Pensions are a vital aspect of the support system for veterans, providing financial stability after service. This section provides information on the key pension schemes available for ex-service personnel, along with resources for managing and understanding these benefits.
For serving members after 1 April 2015.
Guidance relating to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2015.
For members who served between 7 April 2005 to 31 March 2015.
Guidance and documents relating to Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2005.
For members who served between 6 April 1975 and 6 April 2005.
We have put together in-depth guidance about the 1975 Pension scheme below:
If you are have reached 60 years old or are about to reach 60, you should be able to access your 22 year pension for your service. Take a look at the following information, it is worth it.
It is possible that you have earned a preserved pension payable at age 60. The Armed Forces Pension Scheme pension benefits are based on rank and length of service. All personnel serving between 6 April 1975 and 6 April 2005 will have served under the AFPS 75 scheme. There are two further pension schemes, 2005 and 2015, this information here is about the 1975 pension scheme. You can visit the above links for the 2005 and 2015 schemes.
Prior to 06 April 1975 there was no provision for a preservation of pension benefits and service personnel who left the Armed Forces had to complete 16 years from aged 21 (Officers) or 22 years from age 18 (Other ranks). Those who left before that date without completing the above criteria, lost all pension entitlement. Those who had completed more than 12 years service were given a lump sum payment.
In 1973 the UK government reformed the pension provisions and the rules changed on 6 April 1975 to provide for pensions to be preserved for payment at age 60 for all those soldiers discharged over the age of 26 with a minimum of 5 years service. On 31 March 1978 the age criteria was dropped. On6 April 1988, the qualifying period was reduced from 5 to 2 years. Non of these were back dated.
Preserved pensions have to be claimed at age 60. However, you can claim your preserved pension sooner if you become permanently incapacitated.
If you need more information on Armed Forces Pension Schemes, please contact Veterans UK using one of the following options:
Freephone (UK only): 0800 085 3600
Telephone (Overseas): +44 141 224 3600
Telephone (Military): 94560 3600
Email: dbs-pensionshelp@dbspv.mod.uk
Veterans UK JPAC Enquiry Centre
Mail Point 480
Kentigern House
65 Brown Street
Glasgow
G2 8EX
You can download the Preserved Pension Application Form 8 (5 pages) here, and will need to forward this to the above address, either via post or email.
You'll need your name, regimental number, rank, regiment, date of birth and NI Number to hand.
Don't forget when you are about to hit 60 you have to apply to them, they will not let you know.
You can visit the new online Veterans Portal here. You'll be able to see the following information:
Comprehensive pension schemes for service personnel.
The UK offers several iterations of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme, reflecting changes over the years (AFPS 75, AFPS 05, and AFPS 15). Each scheme has different benefits, eligibility criteria, and payment structures. Understanding which scheme you are part of and the benefits it offers is crucial.
Link: GOV.UK Armed Forces Pensions
Administers military pensions and compensation claims.
Veterans UK is part of the Ministry of Defence, responsible for administering the AFPS and overseeing compensation claims through schemes like the War Pensions Scheme and the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. They offer a helpline for detailed queries.
Link: Veterans UK
Guidance on pensions and financial benefits.
The Royal British Legion provides assistance with pension inquiries, including understanding entitlements and how to claim them. They can also help address any issues veterans might encounter with their pensions.
Link: Royal British Legion: Finance and Pensions
Advice on pensions and financial adjustments.
SSAFA offers financial advice and support, helping veterans understand their pensions and how to manage them effectively, ensuring they receive all the benefits they are entitled to.
Link: SSAFA Financial Advice
Free advice on pensions and financial planning.
The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) provides independent advice on financial matters including pensions. Their services can help veterans make informed decisions about their pension options and financial planning post-service.
Link: Money and Pensions Service
If you know any widows, widowers or longterm partners of soldiers who sadly passed away, they can access a pension. If the soldier was under 60 when they passed away, they should apply to Veterans UK and they may be entitled to a gratuity rather than a pension.
The following is the part of the information taken from the manual which may help you with your enquiry.
9.1 Your entitlement to a pension ceases on your death.
If you are married, in a civil partnership or are in a long term relationship your spouse/civil partner or eligible partner may be entitled to a Forces Family Pension.
9.2 Widows Benefits
If your marriage took place while you were serving a Forces Family Pension based on your total service. If your marriage took place after you left the Regular Armed Forces a Forces Family Pension based on service from6 April 1978; service before that date is disregarded.
9.3 Widowers/Civil Partners Benefits
To be eligible you must have served on or after 1 October 1987. If the marriage/civil ceremony took place while serving, the pension is based on your total service. However, if the marriage/civil ceremony took place after your retirement the pension will be based on service from 6 April 1978 only.
9.4 Eligible Partner Benefits
Your partner may be eligible to receive a pension where death was attributable to Service. An equal survivor’s pension is the same as that paid to a spouse/civil partner. For a partner’s pension to be awarded you must have:
9.5 Rates of Pension Payable
Survivor Benefits after Re-marriage, Forming a new Partnership or Cohabitation.
For those who have an Armed Forces Pension and reach OAP you will have to take into account the SERPS.
This has always been the way, the 1975 Pension Act gives a Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP).
The following will only apply if you retired from the Armed Forces after 5 April 1978 and were employed up to or before 5 April 1997. The Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) contracted out from State Earnings Related Pension Scheme (SERPS) but by law have to pay a pension benefit at least as good as that paid out by SERPS. This amount is known as your GMP. Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) tell the MOD how much of your pension the GMP amount forms at State Pension Age (SPA). This is not an additional amount to be paid, as it forms part of your existing Armed Forces Pension.
The Pension Service, which is part of the Department forWorks and Pensions (DWP), is responsible for paying part on any annual increase on your GMP with your State retirement benefits. This will be shown on your annual pension statement, issued by the Pension Service to you, and may be referred to as Contracted out Deductions The MOD contracted pension Paymaster must allow for this when calculating any increase on your pension to avoid you receiving an increase on the same amount of GMP twice. GMP may be in two parts:
If you left service prior to 6 April 1988 there will be one part to your GMP. Any increase will apply to the part of your GMP that was earned after 5 April 1988 and the MOD will pay this with your Armed ForcesPension, but only up to a Maximum of 3%.
Any increase above 3% and all of any increase on the GMP amount earned before 6 April 1988 is paid by DWP with your state benefits.However, a further change in the law (Pensions Act 1995) means the MOD will pay any increase in full on all benefits earned after 1997.
Sometimes MOD may not have been made aware of the value of your GMP in time for them to recalculate your payments. If this happens it may mean that you receive an increase on your GMP with your Armed Forces Pension and your State Pension, which in turn will result in a small overpayment to you and the Pension Paymaster will write to you in advance to let you know about this and the adjustment to your pension rate.
What this is about is an additional state pension which was intended to increase that of employees. However, if an occupational scheme (e.g. services, police, civil service, NHS, some larger employers) provided at least as much benefit as the additional scheme (SERPS) then it could contract out SERPS so that you only received benefits from that scheme in relation to your time in the scheme. Schemes which did not qualify remained contracted in and members of those schemes received both SERPS and a pension from the occupational scheme.
It all got more complex since the late 1980s when individual contracting out became possible but the service schemes were always contracted out so fortunately that isn’t relevant.
There have been further changes since then, including to the basic state pension to allow for increased life expectancy. When it was originally introduced in 1906, very few got out more than they had contributed but we all tend to live longer now.
You can contact the DWP and pay extra payments to enable you to get the second additional state pension.
Managing your pension effectively involves several key practices: