Unpleasant Work Allowance

What’s it for?

From time to time, your Service duties may require you to work in unpleasant conditions beyond those already compensated for by the X-Factor. For example, the work may cause you a great deal of discomfort or fatigue, or you may be exposed to noxious substances.

You may also need to take part in activities which fall outside of your normal military duties and are considered to be of an objectionable or harrowing nature.

The local Commander (or a Commander at the appropriate level as listed in JSP 752) will decide when the allowance should be authorised and at what level the allowance should be paid. For full details of what constitutes unpleasant work, see JSP 752, chapter 16, section 1.

What do I get?

UWA is paid as a daily rate. The amount of money you receive depends on the level of hardship you face, and the duration of the task undertaken. There are three levels of UWA and the rates from 1 April 24 are:

• Level one: £3.34 per day

• Level two: £8.11 per day

• Level three: £23.98 per day

How do I claim?

This will be processed by your Unit HR/Personnel Office, once it has been authorised by your local Commander.  

At the end of each month you will then need to fill in the form at Annex A to JSP 752 chapter 16, section 1, showing how many hours you undertook work that qualified for UWA, and submit it to your unit HR admin staff.