Payment of Sea Duty Allowance

Topic

Payment of Sea Duty Allowance 

Case number

• 2020-150 (F&R date: 2020-09-30)

Description

Changes to article 10.3.08 of the Compensation and Benefits Instructions for the Canadian Forces (CBI), which prohibited the receipt of Hardship Allowance (HA) and Sea Duty Allowance (SDA) simultaneously, did not come into effect until 1 August 2019. The previous version of the CBI did not prohibit the granting of SDA and HA simultaneously.

Her Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Halifax was deployed on Operation (Op) REASSURANCE from 17 July 2019 to 19 January 2020. While there was no entitlement for members to receive SDA after 1 August 2019, as they were in receipt of HA, for the period of 17 to 31 July 2019, all members of the ship's company should have received SDA in addition to HA in accordance with the previous version of CBI 10.3.08. During the review of a grievance, the Committee noted that evidence on the file indicated that SDA had been ceased for all members of HMCS Halifax on 16 July 2019.

Recommendation

The Committee recommended that the Final Authority direct the Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy to ensure that all members serving aboard HMCS Halifax and deployed on Op REASSURANCE be paid SDA for the period of 17 to 31 July 2019.