What you need to know
Special Messing Allowance (SMA) is for servicemen and women 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 important that you have read and understood JSP 752 Tri-Service Regulations for Expenses and Allowances (chapter 5, section 6) before proceeding.
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.
SMA is available to all Regular Service personnel including Military Provost Guard Service, Full Time Reserve Service (Full or Limited Commitment) personnel on detachment, and all mobilised Reserve personnel.
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 also be found on the Allowances team Defnet page, or you can speak to your Unit HR Admin or Personnel Office.
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 Incidentals Allowance
- Reclaim the Daily Food Charge
- Subsistence Allowance
- Meals Out Expenses
- Living Out Supplemented Rates of Local Overseas Allowance
What you need to do
You do not need to take any action, this will be processed automatically by your Unit HR Admin or Personnel Office.
