Cost of living support
Colchester Borough Council is providing support for residents facing the cost of living crisis.
Colchester Borough Council is providing support for residents facing the cost of living crisis.
When serving personnel are posted abroad, spouses may need to give up their jobs to move with them.
Spouses, civil partners and dependents can claim income based Job Seekers Allowance or Universal Credit as soon as they return to the UK after accompanying service personnel working abroad.
The rule requiring them to be a resident for 3 months before being eligible to claim no longer applies.
The Government has now introduced an MOD NI credit scheme so that spouses/civil partners accompanying their spouses on an overseas assignment can claim Class 3 Contributions towards their state pension whilst they are abroad.
Find out how the DWP’s enhanced access to Jobcentre Plus services might affect you.
Andy Flexen-Pallot
andy.flexen-pallot@dwp.gov.uk
If you have been seriously injured as a result of service, you may be entitled to the Armed Forces Independence Payment.
Information on jobs, employment and skills can also be found through the following links:
Locally, Colchester Institute, a vocational college have launched Building Heroes which provides skills training to Military Veterans and support into employment in the building trades.
A government bursary of £40,000 will be available from September 2018 for ex-service personnel to retrain as teachers. Courses will be made available at universities nationwide from September onwards for those who have left full-time employment in the British Army, Royal Navy or Royal Air Force within the last 5 years. The bursary has been developed as part of the Department for Education’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant: undergraduate courses in biology, chemistry, maths, computing and modern foreign languages will be prioritised.
Find out more about the Bursary.
Forces Families Jobs is the go-to place for training and employment for family members of currently serving UK military personnel.
Apply for jobs and access employment and training opportunities with companies and organisations who are forces family friendly. You can use this website with confidence in knowing that employers have signed the Armed Forces Covenant or are able to demonstrate their commitment to the Armed Forces.
This is your gateway to accessing information about acquiring new skills, upgrading your existing skills or applying directly to employers who are understanding of the unique challenges that come with being a family member of a serving person.
Once you have left the Armed Forces you may be able to make time to volunteer. You can make positive changes to people's lives whilst developing your own skills at the same time. Contact Community 360 to find out more.