Longer Separation Allowance

What LSA is

Longer Separation Allowance compensates for separation over and above what’s already built into the X-Factor in your pay. Its purpose is retention: it targets the people who spend the most time away, by paying more per day the more separation you’ve built up across your career.

Unlike most allowances here, LSA is taxable. Income tax and National Insurance come off automatically through your pay.

Who can claim

Personnel of any personal status category can qualify under one of three types of separation:

• Involuntary separation (INVOLSEP) — duty keeps you from your duty station or family home. Paid from the first day of qualifying separation.
• “On the road” posts — authorised posts with frequent absences of 4 to 6 days, totalling at least 55 days in each six-month period. Paid at Level 1.
• Voluntary separation (VOLSEP) — you take a permanent overseas assignment unaccompanied while your recognised partner keeps the family home in the UK. Paid at Level 1 from day one, for the whole assignment.

Typical qualifying separation includes temporary duty of 7 consecutive days or more where you can’t spend at least 24 hours at your duty station or home at a weekend, time embarked at sea, and 7 days or more in hospital. Under field conditions, separation of 24 hours or more counts from day one.

Single and unaccompanied personnel permanently assigned for more than six months to Ascension Island, Belize, Diego Garcia or the Falkland Islands can claim from day one of the assignment.

Reservists serving on FTRS or ADC terms are eligible in line with Regulars. For new non-commissioned entrants, qualifying separation starts building after 26 weeks’ service or completion of Phase 2 training; for officers, after initial officer training.

When you can’t claim

• When you’re receiving Get You Home (Travel) for the same period.
• When serving unaccompanied on an INVOLSEP tour in MOD London or PJHQ Northwood — unless you go on qualifying temporary duty elsewhere.
• For time away for sport or organised recreational activities.

Levels and rates

Everyone starts at Level 1 for their first 280 days of qualifying separation. Each further 180 days moves you up a level until Level 13, after which the steps become 360 days. Your level follows you through your career.

Rates rose 3.6% on 1 April 2026 in line with the Armed Forces Pay Review Body’s recommendation for compensatory allowances. Voluntary separation and on-the-road posts are always paid at Level 1.

On extended operational tours of nine months or more, your separated days get an extra uplift at the 9-month point and every three months after.

Worked examples

What counts as qualifying separation

Your LSA level is driven by your total days of qualifying separation (QS). Common examples:

• Temporary duty of 7 consecutive days or more, where the nature or location of the duty means you can’t spend at least 24 hours at your duty station or home over a weekend.
• Field conditions lasting 24 hours or more — counted from day one.
• Time at sea in the circumstances listed in JSP 752.
• Hospital admission of 7 consecutive days or more.

Your days are recorded on JPA. It’s worth checking your total from time to time — it decides your rate for the rest of your career.

Service couples and Gurkhas

If you and your partner are both serving and posted on permanent assignments in different countries (the UK counts as one country), the partner nominated as serving away from the family home is treated as involuntarily separated.

Married Gurkhas serving unaccompanied in their first three years of service are automatically treated as involuntarily separated for LSA purposes.

When LSA stops

On involuntary separation terms, LSA stops from the first day of:

• Leave — including annual leave, seagoers’ leave, bank holidays and normal stand-down such as weekends — when you’re able to get back to your duty station or home.
• Rest and Recuperation spent at home or your permanent duty station. R&R taken locally in theatre, without your family joining you, doesn’t affect it.
• Any absence from the location LSA is being paid for, which triggers a reassessment.
• Any period without pay, and terminal leave.

Voluntary separation Level 1 stops if your partner visits for more than 28 days in any 61-day period, among other changes.

How it’s paid

Unit HR records your separation on JPA and LSA is paid monthly in arrears with your salary, with tax and NI deducted. Check JPA regularly to make sure your separated days are being recorded — they decide your level for the rest of your career. If you re-join the Services, earlier qualifying separation can count again.