Armed forces pensions
Information related to the Armed Forces Pension Schemes.
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 pensions 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.
- The Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2015: Your Pension Scheme Explained
- Actuarial valuation of the Armed Forces Pension Schemes 2016
- JSP 905 Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2015 and Early Departure Payments 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.
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Pension Codes: the amounts of service retired pay and pensions, service invaliding retired pay and pensions, service attributable retired pay and pensions, gratuities and resettlement grants are shown in the pension code. The pension code is revised annually.
Reserve service pension schemes
Guidance and documents relating to the reserve schemes.
Legislation
Legislation related to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme.
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Reserve Forces Pension Scheme 2005: regulations and guidance
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Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2005 Order: Statutory Instrument 2005/438
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The Armed Forces Early Departure Payments Scheme Order 2005: Statutory Instrument 2005/437
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Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2006 Order: Statutory Instrument 2006/717
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The Armed Forces Pension Scheme etc. (Amendment) Order 2009: Statutory Instrument 2009/544
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The Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2005 (Amendment) Order 2011: Statutory Instrument 2011/1364
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The Armed Forces (Transitional Provisions) Pensions Regulations 2015: Statutory Instrument 2014/2958
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The Armed Forces (Transitional Provisions) Pensions Regulations 2015: Statutory Instrument 2015/568
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The Armed Forces Pension 2015 Regulations Statutory Instrument Order 2014
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The Armed Forces Early Departure Payments Scheme Regulations 2014
The Victoria Cross and George Cross
Gurkha Pension Scheme
Guidance and documents relating to the Gurkha pension scheme.
Gurkha Pension Manual
Family Pension and ill-health benefit
Guidance and documents relating to family pension benefits and ill-health benefits.
Children’s pensions/allowances
Guidance and documents relating to children’s pensions and allowances.
Divorce
Pension sharing rules of the Armed Forces Pension schemes and Reserve Forces Pension schemes.
Taxation
- Step by step guide for AFPS Annual Allowance notification letter for tax year 2021/2022
- Check if you have an annual allowance tax charge on your pension savings
Please also note that a new pension tax site has been launched through the MOD’s intranet site that provides further guidance and other useful information.
2015 Remedy update
- Consultation 6 March 2023 to 29 May 2023 - ‘Armed Forces Pension Scheme: Retrospective Remedy’
- Armed Forces Pension Scheme: Future pension provision from 1 April 2022
Armed Forces Payment Scheme - Adjustments to Pensions Due to Guaranteed Minimum Payment - December 2021
Guidance relating to adjustments to pensions
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:
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AFPS 2015 and AFPS 2005: all personnel need to have 12 years’ relevant service (from date of entry)
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AFPS 1975: Officers to have at least 2 years’ Commissioned service and have 9 relevant years of reckonable service from age 21
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AFPS 1975: other ranks to have 12 relevant years of reckonable service from age 18.
The value of the Resettlement Grant is:
- AFPS 2005 and AFPS 2015: £12,088
- AFPS 1975 - please see the latest tri-service codes, published each year on gov.uk.
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.
Armed forces pension schemes consolidated factors list
The purpose of these tables is to set out in one place for convenience the actuarial factors provided by the Government Actuary’s Department (GAD) to the MOD from time to time in respect of Armed Forces Pension Schemes.
Gibraltar Pension Scheme
AFPS customer journey maps
Diagrams with guidance to help customers with the AFPS.
These journey maps illustrate the flow of various processes within the scheme, such as Early Payment of Preserved Pension (EPPP) and Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure (IDRP), so that customers can see the end-to-end process regarding their Armed Forces Pension.
Contact us
You can use the contact details below for help 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
Phone: 0800 085 3600
Phone (from overseas): 0044 141 224 3600
Phone (military): 94560 3600
Last updated
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Added information under the 'Taxation' heading.
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Updated 'Pension Taxation Booklet'.
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Updated 'Armed forces factor summary'.
