New Service Family Accommodation Contracts
Missed Appointments in North and Central Regions
On 12 May we informed you that Amey had identified that their scheduling tool was not operating to its full functionality. While Amey were able to receive, process and schedule appointments from the National Service Centre (NSC), the system was not always tracking engineer movements on the day of the appointment. The ‘Track My Engineer’ capability was therefore disabled until a solution was found.
We are pleased to report that the necessary changes to the scheduling tool have commenced. This means that some families will start receiving ‘Track My Engineer’ links from 31 May as part of the deployment phase. We still expect this functionality to be restored to all families in Central and North regions by 6 June and will keep families updated on this issue.
In the meantime, families will still continue to receive a one-hour arrival slot in advance of the day of the appointment. However, whilst this issue is being resolved, these slots can only be treated as an estimate and the operative will call the family when they are on their way.
Please note that VIVO’s scheduling capability in the South East and South West has not been affected by this issue and remains fully functional.
National Service Centre Telephone Call Times
We understand how frustrating it can be for families to wait on the phone for longer than a couple of minutes to speak to the National Service Centre. We are therefore pleased that call wait times have reduced considerably over the past month and they are now within the acceptable performance level of 2 minutes. On 23 May call times averaged 50 seconds and 24 May averaged 40 seconds which is an improvement on the 2.2 minute average for call waits last week.
For further information about the new FDIS Accommodation contracts that replaced the National Housing Prime contract on 1 April 2022, please continue to check the SFA Gov.UK website, Pinnacle website and Families Federations’ social media and web pages.
Monday 30 May 2022
BFBS Radio Jubilee weekend all request party
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We're letting the audience choose the songs for the three whole days of the Jubilee weekend.
Thursday 26 May 2022
DDS - Top savings on holidays and days out
Defence Discount Service has a handy article on the top discounts for holidays and day outs.
Click here to read the article.
SFA Window Safety Restrictors
The safety of families living in Service Family Accommodation (SFA) and Substitute Service Families Accommodation (SSFA) is a top priority. With warmer weather meaning more windows will be open in homes, we would like to remind families to check that all window safety catches/restrictors are working correctly.
If restrictors are not working or windows can be opened more than 100mm when restrictors are engaged, then please report the fault to the National Service Centre immediately on 0800 031 8628 to ensure a repair is carried out. If you live in SSFA, please contact Mears on 0800 032 4547.
Please note that window restrictors must not be disengaged for any reason where children or vulnerable members of your household are at risk from falling.
For more advice about preventing accidents in your home visit the Child Accident Prevention Trust website.
Statutory and Mandatory Inspections - SFA
It is a legal requirement to undertake gas and electrical safety checks in your home to reduce the potential for a carbon monoxide incident or an electrical fire, to ensure your home is kept safe and compliant and to keep you and your family safe from harm.
If your property is due a gas or electrical check the National Service Centre (NSC) will contact you via email to arrange a suitable time for the check to take place. It is extremely important that you reply to an email to confirm the appointment date and time is suitable. Pinnacle can change the appointment time if it is unsuitable.
In addition, it is important that you allow the Regional Accommodation Maintenance Services contractors (VIVO or Amey) access to your home to carry out these vital safety checks.
Armed Forces Education Trust
If parents or schools wish to get in touch with, or to enquire about a grant visit the website - www.armedforceseducation.org for more information
Thursday 19 May 2022
Claiming Universal Credit from overseas
There is currently a software blip over the acceptance of BFPO numbers, so until that is resolved, all personnel are to temporarily use the following address for claims (which includes the RAF Northolt post-code): Address – name or unit/Address - operation/BFPO Number, HA4 6NG.
This information is now in DIN 22DIN01-050 ‘Universal Credit - BFPO location claim process, address format’. Once the permanent software fix is in place (when all BFPO addresses will be recognised on Universal Credit software) JSP 770 will be updated to reflect that the required address for Universal Credit claims whilst overseas is the relevant BFPO address.
Tuesday 10 May 2022
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Friday 6 May 2022
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Single Living Accommodation (SLA) survey - closing date Fri 20 May
The survey should take around 10-15 minutes to complete and provides an opportunity for you to share your views & experiences of SLA and ensure your views help shape the future of Defence accommodation.
Thursday 5 May 2022
Parental mental Health
How postnatal depression can affect your baby
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Parental mental Health
What are the signs and symptoms?
