Supporting the Unsung Hero - Free Online Business Start-up courses

Supporting the Unsung Hero business start up are pleased to announce that they are restarting​ their monthly Starting a Business Webinars which is free to the Armed Forces Community

For more information, please visit the website or contact us at HIVE with any questions.

Certes IT Services - Support to Former Forces

Certes IT Services Solutions offer a free service seeking to create a community with knowledge and understanding that supports each other and champions ex-military personnel.

Please CLICK HERE for more details on the offer to former​-forces.

Brunei: BFB Spouses Coffee Morning & Monkey Guarding Presentation - Wednesday, 28th February 2024, 0930 AM - 1230 PM @ CCCC

Please click on the image to enlarge.

All BFB spouses are encouraged to attend the event.

Sequence of Events

* Assembly - 0930 hrs
* Welfare Update & Safety Brief - 0935 - 0950 hrs
* Welcome New Spouses - 0950 - 1015 hrs
* Monkey Guarding Presentation - 1015 - 1030 hrs
* Bingo & Coffee- 1030 - 1150 hrs
* Lunch- 1150 - 1230 hrs
* Event ends - 1230 hrs

Brunei: BFBS TV Viewing Equipment Annual Audit

BFBS Brunei is carrying out an annual TV viewing equipment audit.

All viewers who have issued out BFBS TV boxes are requested to check that they hold the correct TV viewing equipment according to the agreement.

We would like to encourage customers to keep watching TV and if you have any issues, please contact BFBS so we can resolve them.

Our system indicates that a lot of customers are not using the TV box. If you do not want to utilise the TV box, then please kindly return them. They can be issued out again anytime you want easily.

Thank you for your support on this matter.

DWP Update: Marriage Allowance – couples can save up to £252 a year on their tax bill

Some couples can save up to £252 a year on their tax bill by claiming Marriage Allowance.

To benefit from Marriage Allowance, the following circumstances must apply:

- the couple are married or in a civil partnership

- one person does not pay Income Tax because any income they have is below their tax-free Personal Allowance (usually £12,570)

- their partner pays Income Tax at the basic rate

Do you know someone who could be eligible?

​They can find out more and apply for Marriage Allowance on GOV.UK and use the free online calculator to find out how much tax they could save.

Reading Force - News from Reading Force

Please click here to find out more.

Brunei: Out of Bounds Travel Booking

OUT OF BOUNDS TRAVEL BOOKING

1. In light to new evidence, Travel consultant Joe Gani, impersonating as employee for Pan Bright Travel Service Sdn Bhd has been added to the Get You Home (Overseas) and Respite Provision, out of bounds travel booking list with immediate effect.

2. All ranks are to be aware that JPA claims made with receipts obtained through the above-named consultant in relation to Get You Home (Overseas) and Respite Provision scheme, will be recovered in full. Administrative or disciplinary action may be taken against those failing to adhere to this order.

3. The use of a third party individuals, who act as links between the SP and legal travel agencies, are strictly prohibited. Flight tickets for GYH(O) and Respite should be purchased from Bruneian legally registered service provider found at link: Brunei legally registered Travel Agencies to satisfy the audit requirement of using a legitimate business in the case of GYH (O) and Respite claims.

Army HIVE Non-UK National Support: New Email Address for Enquiries

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Army HIVE now has an email address specifically for Non-UK National enquiries. This is available to Service personnel, their families, and line managers/CoC requiring support:

RC-Pers-HIVE-NonUKNat-0mailbox@mod.gov.uk 

New Accommodation Offer Important Update: Extension of SLA Waiver

The New Accommodation Offer has been changed in respect of the Dual Accommodation Expense element of the Offer. The waiver of SLA charges relating to PStatCat and age are being retained for now and extended to other cohorts who maintain a main home away from their assigned location.

Please see this SWAY for more information.

DWP: Child Maintenance Service reformed to crack down on parents who refuse to pay

The government is reforming the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) to crack down on parents who refuse to pay and ensure children get the support they deserve more quickly.

Link: Child Maintenance Service reformed to crack down on parents who refuse to pay - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

DWP: National Insurance - detailed information

Guidance for National Insurance. Including how to apply for a National Insurance number and check your record. As well as rates, paying, refunds, voluntary contributions, and pensions.

Link: National Insurance: detailed information - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Headspace Support your loved ones

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Launch of new easier Wraparound Childcare registration and claims process

Launch of new easier Wraparound Childcare registration and claims process

It's now even easier for Service families to register and claim for Wraparound Childcare (WAC).

Following your feedback, we have simplified the process to make it easier for you and your family. WAC is now fully integrated in JPA and brings registration, claims calculations, and claims all together in one place – in the 'My child allowances: WAC' section.

Could your family save £3,400 a year, per child?

Over 10,500 Service children's childcare is currently being supported by Wraparound Childcare funding.

If you have a child aged between 4 and 11 (4-16 if in receipt of disability benefits), on average, your family could save up to £3,400 per child, per year on before and after school care.

If you think your family may be eligible, find out more about WAC by visiting the Discover My Benefits Army, RAF, Navy or Marines webpage.

Long Term Relationships - Pilot Scheme

Couples in long-term relationships are now entitled to a military house overseas just like those who are married or in civil partnerships under a pilot scheme that is running in Cyprus and the Falklands.

The trial was launched to give service personnel in established long-term relationships access to Service Family Accommodation (SFA) in the Falkland Islands and Sovereign Base Areas Cyprus – where over a third of personnel assigned overseas are based.

"It's about making sure that we remove any unintended barriers to service overseas and we attract the widest talent," people operations specialist Wing Commander Jackie Wren told Forces News.

To watch this video in full please visit this link.

