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<p>Accelerated Incremental Progression (AIP) allows a Service person an immediate
progression in their pay level as a result of a work-related course or a qualification.
Each individual can qualify and claim for two AIPs during their career, at a point
of their choosing.</p><p> </p><p>Our Service personnel do a difficult job and it is
important they receive accurate pay for the hard work they do. While the majority
of awards are made correctly, misinterpretation of the published qualifying criteria
for AIP has resulted in some individuals receiving an incorrect award. Unfortunately,
payment errors occur occasionally. We obviously regret such occurrences. It is right
that we correct identified errors and ask for repayment of monies wrongly received.
Allowing individuals to keep money that they are not entitled to would be unfair to
both taxpayers and other Service personnel who did not receive this payment. It would
also be inconsistent with HM Treasury instructions on the management of public money.</p><p>
</p><p>If an individual overpayment to a Service person is equal to or less than four
days’ gross pay then the full sum is recovered, without notification, from the next
monthly salary payment. For overpayments greater than four days’ gross pay, a notification
is made on the next available monthly payslip that a debt has been incurred. Recovery
action is then scheduled after two subsequent pay periods, and any overpayments recovered
are made at no more than four days’ gross pay per month.</p><p> </p><p>Service personnel
who wish to challenge the reason for any recovery of an overpayment may submit a case
through their Chain of Command to Defence Business Services. In addition, processes
are in place for Service personnel: to agree to pay back any overpayment over a shorter
period; to make a formal objection against recovery on hardship or other grounds and;
to argue that the debt be written off or repaid over a longer period. All recoveries
are postponed while casework or objections are being considered.</p><p> </p><p>Errors
in the payment of AIP are dealt with in the same way as any other payment error -
the account is corrected and any overpayment recovered. The calculation of money owed
is simply the difference between what has been paid and what should have been paid
had the error not occurred. AIP does not occur at a particular rate or have a defined
cash value.</p><p> </p><p>Courses and qualifications which are eligible for AIP payments
are listed in Joint Service Publication (JSP) 754 (Tri-Service Regulations for Pay
and Charges), which is updated biannually as required to meet Service manning requirements.
The single Services are responsible for decisions on which courses or qualifications
should qualify for AIP payments. It is not possible to quantify the number of people
who may have erroneously applied for AIP payments on the basis of the criteria relevant
to any particular edition of this JSP. Overpayments can occur for a number of reasons
which do not necessarily arise from changes to eligibility criteria set out in JSP
754, although erroneous claims for courses which are no longer eligible can be a factor.</p><p>
</p><p>Information about the number of Service personnel who have repaid money as
a result of AIP payment errors since 2010 could be provided only at disproportionate
cost. However, our records indicate that 488 Army personnel who received erroneous
AIP payments have repaid or are making repayments and 423 Royal Navy personnel who
received an overpayment through the misapplication of Qualification Points have repaid
or are making repayments. Additionally, approximately 1,500 Royal Air Force (RAF)
personnel have been identified as having received erroneous AIP payments, which are
required to be repaid; this represents 15% of all RAF AIP payments made.</p><p> </p><p>The
total that has been overpaid and which is being paid back is in the region of £3.1
million. Each Service person or ex-Service person is required to repay the amount
owed. As described above, each case may be subject to challenges and objections. The
average amount to be repaid per person is in the region of £1,285 and the date by
which payment must be paid varies according to the specific circumstances of each
case.</p>
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