Parental mental Health
Triggers of postnatal depression
If you are worried or think you may be suffering from postnatal depression speak to your SSAFA Health Visitor, GP, Welfare or Padre. #parentalmentalhealth
Parental Mental Health week
What is postnatal depression?
Postnatal depression is a type of depression some women experience after giving birth.
Mood changes, irritability and episodes of tearfulness are common after giving birth, often known as baby blues, which affect 50% of new mothers and lasts 5 to 10 days.
If you are worried or think you may be suffering from postnatal depression speak to your SSAFA Health Visitor, GP, Welfare or Padre. #parentalmentalhealth
Do fathers experience postnatal depression?
First time fathers are particularly prone to depression.
The risk is higher in fathers who are young or who have strained relationships with their partners.
If the mother is depressed the risk of depression in fathers is higher.
If you are worried or think you may be suffering from postnatal depression speak to your SSAFA Health Visitor, GP, Welfare or Padre. #parentalmentalhealth
Wednesday 4 May 2022
BuildForce Armed Forces Insight Day - 26 May 22
BuildForce is delighted to be hosting a unique event which will bring together HS2 Limited, all major contractors delivering the project, their supply chain and our Service Leavers, Veterans, Reservists and Military Spouses.
Prescription Charges
More information on the new prescription charges in BFC can be found at this link: https://www.sbaadministration.org/.../Prescription...
Tuesday 3 May 2022
MOD's Education Support Fund (ESF) open for applications until 30th Sept
This fund is available to support schools in embedding practices that can benefit the service children and their school.
The ESF in its current form will be open for applications between 9 May and 30 September 2022.
Please be aware that the ESF is currently under review and that your application may have to be submitted again through a new scheme.
For more info:
SSAFA launch Spring/Summer Catalogue:
We are very excited to launch our Spring/Summer Catalogue.
**Free Lapel Pin worth £5 to all orders until 19th June 2022**
SSAFA Shop Catalogue | Free Pin | Falklands | Platinum Jubilee (connect-ssafa.org.uk)
DWP: Managed move of claimants to Universal Credit set to restart
Move to Universal Credit
All benefit claimants will be moved over to Universal Credit by the end of 2024, with moves from legacy schemes resuming in May 2022. A press release and policy paper were published on Gov.uk earlier this week.
From May 2022, customers will be informed of the need to move across to Universal Credit (UC), if they are on an existing legacy benefit:
* Jobseeker’s Allowance – income based
* Employment and Support Allowance – income related
* Income Support
* Incapacity Benefit
* Housing Benefit
* Working Tax Credit
* Child Tax Credit
The initial phase of Move to UC will involve a small number of customers with volumes increasing in a controlled way.
Universal Credit leaflet in 2022/23 HMRC tax credits renewals pack
From Tuesday 26 April, all tax credit customers will receive a printed A5 leaflet in their HMRC tax credits renewal pack. The leaflet raises awareness that tax credits are ending in 2024 and that many tax credit customers could be financially better off on Universal Credit (UC). Customers are directed to the Understanding Universal Credit website for more information.
This activity is part of the voluntary migration phase of ‘Move to UC’ but does not directly encourage customers to move to UC - it is essential that they consider the information for themselves.
All benefit claimants will be moved over to Universal Credit by the end of 2024, with moves from legacy schemes resuming in May 2022. A press release and policy paper were published on Gov.uk earlier this week.
From May 2022, customers will be informed of the need to move across to Universal Credit (UC), if they are on an existing legacy benefit:
* Jobseeker’s Allowance – income based
* Employment and Support Allowance – income related
* Income Support
* Incapacity Benefit
* Housing Benefit
* Working Tax Credit
* Child Tax Credit
The initial phase of Move to UC will involve a small number of customers with volumes increasing in a controlled way.
Universal Credit leaflet in 2022/23 HMRC tax credits renewals pack
From Tuesday 26 April, all tax credit customers will receive a printed A5 leaflet in their HMRC tax credits renewal pack. The leaflet raises awareness that tax credits are ending in 2024 and that many tax credit customers could be financially better off on Universal Credit (UC). Customers are directed to the Understanding Universal Credit website for more information.
This activity is part of the voluntary migration phase of ‘Move to UC’ but does not directly encourage customers to move to UC - it is essential that they consider the information for themselves.
Two new programmes launched from the Covenant Fund
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust is delighted to announce New Covenant Fund Programmes for 2022/23:
The popular Force for Change programme has now reopened for applications.
The Reaching and Supporting Armed Forces Communities programme has also now opened. This programme will award grants of up to £100,000 over a period of up to three years.
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