Domestic Benefits - FAQ
- SEPARATION EXPENSE (SE)
How do I become eligible for Separation Expense benefits?
Members of the Regular Force or members on Class "B" or "C" Reserve service are entitled to SE if all the following conditions are satisfied:
- the member's immediate former place of duty is in Canada;
- the member has a principal residence in Canada;
- the member is posted to or on that Class "B" or "C" Reserve Service at a new place of duty in Canada;
- the member is entitled to a move of (D)HG&E at public expense to the new place of duty;
- the move of the member's (D)HG&E at public expense to the new place of duty is, for service reasons, prohibited or restricted, in accordance with orders and instructions issued by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS);
- the member does not move their (D)HG&E to the new place of duty;
- the member occupies an accommodation at a new place of duty, and
- a dependant occupies the principal residence on a full-time basis.
Ref: CBI 208.997(3)
Effective 1 Feb 13, only members of the Regular Force or Reserve Force member serving on Class “C” Reserve Service are eligible to receive SE benefits.
I'm residing in a non-commercial accommodation; can I be reimbursed for rental of furniture?
Yes, you can be reimbursed actual and reasonable expenses associated with furnishing a one bedroom non-commercial accommodation, provided same isn't provided as part of the lease/rental agreement, to the maximum monthly lodging ceiling rate according to your location. You must be aware that the rental of furniture is at fair market value and not part of a rent/right to own agreement.
Refs: CBI 208.997(9)(a) and CBI 208.997(2) "furniture rental"
Can I rent an extra bed for my accommodation for when my family come to visit?
No, entitlement is to reimburse CF members with reimbursement of some additional living expenses and as such, items are limited to the requirements for an unaccompanied member in a one bedroom accommodation.
Ref: CBI 208.997(1)
I travel to my "principal residence" every weekend while on IR as I am not required to work. If I don't request a leave pass does my SE still need to be abated?
Yes. Anytime you are co-located with your (D)HG&E, there is no payment of incidentals nor the dinner meal rate of your monthly entitlement for those days you are reunited, regardless if you have a leave pass or not.
Refs: CBI 208.997(6)(i) and CBI 208.997(2) "principal residence"
Effective 1 Feb 13, this FAQ will no longer apply as there will be no entitlement to receive 65% of the daily dinner rate or 75% of the daily incidental rate.
I'm a Class "B" Reserve Force "annuitant" member and authorized Imposed Restriction (IR) during my one year period of employment. Am I entitled to separation expense during my annuitant break if I remain at my place of duty?
No, however, you will not suffer any penalty for maintaining your temporary accommodation during the period of your annuitant break. It would be more expensive for the crown and inconvenient for the member to break the lease.
Refs: CBI 208.997(4) and CBI 209.997(6)(c)
Effective 1 Feb 13, only members of the Regular Force or Reserve Force member serving on Class “C” Reserve Service are eligible to SE benefits.
I'm on Imposed Restriction (IR) in Ottawa. I travel to Kingston on weekends to stay with my brother, and my (D)HG&E were last moved (and currently) at public expense to Quebec City. Am I abated any part of my monthly expenses?
No. Pertaining to leave, unless you are required to be on authorized leave from your permanent workplace, no abatement of incidentals or the daily dinner rate as prescribed in the NJC Travel Directive, is required.
Ref: CBI 208.997(6)(h)
Effective 1 feb 13, this FAQ will no longer apply as there will be no entitlement to receive 65% of the daily dinner rate or 75% of the daily incidental rate.
I received a short notice six month Attached Posting and will incur a lease breaking penalty; can I claim the amount my landlord has identified?
When - for service reasons - you are away from your temporary accommodation for 90 days or more, you can be reimbursed up to 3 months lease liability as part of the tenancy agreement. It is important that such penalty is clearly articulated in any agreement between the member and the landlord/proprietor. Any penalty or liability in excess of 3 months will not be reimbursed.
Ref: CBI 208.997(11)(a)
I am prohibited posted to Saint Jean, QC to undergo BMQ training. What entitlements can I expect to receive?
Provided you meet all criteria for separation expense under the instruction in ref, you are deemed separated for service reasons and are entitled to receive the benefits prescribed in the instruction.
Ref: CBI 208.997(3)
Effective 1 Feb 13, all eligible members provided you qualify for SE under CBI 208.997(3), your entitlement will be for quarters at public expense but you will no longer receive rations at public expense, nor low rate incidentals.
I am proceeding on IR to Vancouver, BC, is my accommodation rate the same as what they receive in Victoria, BC?
No, monthly lodging rates have been established by the Treasury Board (TB) per location, where a higher rate was required for specific areas. The monthly lodging rate established for Vancouver, has been set at $1400.00.
Ref: Table to CBI 208.997
Can I receive SE and Environmental Allowances at the same time?
No, once a member is subject to the austere conditions of their environment, for periods of 24 hours or more, they cease to qualify for the entitlement of incidental expense allowance and the daily dinner rate as prescribed by the NJC Travel Directive.
Ref: CBI 208.997(6)
What happens if I am receiving SE and then go on TD at the place where my dependants reside?
There is no entitlement to meal rate or incidental portion of SE for the period of time when a member is co-located with their D (HG&E). A member on TD at the location of their (D)HG&E is only entitled to actual and reasonable return travel expenses to and from the place of IR to the principal residence. There is no entitlement for TD related benefits, which includes transportation expenses from the principal residence to the place of temporary duty, when staying in the principal residence.
Refs: CBI 208.997(6)(i) and CFTDTI 3.02(c)
Effective 1 Feb 13, this FAQ wil no longer will apply as there will be no entitlement to receive 65% of the daily dinner rate or 75% of the daily incidental rate.
If I am under my ceiling rate for my monthly accommodation entitlement, can I claim my cable?
No, only initial hook up of cable is reimbursable as a provision of relocation. The Treasury Board (TB) provides no provision to cover reimbursement of monthly reoccurring expenses of any kind. Any expense not related to hook up shall be borne solely by the member.
Refs: CBI 208.997(7)(d), CBI 208.997(8)(d) and CBI 208.997(d)
How long can any dependant visit me and stay at my temporary accommodation before my entitlement to separation expense ceases.
Dependants who visit, reside with or occupy overnight at the temporary accommodation location can do so to an accumulative period of 30 days in a 365 day period. At the 30 day cumulative period, the entitlement to separation expense for that restricted or prohibited posting terminates.
Refs: CBI 208.997(5)(l) and QR & O 26.02
I have been on Imposed Restriction (IR) since 1 July 2010. My dependants have relocated (at my expense) to a location outside the geographical location of my former place of duty, for reasons of employment. When does my entitlement to separation expense cease?
The entitlement to separation expense ceases effective the earlier of:
- a dependant no longer resides full-time in the principal residence at the former place of duty;
- the HG&E no longer remains in the principal residence at the former place of duty; or
- you no longer have costs associated with maintaining a principal residence at the former place of duty.
Refs: CBI 208.997(5) and QR & O 26.02
I am currently on Imposed Restriction (IR) and have purchased a residence within the geographical boundaries of my former place of duty. My dependants are moving into the residence and we will pay for our own relocation of (D)HG&E? I am using my other residence as an income property. Does my entitlement to separation expense cease?
No. Provided the criteria hasn't changed since the original request for IR, none of the circumstances or requirements have changed that would disqualify entitlement.
Ref: CBI 208.997(5)
I am in non-commercial accommodation but my SE entitlement varies monthly. How do I calculate my monthly SE entitlement to figure out what I should receive?
Calculation
Days in that month less (-) non-qualifying days multiplied by (X) prescribed rate equals (=) amount that month
IE: 30 (June) - 10 days of TD/Leave X $26.20 (as of December 2011) = $524.00
Effective 1 feb 13, this FAQ will no longer apply as there will be no entitlement to receive 65% of the daily dinner rate or 75% of the daily incidental rate.
I am on IR and in receipt of SE. My current place of duty is Ottawa and my (D)HG&E is located in Halifax. I intend to elect my Intended Place of Residence (IPR) on Release two years early. If I elect my IPR and purchase a new home in Halifax, will my entitlement to SE cease?
Yes, the entitlement to SE ceases when an IPR is elected. Once an IPR is elected, the member is no longer considered separated from (D)HG&E for service reasons.
Ref: CBI 208.997 (5)(h)
