FAQs
What is the review and do I have to complete it?
As an ADF member receiving Rent Allowance (RA) you are required to participate in the annual RA review (please refer to PACMAN 7.8.38).
This review checks your personal circumstances and confirms you are getting the amount of RA that you are eligible for.The review consists of eight questions, where you need to upload a current rent receipt/tenant payment history. This must include:
- Address of the rental property
- Amount and period of rent payment
- Name of the agent or owner to whom the rent is paid.
Note: If renting privately, a signed written statement from the owner/landlord must contain all details outlined above for a receipt.
If you have difficulty and cannot load your documents email them to housing@dha.gov.au
How long does the review take?
The review consists of eight questions and takes only a few minutes to submit. Your submission is required by 6 April 2017 to ensure your RA eligibility continues.
DHA will notify you when the review of your submission has been completed, this can take up to 12 weeks.
Is everyone reviewed?
Members who occupied their RA property after 1 November 2016 and those who are vacating up to 2 weeks after the review commences, are exempt from the current year’s review. All other members are reviewed.
I’m deployed, seagoing or out field, can I delay my review?
If you know you will be away at the time of the review, contact DHA to complete it before you depart.
If you do not have access to the internet, your RA Review due date can be extended until you return – please let us know of your return date via housing@dha.gov.au
I’m away on leave and don’t have access to the DRN
The RA Review can be completed wherever you are if you have internet access.
Can someone complete my review for me?
You can authorise another person to be your delegate to complete all actions on your behalf in Online Services, including the RA review. Login to Online Services to nominate a delegate.
What happens after I submit my review and current rent receipt?
If you have had no changes to your circumstances, you do not need to do anything further. Please allow up to 12 weeks for your review to be processed, you will receive an email once this is complete.
What if I have noted changes on my Review?
It’s common for members to advise changes to their categorisation, rent and sharing arrangements. Your dashboard in Online Services will indicate if you need to provide any further documentation to support the change. Once those documents have been received, we will assess your rent allowance and if the amount of your allowance changes, we will let you know.
Typically, a change to your categorisation, the purchase of a home, a move to another location or a change to sharing arrangements may result in a change to your allowance amount or eligibility. You can use the RA calculator to estimate your new RA amount.
My rent amount has changed. What do I provide?
If you have indicated a change to your rent amount, you must provide a receipt or tenant ledger showing the new amount. You also need to provide a copy of your new lease with the new amount or provide a letter from the landlord or real estate agent advising of the rent increase and the date it commenced.
Does changing the number of people I am sharing with change my RA?
Your RA is calculated based on your rank, how much rent you pay, the RA ceiling applicable to where you live and if you are sharing. When the sharing arrangements change it is likely to affect your RA, we will reassess your RA taking into account this change and let you know what your new RA amount will be.
If you are sharing with other Defence members at the time your sharing arrangements change, they also need to advise DHA of the changes to adjust their RA.
What happens when my categorisation has changed?
When your categorisation changes, we will reassess your RA to ensure you are receiving the correct amount of RA. You will be prompted to provide your categorisation form in Online Services. Your new RA amount begins on the effective date of your categorisation change.
You can use the RA Calculator to quickly and easily estimate what your new RA amount will be.
If you are changing categorisation to MWD, we may have available Service Residences in your area. Simply email us at housing@dha.gov.au to request access to start viewing available properties.
If you are changing categorisation to MWOD or MWD(U), log into Online Services to view available Member Choice Accommodation in your area.
How do I amend my submission if I made a mistake?
To update your submission send an email stating the changes to housing@dha.gov.au
My RA was suspended; how do I restart it?
RA may be suspended when a submission is not completed by the due date. If this occurs contact DHA on 139 DHA or housing@dha.gov.au to complete your submission and restart your RA.
Where RA eligibility continues to exist, the suspension will be cancelled and the RA recommenced back dated to the date is was suspended.
I have bought a home. How is my RA affected?
The effect on your RA depends if you have occupied the home or not, and if it is a suitable home in accordance with PACMAN Chapter 7 Part 2.
We will contact you to discuss your eligibility for RA if you have indicated in the RA Review that you have a home in your posting locality.
Continued RA eligibility exists for up to 1 week after settlement of a home that is determined to be a suitable home as outlined in PACMAN. If DHA determine the home is not suitable there is no change to RA eligibility.
To determine a home’s suitability, we will need some information about the home such as its address to determine if it is in your posting locality or not and how many bedrooms it has to see if it can accommodate your family amongst other things. We will send you an email outlining all the information that you need to provide.
Once we receive the information from you, we will assess the property against the considerations in PACMAN Chapter 7 Part 2 and advise you of the outcome.
I am thinking of buying a home. How is my RA affected?
It’s a great idea to contact DHA when you are thinking of buying a home because your rent allowance may be affected. The effect on your RA will depend if your home is suitable or not in accordance with PACMAN.
To determine this, we will need some information about the home such as its address to determine if it is in your posting locality or not and how many bedrooms it has to see if it can accommodate your family amongst other things. We will send you an email outlining the exact information that you need to provide.
Once we receive the information from you, we will assess the property against the considerations in PACMAN Chapter 7 Part 2 and advise you how the purchase might affect your RA eligibility.
If you are thinking of purchasing a home, email housing@dha.gov.au and request an Own Home assessment on a potential home purchase.