Updated: Armed forces compensation content removed and published separately on a new page.
Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA)
SPVA is part of the MOD and reports to the Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel and Training). It provides essential support services to the armed forces and veterans communities including harmonised personnel administration services, accurate payment of pay, allowances and pensions, compensation payments to those injured or bereaved through service and one to one veterans welfare support.
SPVA has responsibility for the delivery of a tri-service administration system, known as Joint Personnel Administration (JPA). JPA simplifies personnel and pay administration across the services. The SPVA manages interaction via the JPA system with circa 285,000 regular and reserve personnel and circa 365,000 armed forces pensioners.
SPVA’s day to day business is managed at the highest level by its management group (MG). This group helps drive performance and collaborative working across the full range of SPVA business.
SPVA strategy and objectives
SPVA delivers a through life service to both the armed forces and veterans communities.
SPVA contributes to the defence mission through its services to front line servicemen and women and, as the name suggests, the work of the SPVA also gives equal focus to the needs of veterans and their dependants.
The SPVA has challenging strategic objectives linked to the successful achievement of the SPVA’s mission.
Main objectives
efficient delivery of core services
pay
pensions
compensation
veterans support
SPVA customers
Around 900,000 individual serving and former service personnel and dependants make up the SPVA customer base.
These are the end customers of SPVA’s pay and pension services. This aspect of service delivery can significantly influence the morale and effectiveness of individual service personnel, their dependants and their units.
The scale of delivery is shown in the table below:
Regulars and reserves pay
285,000
Pensions
365,000
War pensions
170,000
Customers include not only individual service people and veterans but also the Services’ Personnel Management Authorities, MOD planning staff and policy makers, a variety of other business areas within defence and other government departments like HM Revenue and Customs, Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Health
MOD planners and policy makers
The MOD and single service policy making and planning branches of other business areas within defence require information and advice from SPVA to support the development and implementation of new policies to inform the MOD’s resource allocation process and to support ministers in their discharge of parliamentary business.
The value of the funds disbursed on behalf of the department by SPVA, some £14.8 billion, through its pay and pensions service delivery means the SPVA also plays an important role in informing MOD’s financial reporting processes.
SPVA pay, pensions and administration contract
SPVA was formed in Apr 2007 as a result of the merger of the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency (AFPAA) and the Veterans Agency (VA). SPVA has responsibility for delivering reliable, trusted and efficient military personnel services to the serving and veteran communities.
SPVA delivers a significant element of its personnel services through an industry contractor. Originally let to EDS (now HP Enterprise Services), the current provider until 19 November is CSC. The contract delivers a range of personnel administrative services for members of all three services, the development and maintenance of associated information system (IS) applications and elements of IS infrastructure. In addition, there are a small number of support services to SPVA at some of its four sites.
SPVA pensions forms
Pension forms are produced by the SPVA and are available here.
Pensions
Pensions for veterans
As part of Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA), the Veterans Services Directorate are responsible for the assessment, award, payment and maintenance of all pensions relating to the armed forces.
These include occupational pensions; The Armed Forces Pension Schemes (AFPS), war disablement pensions, war widows’ pensions, related allowances and other payments to service veterans. They also administer ex-gratia payments scheme to former prisoners of the Japanese in World War 2.
In addition, the directorate undertake the assessment, award and maintenance of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) claims plus the presentation of appeals to the independent Pensions Appeal Tribunals (PAT) for both current and former service personnel.
There are currently 2 Armed Forces Pension Schemes (AFPS) available to service leavers; AFPS 75 and AFPS 05.
Have you served in the military since 1975?
It is possible that you have earned a preserved pension payable at age 60 (or 65 if you joined after April 2006). Read the following to see if you qualify and follow the links for the application forms if you do.
Pensions
There are currently two Armed Forces Pension Schemes (AFPS) available to service leavers; AFPS 75 and AFPS 05.
AFPS 75 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.
AFPS 05 pension benefits are based on length of service and final salary and personnel who joined after 6 April 2005 will be serving under the AFPS 05 scheme. However, personnel serving between July 2005 and March 2006 were given the option to move to the AFPS 05 as part of the Offer to Transfer process.
There are some fundamental differences between the schemes that cover both retired benefits and dependants benefits. To find out what benefits personnel are entitled to, read the information below and download the booklets that are applicable to the AFPS that you/your spouse are/were serving under.
Service preserved pensions
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 have completed 16 years from age 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.
