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.

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.

The Victoria Cross and George Cross

Gurkha Pension Scheme

Guidance and documents relating to the Gurkha pension scheme.

Gurkha Pension Manual

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.

Pension Savings Tax

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 Pension Remedy

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:

  • 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 is:

  • AFPS 2005 and AFPS 2015: £12,692
  • 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

Pension Taxation Booklet (PDF, 1.16 MB, 56 pages)

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.

Discretionary Awards Appeal Review (DAAR) (ODT, 23.3 KB)

Discretionary Awards Review (DAR) (PDF, 398 KB, 1 page)

Discretionary Awards Review (DAR) (ODT, 23.3 KB)

Early Payment of Preserved Pension (EPPP) and Early Payment of Preserved Pension Increases (EPPI) (PDF, 405 KB, 1 page)

Early Payment of Preserved Pension (EPPP) and Early Payment of Preserved Pension Increases (EPPI) (ODT, 23.8 KB)

Ill-Health Tier Award Reviews (PDF, 396 KB, 1 page)

Ill-Health Tier Award Reviews (ODT, 23.5 KB)

Ill-Health Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure (IDRP) (PDF, 396 KB, 1 page)

Ill-Health Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure (IDRP) (ODT, 23.6 KB)

Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure (IDRP) (PDF, 396 KB, 1 page)

Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure (IDRP) (ODT, 23.2 KB)

Retrospective Remedy FAQs (PDF, 207 KB, 9 pages)

Pension forfeiture

Information about pension forfeiture.

Armed Forces Pension Schemes - pension forfeiture policy (PDF, 191 KB, 12 pages)

Armed Forces Pension Schemes - pension forfeiture policy (ODT, 50.7 KB)

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

Email dbs-pensionshelp@dbspv.mod.uk

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