Compensation for Lost and Damaged Personal Effects

What’s it for?

This allowance provides compensation when there is loss or damage to personal effects caused by the demands of military service. This allowance is only available when compensation cannot be obtained under an existing insurance policy (or from other sources) and the loss or damage:

• is not due to carelessness or negligence on the part of the claimant (or their representative)

• could not have been avoided by the claimant

When a claim is partially settled by an insurance company and the shortfall (inclusive of any excess on the insurance policy) exceeds £20, compensation may be claimed provided the loss or damage resulted from the demands of the Service and the above conditions are met.

JSP 752 lists full details of the circumstances that meet the definition of “caused by the exigencies of military service” and the articles for which compensation may be granted. It also lists the circumstances when you won’t be able to make a claim (e.g. when you are on leave or when the loss of property is due to theft by someone you employ).                                

What do I get?

The circumstances of any claim for loss and damage will be investigated by your Commanding Officer before approval can be given for payment. If a claim is approved, the amount of compensation paid will be assessed on the reasonable cost of replacing the article in question with a new one.

For full details of guidelines used to calculate the amount of compensation you could receive, read JSP 752 chapter 17, section 3 or ask your Unit HR Admin staff/Unit Personnel Office for guidance.

How do I claim?

Submit your claim to your Commanding Officer within one month of the date of the incident, using JPA Form 014, which can be found at JPA forms (DefNet access only). More details can be found in JSP 752.