The rules changed on 6 April 1975 to provide for pensions to be preserved for payment at age 60 for all those discharged over the age of 26 with a minimum of 5 years service. On 6 April 1988, the qualifying period was reduced from 5 to 2 years and the age criterion was dropped. Preserved pensions have to be claimed at age 60 or at age 65 if your service began after 5 April 2006. However, you can claim your preserved pension sooner if you become permanently incapacitated.
Service pensions are administered by the SPVA but pension payments are made by Paymaster (1836) Ltd, the paying authority for the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS).
Contact details
For help and information on your armed forces pension please ring the SPVA on 0800 085 3600
or write to:
JPAC Enquiry Centre
Mila Point 465
Kentigern House
65 Brown Street
Glasgow, G2 8EX
For help and information on your compensation claim please ring the SPVA on 0800 169 2277
or write to:
SPVA Norcross
Thornton Cleveleys
Lancashire, FY5 3WP
Related information
SPVA Veterans UK
Armed forces attributable benefits (Pre-6 April 2005)
What armed forces attributable benefits are
Armed forces attributable benefits are paid where the injury, illness or death was caused by service before 6 April 2005. The benefits are paid under the attributable rules of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975. The benefits are paid to regular personnel (and surviving dependents) if they are medically discharged as a result of service. The rules provide for a minimum income guarantee according to the individual’s rank and the assessment of the degree of disablement.
A separate standalone scheme containing these rules will be introduced by April 2010.
Who is eligible
In order to receive benefits you must have been medically discharged from service and receive a war disablement pension from the War Pensions Scheme for your principal invaliding condition. Once a Service Invaliding Pension has been awarded by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA), the case is automatically referred to the Veterans Agency (VA) to consider if a war disablement pension is paid; if so the case is then sent back to SPVA for consideration for AFPS 75 attributable award.
What happens if the injury, illness or death is caused on or after 6 April 2005
The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) is for all members of the regular and reserve forces, providing compensation for all injuries, ill-health and death due to service on or after 6 April 2005.
Contact details
Service Personnel and Veterans Agency
Norcross
Thornton Cleveleys
Lancashire
FY5 3WP
Freephone: 0800 169 2277 (UK only)
Textphone: 0800 169 3458 (UK only)
Overseas Helpline: +44 1253 866043
Additional voluntary contributions and stakeholder pensions
A new armed forces pension scheme will be introduced from April 2015, known as The Future Armed Forces Pension Scheme. The scheme will include the option to buy additional voluntary contributions (AVCs), details of which are being finalised.
Members of AFPS 05 have the option of purchasing AVCs to buy added years.
Members of AFPS 75 have the option of purchasing several different types of AVCs, including added years. These AVCs will continue to be available, unchanged, in accordance with HMRC and current scheme rules, up to the introduction of the new pension scheme in April 2015.
Service personnel within 10 years of their current scheme’s normal pension age (NPA) on 1 April 2012 (ie. regulars aged 45 or over on 1 April 2012) qualify for ‘transitional protection’ and will remain in their current pension scheme. The current rules on AVCs will continue to apply beyond April 2015.
Service personnel without transitional protection will move onto the new pension scheme in April 2015. Details of how this affects existing AVCs are set out in DIN 2012 01-249 which can be found on the Defence Intranet.
Information relating to AVCs, added years and stakeholder pensions for members of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 and 2005
AFPS 75: improved death in service (DIS) benefit AVC
I am a member of AFPS 75 and wish to buy a DIS AVC
Please see information regarding the new Armed Forces Pension Scheme and its effect on AVCs.
For those service personnel who are moved onto the new pension scheme in April 2015, payments in respect of this AVC, and the benefit cover, will stop in April 2015. This is because the new scheme will automatically provide comparable benefits to those being bought. Members will not have any accrued rights (including no entitlement to a refund of premiums already paid), as the DIS AVC is an insurance-type arrangement providing ongoing cover while AVC payments continue and with no refund payable if the member does not die in service during payment of the AVC.
Those purchasing this AVC will secure a lump sum death benefit in the event of the member’s death in service of the greater of: either 4 times what the member’s representative rate of pay would have been if the member had had the maximum amount of reckonable service permitted; or 4 times the member’s annual pensionable earnings at the date of death.
If you wish to buy a DIS AVC you should complete AFPS form 4 available at [SPVA pensions forms] (/government/admin/publications/256649)
You can find the factors for members of AFPS 75 to calculate the contribution rates for DIS benefits additional voluntary contributions in this section.
