We’ve made a number of improvements to elements of the Monthly Data Collection process. These include an enhancement within MDC submissions, developments relating to split service at 5 April and the guidance on submitting address information for British Forces members.

Forename and surname match

Submissions weren’t previously accepted when a member’s forename and surname matched however, enhancements have now been put into the MDC process whereby if you’ve a member who has a forename and surname that match these will now be accepted.

Split service at 5 April

The MDC and TR28 templates have been enhanced to ensure you can’t submit a service line that spans 5 April for the year 2017 and all years subsequently. For example:-

• If the service line spans 6/4/2017 or 6 April in the years following 2017, it won’t allow you to submit service. The template will highlight those dates in red
• If the service line spans 6/4/2016 or any 6 April prior to 2016, the templates will allow you to submit service.

If an incorrect template has been used for the service period, a notification will be issued to you. The correct template must then be used and the data re-submitted.

British Forces Post Office (BFPO) Guidance – MDC template

Wording has been included on the MDC template to confirm the process for submitting address information for British Forces members. The wording included will say:-

"If the member’s address details are for a Ministry of Defence BFPO address, please use the fields Address Lines 1 to 5 on the Monthly Service Return file to enter the BFPO address in the format outlined on the GOV.UK website, inclusive of the BFPO number. Please then ensure you enter ‘OVSA’ in the postcode field. Please note: Any commas within the address should be removed and replaced with a space."