Check out the Overseas Allowances Reckoner (OAR), to get a fast, personalised estimate of what you’ll receive – if you’re in the Armed Forces and preparing for a posting abroad.
Reckon it’s worth a look…
A reckoner is ‘a table or device designed to help with calculations’ and that is exactly what our new Power BI OAR tool does. It puts financial clarity at your fingertips, transforming how you and our HR teams plan for postings abroad, by producing accurate values in minutes – rather than the hours it may previously have taken.
Fully integrated with JSP 752 policy rates, the OAR offers real-time figures for a range of products – including Local Overseas, Disturbance Expenses, and Get You Home Overseas allowances.
Simply input your personal details and posting information – such as assignment location, family status, and accommodation type – and you’ll receive an immediate breakdown of your overseas allowances, all in one place. There’s no need to wait for paperwork to be processed or complex policy details to be explained.
The low-down on the OAR
- Accurate estimates – taking any guess work out of your financial planning
- Clear and transparent information – on overseas allowances available to you
- Saves you time – by not having to manually navigate complex policy documents
- Enables informed decision making – for those considering overseas postings
- Check and compare different scenarios – to help make the right decisions for you
- Share with your family – simplified complex calculations, in an easy-to-read format
- Continuously updated – to reflect the latest policy changes
Supporting warfighting readiness
Financial stability and a clear understanding of what you will receive are essential components to support operational effectiveness.
Brigadier Philip Bassingham-Searle, Head of Armed Forces Remuneration said:
“The Reckoner tool empowers our people and their families to plan effectively by giving transparent and up-to-date estimates quickly, enabling them to make informed decisions. This creates greater certainty and reduces stress during what can be a challenging time – providing easier access to information needed to plan finances and prepare for assignments overseas. That then allows personnel to focus on their work and settle into their new location.”
Digital-first: streamlining processes
The Reckoner’s integration with official policy rates provides consistently correct information for use across each Service – ensuring a single source of truth and that nobody works with outdated information.
This digital-first approach to overseas allowance planning is part of ongoing work to modernise and maximise use of technology, to simplify processes and improve Service life and efficiency. By automating complex calculations, the tool removes the need for time-consuming paperwork and manual calculations, reducing the risk of errors that could affect a person’s finances.
Alongside the individual, Unit HR teams also gain from this digital solution, as it dramatically reduces the time spent manually calculating and explaining allowance entitlements – offering accessible self-service information, without having to depend on HR staff availability. That provides extra capacity for HR teams to redirect their time and expertise to more complex value-added support activities for Service personnel.
Accessible anywhere
Whether you're at work, at home, or discussing options with your family, you can access the Overseas Allowances Reckoner whenever you need it.
Available via defnet and Defence Connect, the OAR can be easily accessed by Service personnel and HR teams, regardless of location.
While the Reckoner is designed to be simple to use, if you have questions specific to your situation that go beyond what the tool provides, our Unit HR team or J1 staff are still available to help with more complex queries.
Find out more
- Overseas Allowances Reckoner DIN (on defnet and Defence Connect)
- JSP 752 – Tri-service regulations for expenses and allowances
- Your Offer provides a range of allowances, benefits, and opportunities to support the unique demands of Service life – for you and your family. Visit Discover My Benefits to see what’s included.
