As a veteran you may either be receiving a service pension, or waiting to receive it once you reach a certain age. How much that pension is, and when it is paid, depends on the pension scheme to which you belong.
If you're not receiving any money you may also have an unclaimed pension.
* Please be aware that the pension rules that apply to you are those in force at the time of your discharge. *
Closed to new entrants on 5 April 2005. Paid service after age 18, for other ranks, counts towards pension (21 for officers). Claim at age 60 for benefits earned up to and including 5 April 2006, and age 65, for earnings after that date.
All new entrants on or after 6 April 2005 joined this scheme. All paid service counts towards pension. Claim age 65 or age 55 at a reduced rate.
All new entrants on or after 1 April 2015 joined this scheme. All paid service counts towards pension. Claim at your state pension age, or age 55 at a reduced rate. Serving personnel aged 45 or over on 1 April 2012 remain in their 'old' scheme but anyone else has been transferred to AFPS 15.
If you are unable to work full time due to permanent physical or mental ill-health, you can apply to receive your pension early. And if you left the Armed Forces following injury or disability due to service, find out more about War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or in Scotland
Spouses, civil partners and dependants may be entitled to benefits from the pension scheme of a deceased service person. The death need not be related to service.
All three schemes offer spouse and civil partner pensions to those who meet the criteria. The rules may be more complicated if marriages or civil partnerships took place after leaving service. Only AFPS 05 and AFPS 15 provide pensions to unmarried partners.
To qualify for an AFPS 75 children's pension, the child must be born of a marriage which took place before leaving the Armed Forces. For more recent schemes, this marriage requirement does not exist, but there are age, education and infirmity stipulations for all schemes.
Commutation refers to giving up part of your pension in return for a lump sum:
If your pension is not in payment you should approach Veterans UK if you have a query.
Telephone: 0800 085 3600 or +44 141 224 3600 if calling from overseas
Email: dbs-pensionshelp@dbspv.mod.uk
Post: Veterans UK, Pensions Division, Mail Point 480, Kentigern House, 65 Brown Street
Glasgow G2 8EX
If your pension is in payment you should approach Equiniti Paymaster if you have query or need to change your details.
Telephone: 0345 121 2514
Email: veteransukpensions@equiniti.com
Post: Equiniti Paymaster, Sutherland House, Russell Way, Crawley, RH10 1UH
The Forces Pension Society (a Veterans' Gateway Information Organisation) empowers its members to make better, well-informed choices about their Armed Forces Pension.
(This guide has been updated in collaboration with the Forces Pension Society and we are grateful to them for their ongoing assistance.)