I am a member of AFPS 75 and want to change or stop my DIS AVC
For APS 75 members, once an AVC is entered into, the member cannot increase or decrease the level of contribution. Also, the AFPS 75 member cannot cancel an AVC, unless in exceptional circumstances outside the member’s control.
AFPS 75: improved spouse/civil partner benefits and/or headroom on pay AVCs
I am a member of AFPS 75 and wish to buy improved spouse/civil partner benefits and/or headroom on pay benefits
Please see the section about the new Future Armed Forces Pension Scheme and its effect on AVCs.
For those service personnel who are moved onto the new pension scheme in April 2015, payments in respect of these AVCs, and the benefit cover, will stop in April 2015. The new scheme will automatically provide benefits from April 2015 in addition to those being bought. Members or their spouses/civil partners will accrue rights to a proportion of these benefits bought up to April 2015.
If you were not previously paying for a spouse/civil partner and/or headroom on pay AVC and wish to buy one of these AVCs, you should complete AFPS form 4 which you can find at SPVA pensions forms.
The factors for members of AFPS 75 to calculate the contribution rates for enhanced spouse/civil partner benefits and/or headroom on pay AVCS are available here
I am a member of AFPS 75 and want to change or stop my improved spouse / civil partner benefits and/or headroom on pay AVCs
For AFPS 75 members, once an AVC is entered into, the member cannot increase or decrease the level of contribution. Also, the AFPS 75 member cannot cancel an AVC, unless in exceptional circumstances outside the member’s control. See details of spouse/civil partner AVC factors.
AFPS 75: Added years AVC
I am a member of AFPS 75 and want to buy an added years AVC
Please see the information in the new Future Armed Forces Pension Scheme section and its effect on AVCs.
For those service personnel who are moved onto the new pension scheme in April 2015, added years AVCs bought before April 2015 will continue unchanged in accordance with AFPS 75 AVC rules (the old scheme’s rules). Service personnel will continue to pay their AVCs and the added years of service will be added to the individual’s old scheme benefits when they leave the armed forces.
You should review the AFPS 75 factors and reduction factors to calculate the cost of added years and then complete AFPS form 5 available at SPVA pensions forms.
I am a member of AFPS 75 and want to change or stop my added years AVC
For AFPS 75 members, once an AVC is entered into, the member cannot increase or decrease the level of contribution. Also, the AFPS 75 member cannot cancel an AVC, unless in exceptional circumstances outside the member’s control.
AFPS 05: Added years AVC
I am a member of AFPS 05 and want to buy an added years AVC
Please see details of the new Future Armed Forces Pension Scheme and its effect on AVCs.
For those service personnel who are moved onto the new pension scheme in April 2015, added years AVCs bought before April 2015 will continue unchanged in accordance with AFPS 05 AVC rules (the old scheme’s rules). Service personnel may continue to pay for their AVCs and the added years of service will be added to the individual’s old scheme benefits when they leave the armed forces.
You should review the AFPS 05 factors to calculate the cost of added years and then complete AFPS Form 5 available at SPVA pensions forms.
I am a member of AFPS 05 and want to change or stop my added years AVC
You can have more than one AFPS 05 added years AVC. If you want to increase your added years then you can take out a new contract. However, be aware that the rates have been revised and the premiums will be calculated using your current age, not your age when you originally took out an earlier added years contract. If you want to reduce your added years you will be required to cancel your current arrangement and
then complete an application for a new contract. See detail of AFPS 05 added years
You can cancel your contract at any time and will be credited with reckonable service on a pro rata basis. You must contact SPVA (Glagow) to cancel. See information in the contacts section.
AFCS claim form
This form should be completed if you want to make a claim under the AFCS.
You must be serving or have served in HM forces (including reserve forces, TA or Brigade of Gurkhas) on or after 6 April 2005.
The illness or injury you are claiming must have been caused by your service on or after this date.
AFCS Claim form
PDF, 278KB, 16 pages
Armed forces pensions and redundancy
Information about armed forces pensions and redundancy schemes
For help and information on your armed forces pension please ring the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency on 0800 085 3600 or write to: JPAC Enquiry Centre, Mail Point 465, Kentigern House, 65 Brown Street, Glasgow, G2 8EX
Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 and 2005
There are two different pension schemes available to members of the regular armed forces. On this page you will find information on the Armed Forces Pension Schemes 1975 and AFPS 2005, including guidance booklets, pensions calculator and pension codes.