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Updated 'Armed Forces and Reserve Pension Schemes (re-employment)'.
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Updated information under 'Resettlement Grant' heading.
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Updated information under 'Resettlement Grant' heading.
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Added: 'Retrospective Remedy FAQs' under subheading '2015 Remedy update'.
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Added: AFPS customer journey maps.
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Addition of link to 'Armed Forces Pension Scheme: Retrospective Remedy' consultation under '2015 Remedy update'.
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Updated and included attachements
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Added section Children’s pensions/allowances and accompanying document Children’s Pensions & Allowances.
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Added a link to Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 (JSP 854).
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Updated Pension Taxation Booklet attachment.
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Updated the Pension Taxation Booklet.
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Edited link under 'Taxation' to most recent guidance.
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Removed outdated section on 'Pension taxation seminars and one-to-one sessions for the Armed Forces'
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Addition of new section, 'Gibraltar Pension Scheme'.
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Addition of: Pension taxation seminars and one-to-one sessions for the Armed Forces.
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Update of guidance - adjustments to pensions due to guaranteed minimum payment - December 2021
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Addition of news story under subheading 'The Victoria Cross and George Cross'.
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Addition of link to 'Armed Forces Pension Scheme: Future pension provision from 1 April 2022' under the heading 'McCloud update'.
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Addition of: The Armed Forces Early Departure Payments Scheme Regulations 2014 to the legislation list.
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Document updated: 'Armed Forces Pension members guide to taxation of pension benefits' under the heading 'Taxation'.
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Added Pension Sharing Order Corrections Factsheet
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Added McCloud Update - July 2021
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Updated: resettlement grant figures.
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Addition of: Gurkha Pension Manual and updated the text under AFPS 1975 heading.
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Addition of information relating to adjustments to pensions November 2020.
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Updated the Armed Forces Pension taxation booklet.
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Addition of: Armed Forces Pension Arrangements Pension Sharing on Divorce.
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Updated the links under the 'Taxation' heading.
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Added updated versions of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme guidance booklets 1975, 2005 and 2015.
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Updated the information under the McCloud heading.
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Replaced Pension Benefits on Divorce with updated links.
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Corrected the link titles under the divorce section.
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Addition of armed forces pension scheme consolidated factors list.
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Amended the formatting and added new 'McCloud update' heading.
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Added the McCloud update document under the 'Taxation' heading.
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Updated the taxation section of the web page with additional information.
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Updated the text to reflect the most important information about Armed Forces Pension schemes.
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Included email address
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New link added to the forms section
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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.
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CICO form replaced with the latest version
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Added contact details for the Equiniti Paymaster (EP) Communications Centre (for armed forces pension payments queries).
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CICO claim form replaced with latest edition
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Added information about AFPS 15.
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Updated contact details.
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Updated the JPAC enquiry Centre information.
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Added information about Gurkha Ex-Far East Prisoners of War Scheme.
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Added information about the Far Eastern Prisoners of War Ex-Gratia Scheme
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Updated the Criminal injuries compensation (overseas) scheme.
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Updated text adding section "Changes from April 2015 affecting transfer out. Updated Service deferred pensions section.
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Updated 'Service preserved pensions' section.
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Replaced list of links for Pension codes to one link to Pension code page. Removed MMP 123 booklet.
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Updated AFPS 15 information and added new video.
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Added updated CIC(O) claim form.
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Updated current contact details and information to reflect organisational changes.
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Added contact information regarding AFPS 15 enquiries.
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Added paragraph on "Stakeholder Pensions".
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Armed forces compensation content removed and published separately on a new page.
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Updated the AFPS 2015 section
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Updated with information on the Armed Forces Pension Scheme. Added video and transcript
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Added information about legislation for the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
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Removed commeration information and added link to Support for Veterans page.
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Updated AFIP information
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New version of CICO claim form
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First published.
Update history
2024-07-09 09:32
Added ‘2015 Pension Remedy – Divorce Information Note’.