Brunei: SSAFA - SSAFA Tin Location

SSAFA Brunei is currently trying to find out the locations of all SSAFA tins (pictured above) in BFB.

If your department or unit has the SSAFA tin, kindly contact this number +673 8322015.

Alternatively, you can also send a message on Facebook & Instagram.

New Accommodation Offer Booklet

Please click HERE to read this booklet online.

Army Benevolent Fund: Cateran Yomp - the Ultimate Charity Walk

Please click on the image to enlarge.

For more information and to register please click HERE.

NHS England: Talking Therapies Mental Health Support

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For more information on NHS talking therapies for anxiety and depression please click HERE.

NHS England: Benefits of the NHS App

The NHS App is a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services and information on your smartphone or tablet. Millions of people are already using the NHS App to manage their health the easy way from the comfort of their homes.

If you are over the age of 16 the NHS App enables you to view your GP health record to help you better understand and manage your condition, without having to phone your GP surgery. With the App you can access your consultation notes, letters and test results.

The NHS App also enables you to manage repeat prescriptions and easily change your nominated pharmacy, so you can send orders when it’s convenient for you. Each prescription ordered electronically saves GP practices three minutes of time and a patient 18 minutes, making it more convenient for people and freeing up frontline staff to do other important duties.

Brunei: BFB Pre-arrival booklet 2024 - all you need to prepare for your Brunei posting!

Posted to Brunei or considering a relocation? This 126 page booklet covers everything you need to know about your posting and more! 

To request an electronic copy of this booklet, please email; 

Housing Clerk: Norefna.MohamadDin100@mod.gov.uk

Brunei HIVE: BruneiGar-SpSvcs-HIVE-Mailbox@mod.gov.uk 

Which? Scam Warning on Safer Internet Day

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SCAM WARNING 

These quizzes might seem like harmless fun but they could put you at risk of identity theft. You could be handing over a treasure trove of personal information to fraudsters.

Tuesday, 6 February 2024 - is Safer Internet Day. This special celebration takes place in February of each year to raise awareness of a safer and better internet for all, and especially for children and young people. Find out more here

​ #SaferInternetDay

What is the HM Forces Railcard?

The HM Forces Railcard costs £21 and it'll save you 1/3 on most rail fares throughout Great Britain for a whole year. That works out to under £2 a month for huge savings. You're eligible if you're a member of the Regular Forces or Volunteer Reserves or a spouse/civil partner of a member, for more details see eligibility.

There are plenty of ways you can use your Railcard, for both long and short trips. Better still you can use it anytime on weekends, Public Holidays and during the week. The only restriction is that if you travel before 10am Monday to Friday (except during July and August) a minimum fare will apply.

To apply for your Railcard please see your Unit HR admin staff. The cost of the Railcard is deducted from your pay.

For more information CLICK HERE

New Accommodation Offer: Outreach Awareness Sessions, online or dial in on Thursdays

The New Accommodation Offer team would like to invite you to attend one of their weekly sessions, to hear a short presentation on what your first steps look like transitioning onto the new offer.

Presentations are on Thursdays, with both AM and PM sessions available to join online. For links/dial-in information please go to this SWAY​

International HIVE (iHIVE) - Launch of additional Overseas Location Guides (OLGs).

Further Overseas Location Guides (OLGs) have been added to the iHIVE Blog. Existing guides have also been updated.

The iHIVE Blog hosts worldwide location information, to enable Service personnel and their families to find out more about a potential or current overseas assignment.

Overseas Location Guides offer location specific information to give a brief insight into a location, with the facility to fine out more from iHIVE from questions you may have.

Additional Oversea Location Guides added include:

· Canberra
· Oman
· Saudi Arabia
· Kuala Lumpur

Contact Sarah at our iHIVE with any questions, or visit the iHIVE Blog and view the guides and range of information provided to support Serving Personnel and families worldwide.

For more information please visit: https://internationalhive.blogspot.com/

Support for Households - Cost of Living Support

Please Click here to see what UK Government support is available to help with the cost of living and save money with our energy saving tips.

2024 Civilian Housing Briefs from Defence Transition Services

The links listed in the image above can be found below:

Information and guidance on civilian housing - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Help for service leavers, service personnel and families from Defence Transition Services - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Coming soon reminder: Easier registration and claims process for Wraparound Childcare

From 19 February 2024 the way that personnel register and claim WAC funding is changing. The process will be fully integrated in JPA and will be much simpler to use.

- Personnel that are currently registered will receive an email from the WAC team explaining what this means for them.

- Personnel that haven't yet registered but may be eligible should note that there will be a freeze to the registration process from 31 January 2024 until the switch over on 19 February 2024.

- Personnel that register between 19 February and 31 March 2024 will be able to backdate their registration to 1 February 2024, subject to eligibility. 

Where can you find further information?​​

Read the FAQs or visit the Defence Childcare Information Page on defnet or Defence Connect.

Visit the Discover My Benefits Army, RAF, Navy or Marines webpage or contact the HIVEs, RN FPS and Families Federations information sites.

Look out for more updates, on defnet and Defence Connect.

If you have any further questions, you can email the WAC team at PEOPLE-AFFS-WAC-FRO-mailbox@mod.gov.uk

New Accommodation Offer: Tri-Service Roadshow *Change of Date*, RAF Wyton on 5 Mar

Please note that the New Accommodation Offer Roadshow at RAF Wyton is no longer being held on Wed 7 Feb, and will now take place on Tue 5 Mar.

On 5 Mar 2024 the New Accommodation Offer team will run sessions at 10:00 & 14:00 hosted by UK Strategic Command from RAF Wyton, followed by an evening event at 18:00 from the Community Learning Centre, RAF Wittering.

For more information on how to attend, either in person or via livestream, please go to this SWAY.