Special Messing Allowance
If you live in Single Living Accommodation or equivalent and you don’t have access to a Service mess or self-catering facilities, you could claim a contribution towards the extra cost of food and drinks
Eligibility check:
What’s it for?
SMA is for Service personnel who live in Single Living Accommodation (or equivalent) and have to regularly buy food and drinks from commercial shops and restaurants because they don’t have access to Service messing or self-catering facilities.
It is not available to Service personnel who already receive other food-related allowances, or those who meet any of the other criteria as listed in JSP 752.
What do I get?
SMA is a daily rate which is paid monthly in arrears via your salary. The rates for the most commonly used overseas locations are published annually with the overseas subsistence allowance rates and can be found here and on the Allowances team defnet page or you can speak to your Unit HR/Personnel Office.
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:
Lodging Allowance
Food and Incedentals Allowance
Reclaim the Daily Food Charge
Subsistence Allowance
Meals Out Expenses
Living Out Supplemented Rates of Local Overseas Allowance
How do I claim this?
This will be processed automatically by your Unit HR/Personnel Office.
Need more information?
JSP 752 Special messing allowance
read JSP 752 chapter 5 section 6 for more information about the Special messing allowance