This information applies to England, Wales and Scotland
This information applies to:
There are a number of different pension schemes available to the Armed Forces, veterans and their families.
You can use this information to find out about the schemes available to you, depending on your situation. You can also use this information to find out about other organisations that might be able to help you.
Pension schemes are schemes that provide payments to you after you have left the Armed Forces or when you retire at 65 years old.
Compensation schemes are schemes that will help you if you are injured while serving. They will also help you if you are a dependant of a member of the Armed Forces who died in service.
For more information about compensation schemes, see If you were forced to leave the Armed Forces because of serious injury.
The schemes you may be able to use depend on:
These are the schemes that you may be able to use:
Whether or not any of these schemes apply to you will depend on your circumstances.
If you joined the Armed Forces between 1975 and 5 April 2005 you will be a member of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 (AFPS 75).
This is a work-related scheme that began in 1975.
Under this scheme, your pension is payable to you when you are 60. The amount of your pension will depend on your rank and length of service.
This pension does not affect your state pension. You are entitled to start receiving the state pension at retirement age. This is currently 65 for men and 60 for women but will be different from 6 April 2010. This is because the age difference between men and women is gradually being equalised and the retirement age for both men and women is gradually being increased.
You can use the Armed Forces pension calculator to give you a forecast of benefits that you will receive. Go to the Armed Forces Pensions Calculator website and answer the series of questions.
You can find more information about the AFPS 75 on the Ministry of Defence website, at: www.mod.uk.
You can also get help and advice from the Royal British Legion. Their contact details are:
Legionline: 08457 725 725 (open Monday-Friday 10.00am-4.00pm).
Email: through the website at: www.britishlegion.org.uk.
If you joined the Armed Forces from 6 April 2005 onwards you will be a member of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2005 (AFPS 05).
The AFPS 05 is a work-related scheme that began on 6 April 2005. It replaced the previous scheme AFPS 75. Anyone who joined the Armed Forces since this date is on the scheme. Some people who were on the previous scheme (AFPS 75) have also chosen to join the AFPS 05.
Under the AFPS 05 scheme, your pension is payable to you when you are 60. The amount of your pension will depend on your length of service and final salary.
This pension does not affect your state pension. You are entitled to start receiving the state pension at retirement age. This is currently 65 for men and 60 for women, but will be different from 6 April 2010. This is because the age difference between men and women is gradually being equalised and the retirement age for both men and women is gradually being increased.
You can use the Armed Forces pension calculator to give you a forecast of benefits that you will receive. Go to the Armed Forces Pensions Calculator website and answer the series of questions.
You can find more information about the AFPS 05 on the Ministry of Defence website, at: www.mod.uk.
You can also get help and advice from the Royal British Legion. Their contact details are:
Legionline: 08457 725 725 (open Monday-Friday 10.00am-4.00pm).
Email: through the website at: www.britishlegion.org.uk.
If you have started or restarted full time service in the reserve forces from 6 April 2005 onwards, you will be a member of the Reserve Forces Pension Scheme (RFPS 05).
You will qualify for this scheme if you have served in one of these forces:
To find out more, go to the Supporting Britain's Reservists and Employers (SaBRE) website at: www.sabre.mod.uk.
You can also get help and advice from the Royal British Legion. Their contact details are:
Legionline: 08457 725 725 (open Monday-Friday 10.00am-4.00pm).
Email: through the website at: www.britishlegion.org.uk.
If your husband, wife or civil partner died as a result of serving in the Armed Forces, you may get a War Widow’s or War Widower's pension.
This is based on your husband, wife or civil partner's pay.
For more information, contact the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency. You can find their contact details in the Further help section.
For more information on benefits when someone has died, see Benefits and Bereavement.
If you have health problems because of being in the Armed Forces, you may be entitled to payments under the war pension scheme or the Armed Forces compensation scheme.
For more information about the war pension scheme and the Armed Forces compensation scheme, see If you were forced to leave the Armed Forces because of serious injury.
For more education information, see Help with training and qualifications for people leaving the Armed Forces and veterans.
For more financial information, see Benefits and concessions for the Armed Forces, veterans and their families.
For more health information, see Healthcare for people injured in the Armed Forces and veterans.
For more housing information, see Housing options for people leaving the Armed Forces, veterans and their families.
For more general information on pensions, see Pensions.
The Royal British Legion can give advice on pensions and help with making your claim.
You can find out more information about the advice the Royal British Legion can offer on their website at: www.britishlegion.org.uk.
For information about War Disablement Pensions and War Widow or Widower's Pension contact the Pensions and Benefits Department:
Pensions and Benefits Department
The Royal British Legion
Haig House
199 Borough High Street
London
SE1 1AA
Telephone: 020 3207 2164 or 020 3207 2168 or 020 3207 2169
Fax: 020 3207 2218
Email: through the website at www.britishlegion.org.uk.
For information about compensation claims contact the Pensions and Disability Department:
Pensions and Disability Department
The Royal British Legion
Haig House
199 Borough High Street
London
SE1 1AA
Telephone: 020 3207 2163
Fax: 020 3207 2218
Email: through the website at www.britishlegion.org.uk.
The Royal British Legion Scotland can give help and advice on Armed Forces pensions in Scotland.
For more information you can contact them at:
Royal British Legion Scotland
New Haig House
Logie Green Road
Edinburgh
EH7 4HR
Telephone: 0131 557 2782
Fax: 0131 557 5819
Email: lao@rblscotland.org
Website: www.rblscotland.org.
The Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) give advice on Armed Forces pensions and deal with claims for war pensions and compensation.
For more information you can contact them at:
Service Personnel and Veterans Agency
Room 8102
Norcross
Thornton-Cleveleys
Lancashire
FY5 3WP
Telephone: 0800 169 2277
Textphone: 0800 169 3458
Email: veterans.help@spva.gsi.gov.uk
Website: www.veterans-uk.info.
The SPVA have produced a Knowledge Map. You can use this to find details of other organisations in your area that may be able to help you.
You can search for organisations that help with:
You can find the Knowledge Map online at: www.veterans-uk.info.
Or you can call the SPVA helpline on 0800 169 22 77.
The Forces Pension Society can give advice about Armed Forces pensions.
You can find out more information by contacting them at:
The Forces Pension Society
68 South Lambeth Road
London
SW8 1RL
Telephone: 020 7820 9988
Fax: 020 7820 7583
Email: memsec@forpen.co.uk
Website: www.forpen.org.
Supporting Britain's Reservists and Employers (SaBRE) gives support and advice to reservists and their employers on all matters including pensions.
You can find out more by contacting them at:
SaBRE
Holderness House
Clifton Street
London
EC2A 4EY
Helpline: 0800 389 5459
Fax: 020 7426 8390
Email: through their website at www.sabre.mod.uk.
Website: www.sabre.mod.uk.
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