CYPRUS LOA
Embassy Package
Different Departments pay different allowances and benefits to the 'Partners Across Government' who comprise platform (ie Embassy or High Commission) staff. But it's basically this:
- COLA - a bit like LOA, but independently calculated by a company who does this sort of thing for ex pats.
- Hardship allowances, depending on the Post
- Representational allowances if your role involves, well, representational activities.
- allowances for each child in post (including an element for baby sitting).
- Rent and utilities are gratis. Phone and Internet connections included, but not usage.
- Depending on role, domestic help, but with personal contribution.
- if FCO, school fees in toto met.
Before anyone gets on their high horse about the free accn, allocation is to FCO rules and not MODs, so basically, in mosT locations, it will be a furnished apartment. This has led to friction in the past as DAs have insisted on a 'Residence' - something only Ambassadors generally get.
- COLA - a bit like LOA, but independently calculated by a company who does this sort of thing for ex pats.
- Hardship allowances, depending on the Post
- Representational allowances if your role involves, well, representational activities.
- allowances for each child in post (including an element for baby sitting).
- Rent and utilities are gratis. Phone and Internet connections included, but not usage.
- Depending on role, domestic help, but with personal contribution.
- if FCO, school fees in toto met.
Before anyone gets on their high horse about the free accn, allocation is to FCO rules and not MODs, so basically, in mosT locations, it will be a furnished apartment. This has led to friction in the past as DAs have insisted on a 'Residence' - something only Ambassadors generally get.
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Going deeper underground
Age: 55
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As you can imagine, this LOA thing has caused quite a hoo-hah hereabouts. Sadly, it took the wisdom found on ARRSE to illuminate the facts rather than having them explained clearly by the chain of command, so here goes:
The LOA has gone down (24 per cent in my case) but the Forces Fixed Rate has gone up from Eu 1.26 to the Pound to 1.38. The case for the Defence relies on you taking the whole of your salary and LOA into your country of residence at the FFR.
So, in theory, the changes should more or less balance out; but in reality, the plan does not survive contact with economics. Or the wife.
The LOA has gone down (24 per cent in my case) but the Forces Fixed Rate has gone up from Eu 1.26 to the Pound to 1.38. The case for the Defence relies on you taking the whole of your salary and LOA into your country of residence at the FFR.
Take last month's salary (A1) and add LOA for last month (B1) and multiply by the FFR for last month (C1). (A1+B1) x C1 = X
Take this month's salary (A2) and add LOA for this month (B2) and multiply by the FFR for this month (C2). (A2+B2) x C2 = Y
If Defence Business Services have done their sums right, X and Y should be comparable ie you should not suffer unduely as a result of the changes.
In my case, I would actually be slightly better off if I had all my salary and LOA paid into my Cypriot account at the current FFR. I would then have to pay bank charges to move money back to UK to service my mortgage, etc and run the risk of a haircut (or worse) if the Cypriot banks fall over again.So, in theory, the changes should more or less balance out; but in reality, the plan does not survive contact with economics. Or the wife.
DBS
Org...
This cunning plan rests on this:
If any of you have had the misfortune to deal with various aspects of DBS (especially their outsourced elements such as payment of overseas schooling bills and the Vetting people) you'll appreciate why I have little confidence in this programme.
This cunning plan rests on this:
If Defence Business Services have done their sums right, X and Y should be comparable ie you should not suffer unduly as a result of the changes.