2024-06-11 15:06
Added AFPS Tier Awards Fact Sheet
2024-05-22 14:14
Guidance included for Deferred and Preserved Pension Entitlement.
2024-05-15 15:50
Updated: Member Voluntary Contributions (MVC) Factsheet.
2024-05-02 11:57
Updated ‘Your 2015 Pension Remedy, Explained – booklet’.
2024-04-16 14:46
Added ‘The Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2015: Added Pension Explained’.
2024-03-28 10:09
Added ‘The process for purchasing Added Pension contracts under AFPS 15’.
2024-03-11 14:36
Added: subsection ‘Pension forfeiture’.
2024-03-07 13:56
Added Pension Savings Tax newsletter.
2024-02-19 15:43
Updated ‘Annual Allowance and 2015 Pension Remedy Newsletter’.
2024-02-15 10:22
Added ‘Armed Forces Pension Schemes consolidated factors: 2023 to 2024’.
2024-02-09 15:04
Added ‘Member Voluntary Contributions (MVC) Factsheet’ under 2015 Pension Remedy, and added ‘Annual Allowance and 2015 Pension Remedy Newsletter’ under Pension Savings Tax.
2024-01-26 16:56
Updated the value of the AFPS 2005 and AFPS 2015 Resettlement grant.
2024-01-23 10:15
Added ‘Remediable Service Statement (RSS) User Guide – immediate choice’.
2024-01-09 11:27
Added a link to ‘Actuarial valuation of the Armed Forces Pension Schemes 2020’ under ‘2015 scheme’.
2024-01-04 13:46
Updated ‘The Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2015: Your Pension Scheme Explained ‘.
2023-11-29 09:25
Heading ‘2015 remedy update’ changed to ‘2015 Pension Remedy’.
2023-11-22 14:22
Updated: Member Voluntary Contributions factsheet.
2023-11-17 10:17
Updated ‘Remediable Service Statement (RSS) User Guide’.
2023-11-14 14:22
Added ‘Remediable Service Statement (RSS) User Guide’ under ‘2015 Remedy update’.
2023-10-03 13:37
Section ‘2015 Remedy update’ updated with ‘Remedy Explained booklet’.
2023-09-29 09:30
Added: ‘Member Voluntary Contributions factsheet’ under ‘2015 Remedy update’.
2023-09-07 09:30
‘2015 Remedy Tax Booklet’ added under ‘Taxation’.
2023-07-21 10:08
Added information under the ‘Taxation’ heading.
2023-07-10 15:12
Updated ‘Pension Taxation Booklet’.
2023-06-20 14:55
Updated ‘Armed forces factor summary’.
2023-05-22 16:01
Updated ‘Armed Forces and Reserve Pension Schemes (re-employment)’.
2023-04-18 14:14
Updated information under ‘Resettlement Grant’ heading.
2023-04-13 13:22
Updated information under ‘Resettlement Grant’ heading.
2023-04-03 12:04
Added: ‘Retrospective Remedy FAQs’ under subheading ‘2015 Remedy update’.
2023-03-08 14:27
Added: AFPS customer journey maps.
2023-03-06 10:14
Addition of link to ‘Armed Forces Pension Scheme: Retrospective Remedy’ consultation under ‘2015 Remedy update’.
2022-08-22 15:02
Updated and included attachements
2022-07-28 15:59
Added section Children’s pensions/allowances and accompanying document Children’s Pensions & Allowances.
2022-07-15 10:28
Added a link to Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 (JSP 854).
2022-07-05 09:47
Updated Pension Taxation Booklet attachment.
2022-06-29 16:35
Updated the Pension Taxation Booklet.
2022-06-17 11:52
Edited link under ‘Taxation’ to most recent guidance.
2022-03-31 12:11
Removed outdated section on ‘Pension taxation seminars and one-to-one sessions for the Armed Forces’
2022-03-29 16:49
Addition of new section, ‘Gibraltar Pension Scheme’.