sector, and elements of the Public Sector, the nation's military relies on the conceptual component of fighting power, as well as the physical.
If this is the aim, and the best of the UK's military minds and workforce are forced to leave (or opt to leave due to eroded pay and conditions) then the military will not only have no equipment, but when called for duty and to lay down their lives will be missing that unquantifiable and hidden (to the treasury and those that have never experienced it) values that this Government will go down in history as removing.
Never has the world been so unstable and yet the nation's military is retreating into an isolationist shell.
Let's hope that the same lesson after the 1920s depression are not painfully re-learned again in the next few decades.
I have, and CEAS deny all accountability for the survey and have absolutely no idea what will replace it or how the (non) mobility of service personnel will be managed by each service in the future.
Good luck to all those genuinely claiming and still left in when all this is over.
This moral covenant is also all smoke and mirrors - what exactly is Government of the day legally bound to do for service personnel? Tip up in parliament and 'report' - is that it?
But back to this thread and CEA, and I only have one more term to see through before I am out of the system (in more ways than one!)......but what I cannot fathom out is:
1. What will replace the current system that allows the relevant personnel agencies of each service the flexibility to move people around when each service requires it?
2. The very weighted and one sided questionaire that gives no choice or scope to add free text (and statistics carefully manipulated by the organisation commissioning the survey can demonstrate any side of the argument).
3. Before the 'survey' was sent out the respondents had absolutely no knowledge of the alternatives that were available:
- Has the MOD and Dept of Education agreed to relax catchment areas for serving personnel to enable service children to stay with friends and relatives?
-When service families do leave their children with friends and family to ensure continuity of education through key academic years, who will be paying for accommodation and lodging?
- Once the tour of duty is complete away from their 'home super base' can the children stay at the state school, outside of their parents catchment area even though their parents have moved back into the area (but out side of the catchment area of the school where the friends/relatives live).
-For some large garrison or station locations has the Local Education Authorities been consulted on the possible mass influx of service children?
- Will service families be forced to send their children to military schools and will these schools have a military system in place (this works for some parents, but others want their children as far a way as possible from the military for their education)?
- What is the current OFSTED status of some of the military schools on offer (loaded question).
- As per the CEA survey option, is it recognised that increasing the contribution will remove the eligibility for some ranks, and be deviscive through the services?
- Is there recognition in those that set the questions in the survey that leaving a wife to look after a children at your nominated base location will after the average 22/16 year career result in many marriage breakdowns, on top of the stress caused by operational tours and the current reduction in allowances.
- Is the Depmartment of Edloucation confident that an MOD payment of around £200-£250 per service child is enough to ensure the increase in resources and infrastructure required by some state schools in the proximity of (for example) Brize, Salisbury Plain, Colchester, Catterick etc?
- If service families no longer declare themselves mobile and the children are in key stages of education (GCSEs/A Levels) can they legally remain in post until after the children's exams have been completed?
- Once the personnel department has told the service family that they are no longer mobile then does that mean that they can no longer be given short notice (often global) postings or does the service lose that flexibility?
- What happens when a service claimant's mobility is removed, then reinstated, then removed (all feasible now under the new rules) - what happens to the child (into boarding school, out of boarding school, into boarding school?)
- Why wasn't the MOD's own specialist CEA 'advisory service' not been consulted by DASA (the MOD's own statistical analysis agency) in ensuring a fair, unbiased, apolitical and rationale process (not just sliding scales of statistical weighting software).
- How much did the DASA CEA cost the MOD or was it paid for by the Treasury?
Now if I were a service parent about to sit down and complete a CEA questionnaire with such importance for my future family and education of my children, then the above questions are but a few that I would ask.
What the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and the myriad of Civil Servants beavering away to rush through cuts to hit financial targets are forgetting is that unlike the Private Sector, and elements of the Public Sector, the nation's military relies on the conceptual component of fighting power, as well as the physical.
If this is the aim, and the best of the UK's military minds and workforce are forced to leave (or opt to leave due to eroded pay and conditions) then the military will not only have no equipment, but when called for duty and to lay down their lives will be missing that unquantifiable and hidden (to the treasury and those that have never experienced it) values that this Government will go down in history as removing.
Never has the world been so unstable and yet the nation's military is retreating into an isolationist shell.
Let's hope that the same lesson after the 1920s depression are not painfully re-learned again in the next few decades.
I have, and CEAS deny all accountability for the survey and have absolutely no idea what will replace it or how the (non) mobility of service personnel will be managed by each service in the future.
Good luck to all those genuinely claiming and still left in when all this is over.
Last edited by MaroonMan4; 13th Feb 2011 at 17:19.