Reclaim the Daily Food Charge

What’s it for?

As a Service person, you may pay a Daily Food Charge (DFC) to cover the cost of eating in Service messing facilities – but sometimes your duties might mean that you’re unable to dine in the mess. When this happens, you can claim back the cost of the meal you missed.

It can also be claimed when Service personnel who pay the DFC eat in a catering, retail, leisure or Pay As You Dine facility and have to pay for their meal there.

You can’t reclaim the DFC if you:

• missed a meal while on duty in Field Conditions or Field Conditions (Food); or

• could have had a meal in a Service messing facility but chose not to (for example, if you chose to work through a meal time); or

• are unable to obtain a meal in Service messing facility due to undertaking alternative working arrangements by personal choice.­

What do I get?

You can claim a set rate for each meal that you miss. From 1 April 2022 the rates are as follows: 

Breakfast    £1.40

Main Meal of the Day (either Midday or Evening Meal)   £2.30

Third Meal (Midday or Evening Meal)   £1.91

Daily Rate     £5.61

You will then be paid via your nominated bank account.

When can’t I use this?

You won’t be able to claim this benefit if you live in a mess with catering facilities or if you claim any of the following allowances:

• Food and Incidentals Allowance

• Special Messing Allowance

• Lodging Allowance

How do I claim?

You should submit your claim on JPA via  JPA iexpenses. More information can be found in the allowances and expenses user guide, which can be found at JPA user guides

If you don’t have access to JPA, then you need complete JPA Form F016 (which can be found at JPA forms) and submit it to your unit HR admin office