Guidance

Armed forces pensions

Information related to the Armed Forces Pension Schemes.

Published 12 December 2012
Last updated 14 August 2019 — see all updates
From:
Ministry of Defence, Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees, and Veterans UK

A world class pension scheme for your military service

When a member of the armed forces reaches their retirement age, they receive one of the most generous pension available in the UK. This fairly reflects the unique sacrifice they have provided their country throughout their career.

All members of the armed forces are automatically enrolled into the Armed Forces Pension Scheme. Unlike all other public schemes, members pay 0% in contributions each month. The scheme is unfunded and paid from the public purse.

2015 scheme

Guidance relating to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2015.

2005 scheme

Guidance and documents relating to Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2005.

1975 scheme

Guidance and documents relating to the Armed Forces Pension scheme 1975.

Reserve service pension schemes

Guidance and documents relating to the reserve schemes.

Legislation

Legislation related to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme.

Gurkha Pension Scheme

Guidance and documents relating to the Gurkha pension scheme.

Family Pension and ill-health benefit

Guidance and documents relating to family pension benefits and ill-health benefits.

Divorce

Pension sharing rules of the Armed Forces Pension schemes and Reserve Forces Pension schemes.

Taxation

Guidance and documents based on the Armed Forces Pension Scheme about the annual allowance and life time allowance and the changes that were announced in the 2013 budget to restrict pension tax relief.

Re-employment

Guidance and documents relating to re-employment.

Transfers in and out of the schemes

If you have built up pension benefits elsewhere before joining the armed forces you have the option to transfer in the value of your other benefits to receive a service credit in your Armed Forces Pension Scheme.

Before you apply to DBS Veterans UK for a transfer in, you need to obtain details of the amount of your transfer value from your previous pension scheme, and then an estimate from DBS Veterans UK of the additional pension that this will buy. If you decide to go ahead with the transfer, you should make your application to DBS Veterans UK in writing.

You must be serving in the armed forces to be eligible to transfer in and once you have committed yourself to a transfer from your previous pension scheme, you cannot change your mind and you will have given up forever your rights and those of your dependants under the previous schemes.

Transfers into AFPS 15 must be completed within one year of joining the scheme. For members who remain solely in AFPS 75 and AFPS 05 who may still make transfers in from a non-public service scheme. AFSP 75 the transfer in must be made before your 54 birthday and in AFPS 05 the transfer in must be made before the beginning of your final year of service before your pension is due.

If you leave without receiving immediate pension benefits (including leaving with an Early Departure Payment (EDP) under AFPS 15 or AFPS 05) you have the option to transfer the value of your deferred pension benefits to other defined benefit schemes. A pension in payment cannot be transferred.

However, the government has prevented transfers from unfunded public service defined benefit schemes (such as the AFPS to funded defined contribution schemes in UK or abroad. The Pension Schemes Act 2015 and the Taxation of Pensions Act 2014 made this rule. Application for pension transfers should be made to:

DBS Veterans UK Pensions Division
Mail Point 480
Kentigern House
65 Brown Street
Glasgow
G2 8EX

Resettlement Grant

Resettlement Grants assist those leaving the regular armed forces to resettle into civilian life after completing a substantial period of service. A Resettlement Grant is not a pension.

It is a tax-free lump sum paid to regular service personnel, who, at the time they leave the services, are not eligible for Early Departure Payment benefits, an Immediate Pension or ill health award (or any other immediate pension benefits) and they meet Resettlement Grant qualification criteria, which are:

  • AFPS 2015 and AFPS 2005: all personnel need to have 12 years’ relevant service (from date of entry)

  • AFPS 1975: Officers to have at least 2 years’ Commissioned service and have 9 relevant years of reckonable service from age 21

  • AFPS 1975: other ranks to have 12 relevant years of reckonable service from age 18.

The value of the Resettlement Grant, effective from 1 April 2018 is:

  • AFPS 2005 and AFPS 2015: £11,101
  • AFPS 1975 for Officers £15,813 and other ranks £10,808

The Resettlement Grant is increased each year at the same rate as armed forces pensionable pay.

Only 1 resettlement grant is awarded, for those who have service in more than one scheme. If personnel are re-employed after leaving they may have to re-pay some or all of the grant. See the re-employment booklet for more details.

Armed Forces Pension Calculator

The Armed Forces Pension Calculator (AFPC) includes a projection of benefits from the Armed Forces Pension Schemes.

Governance Armed Forces Pension Board

The Pension Board is responsible for assisting the Secretary of State for Defence, as Scheme Manager, in ensuring compliance with the scheme regulations and other legislation relating to the governance and administration of the scheme and any statutory pension scheme that is connected with it.

Veterans UK forms

If you have been advised that you need to complete a form or view a detailed pension scheme guide, you can find these on the Veterans UK pensions forms page.

Contact details

You can use the contact detail below for help and information on your armed forces pension:

Armed forces pensions enquiries

Joint Personnel Administration Centre (JPAC)
Mail Point 480
Kentigern House
65 Brown Street
Glasgow
G2 8EX

Email dbs-pensionshelp@dbspv.mod.uk

Published 12 December 2012
Last updated 14 August 2019 + show all updates
  1. Updated the text to reflect the most important information about Armed Forces Pension schemes.
  2. Included email address
  3. New link added to the forms section
  4. Guidance re-written to help service personnel and veterans find out about their pensions. There has not been any changes to the available pension schemes.
  5. CICO form replaced with the latest version
  6. Added contact details for the Equiniti Paymaster (EP) Communications Centre (for armed forces pension payments queries).
  7. CICO claim form replaced with latest edition
  8. Added information about AFPS 15.
  9. Updated contact details.
  10. Updated the JPAC enquiry Centre information.
  11. Added information about Gurkha Ex-Far East Prisoners of War Scheme.
  12. Added information about the Far Eastern Prisoners of War Ex-Gratia Scheme
  13. Updated the Criminal injuries compensation (overseas) scheme.
  14. Updated text adding section "Changes from April 2015 affecting transfer out. Updated Service deferred pensions section.
  15. Updated 'Service preserved pensions' section.
  16. Replaced list of links for Pension codes to one link to Pension code page. Removed MMP 123 booklet.
  17. Updated AFPS 15 information and added new video.
  18. Added updated CIC(O) claim form.
  19. Updated current contact details and information to reflect organisational changes.
  20. Added contact information regarding AFPS 15 enquiries.
  21. Added paragraph on "Stakeholder Pensions".
  22. Armed forces compensation content removed and published separately on a new page.
  23. Updated the AFPS 2015 section
  24. Updated with information on the Armed Forces Pension Scheme. Added video and transcript
  25. Added information about legislation for the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
  26. Removed commeration information and added link to Support for Veterans page.
  27. Updated AFIP information
  28. New version of CICO claim form
  29. First published.
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