Applications for Scheme Membership

To join the ELC scheme you must complete and submit an application form either in your first twelve months from enlistment or in the window between eight and eight and a half years from enlistment. Applications are not permitted at any other time. Application forms must arrive with ELCAS within one calendar month of the end of your chosen registration window.

Personnel with interrupted Service must complete and submit a non-continuous service form with their registration. This may include time spent as Full Time Reserve Service personnel and Non Regular Permanent Staff.

Accumulating Eligible Service

ELCs are available in two tiers: You must accumulate four years of eligible service to claim the Lower Tier (80% of the fees, up to a maximum of £1,000 per claim instalment) and eight years eligible service to claim the Upper Tier (80% of the fees, up to a maximum of £2,000 per claim instalment). Each eligible claimant may make a total of 3 claims. These may include claims in both the lower and upper tier but not exceed 3 claims in total. Only one claim may be made for learning activities commencing in any one financial year.

Only service accumulated since 1st April 2000 may be counted as eligible service for the purposes of the ELC scheme. It is worth noting that eligible service must be completed before a claim can be made, i.e the claim form must be signed after the service is completed. For those registering to join the Scheme in the six month window between the eight and eight and a half year point, eligible service will only be accumulated from the eight year point (i.e you must complete 12 years Service before being able to claim at the Lower Tier (up to £1,000 per claim instalment)).