Rights and responsibilities for reservists and employers

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Financial support for reservists

If you’re called up for service you can claim financial support to cover:

  • the difference between your civilian pay and your service pay
  • the cost of any benefits in kind your employer stops
  • some other expenses that you have to pay because you’re mobilised

The total amount you can claim is £400 a day.

If you’re serving as a medical consultant with the defence medical services, you can claim up to £822 a day.

Company benefits

You can claim for benefits normally provided by your employer, including:

  • health insurance or medical care
  • life insurance
  • education fees for dependent children
  • accommodation

If you have to return a company car that’s used by your partner (for example, husband or wife), children or dependent relatives, you can claim £10.70 a day (around £325 a month).

Pension contributions

While you’re mobilised you can either:

  • ask for the days you’re mobilised to count towards the Armed Forces Pension Scheme
  • keep contributing to your personal or work pension (the Ministry of Defence will pay your employer’s contributions)

If you’re self-employed

If you’re self-employed, a partner or a company director, you can claim for:

  • the difference between your service pay and earnings from your business
  • up to £2,000 business costs from stopping trading
  • agency fees and advertising for finding and training your replacement

Other expenses

You can claim for some other expenses if you’ve had to pay them because you’re mobilised. You can only claim them for the time that you’re mobilised.  

Expenses you can claim are: 

  • care of a dependent child or relative
  • care of a pet
  • additional house insurance because you’re not there
  • essential maintenance on your home

How to claim

You get instructions about how to claim in your mobilisation pack. 

If you’re an employee, submit your claim on the form included in your mobilisation pack.

If you’re self-employed, a partner or a company director, use the claim form for employers.

When to claim

You can claim any time after your service begins and up to 4 weeks after it ends.

Appeal a rejected claim

You can appeal if your claim is turned down.

View a printable version of the whole guide

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