Relocation Guidance

Over the past two years Health Education England (HEE) has reviewed its existing relocation policies (across HEE) to develop a single overarching policy, which was approved with the BMA following an Equality Impact Assessment. The implementation of the new arrangements in this framework commenced on 1 November 2020, for trainees who started new training programmes from August 2020 onwards.

To apply for relocation expenses, you will need to download and complete the Relocation eligibility form and send through to Medical resourcing for review. Relocation eligibility forms can be found by clicking the link below:
https://london.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training/trainee-resources/relocation-and-excess-travel-claims

New HEE Reclocation Framework

HEE are pleased to announce that from 1st April 2021, the new relocation framework will now apply to all Doctors & Dentists in Training and Public Health Trainees. Existing local guidance for trainees in ongoing training programmes will cease on that day.

Ongoing claims from March to April 2021 and any costs incurred up until 31st March 2021 will be processed following the previous applicable Relocation guidance (i.e. new national framework from trainees who started a new programme in or after August 2020 and local London & KSS guidance for other trainees), whilst all costs incurred from 1st April 2021 will be processed following the new national framework. It is anticipated that it will mostly be season ticket holders affected by this change – when submitting these claims, please establish the date that the expense was originally incurred in order to determine which Relocation guidance document to use.

The new allowance per trainee is now £10,000, therefore some trainees who have exhausted their previous £8000 allowance will now have access to additional funds. Please note, this will be for new eligible expenses incurred from 1st April 2021 onwards. No retrospective or previously-rejected claims will be approved using this additional funds.

Guidance documents including new template eligibility and claim forms, can also be downloaded here: https://london.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training/trainee-resources/relocation-and-excess-travel-claims

Employers remain responsible for implementing the new policy and administering claims made by trainees before recharging the local HEE office. Trainees should continue to apply for relocation/excess mileage expenses using the existing, well-established local processes. All applications will continue to be assessed for eligibility by the Trust and any approved reimbursement will be paid via the employer’s monthly payroll. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure Trainee eligibility. Within the template eligibility form, trainees are asked to confirm previous claims history on submission of any future claims: it is the trainee’s responsibility to confirm that they have not exceeded their maximum allowance.

If you have any questions, please use the following query form on the PGMDE Support Portal to contact the Relocation team: https://lasepgmdesupport.hee.nhs.uk/support/tickets/new?form_24=true.