Pension codes
2012 Tri service pension codes
2011 Tri service pension codes
2010 Tri service pension codes
2009 Tri service pension codes
2008-2009 Special forces pension code
MODOS pension codes supplements 2008
Senior officers pension code 2008
Senior officer medics pension codes 2008
Tri service pension codes 2002-2008
Army pension codes 1997-2001
For serving or retired members of the Gurkha Pension Scheme (GPS), please see the guidance booklet on the GPS in this section.
Armed forces redundancy calculator
Access the Redundancy calculator
Gurkha members should use the Gurkha pensions and redundancy calculators.
Service Personnel & Veterans Agency
For further information on the delivery of your pension and to download the pension forms relating to your scheme please follow the link to the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency website.
2010/11 edition of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme annual accounts
Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 (AFPS 75)
Using the links below you will find information on Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 policy including guidance booklets, pensions calculator and pension codes.
Pension forms are produced by the SPVA and are available here
AFPS 75 guidance booklets are available here.
Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2005
Booklets are available which provide information on the the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2005 (AFPS 05).
Pension forms are produced by the SPVA and are available here
Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2015
Details
The details of the introduction of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2015 (AFPS 15) and the rights which service personnel have accrued to their existing pension benefits are explained within the guidance document on this page. The ‘Outline scheme design’ document provides more detailed information about the features of the pension scheme.
Introduction to this section
The new Armed Forces Pension Scheme will be introduced on 1 April 2015. All service personnel who are members of an Armed Forces Pension Scheme and who will be serving beyond April 2015 will be automatically transferred to AFPS 15, unless they qualify for transitional protection which is explained in more detail below.
New pension scheme: latest stage
Latest stage of development
The main features of the new scheme remain unchanged from the
Outline Scheme Design
(PDF, 1.48MB, 35 pages)
document published at the end of July 2012 but will now also include additional choice in how the Early Departure Payment (EDP) may be taken, depending on individual needs. Further information is available in the document ‘A new Armed Forces Pension Scheme: final agreement’
Work is currently underway to define policy and write the legislation (scheme regulations) for AFPS 15.
Accrued rights to existing pension benefits
Rights to pension benefits accrued by service personnel as a result of their membership of current pension schemes are protected. This means pension benefits already earned in current schemes, up to 1 April 2015, will be guaranteed. Service personnel will be able to draw these benefits at the same age as now (in accordance with current scheme rules) and they will be linked to the final pensionable salary at the date of leaving the services, not the salary/rank at the time of transfer to AFPS 15, thereby maintaining their final salary link.
Transitional protection
The government has offered transitional protection for those who were within 10 years of their respective scheme’s normal pension age (NPA) on 1 April 2012.
AFPS 75, AFPS 05 and FTRS 97 (full commitment) have a NPA of 55. RFPS, FTRS 97 (on limited or home commitment) and NRPS have a NPA of 60.
This means if you are a member of AFPS 75, AFPS 05 or FTRS 97 (FC) and were aged 45 or over on 1 April 2012, you will stay on your current pension scheme and your benefits will be unaffected.
If you are a member of the RFPS (including those on additional duties commitment), FTRS 97 (on LC or HC) or NRPS and were aged 50 or over on 1 April 2012, you will remain in your current pension scheme and your benefits will be unaffected.
This transitional protection was a government decision for all public service schemes, for those personnel who were nearest to their NPA and who will, therefore, have less time to adjust their financial plans in response to the changes to their pension scheme. About 7,800 officers and 7,000 other ranks will benefit from transitional protection.
Pension forecasts
The Online Pension Calculator has been upgraded to take into account the effect of the transition to Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2015. Before using the calculator you should view the video below:
Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1. Introduction by the Chief of Defence Personnel
A full transcript of the video is also available.
Transcript of video: Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1. Introduction by the Chief of Defence Personnel
MS Word Document, 101KB
Background on the development of the new scheme
In 2010, the Government asked Lord Hutton of Furness to chair the Independent Public Service Pensions Commission (IPSPC). The IPSPC made its final report on March 2011 and recommended changes to all public service pensions, including those for the Armed Forces. The government set out its preferred scheme design for public service pension schemes in the HM Treasury paper ‘Public service pensions: good pensions that last’ in November 2011.
Consultation
The Future Armed Forces Pension Scheme team conducted a 2 phase consultation process. The initial phase in early 2012 gathered the views of service personnel and other interested parties via an initial consultation document, questionnaire, focus groups and briefings.
The final phase, concluded in September 2012, and involved the publication of the
Outline Scheme Design
(PDF, 1.48MB, 35 pages)
document, an accompanying video and a further opportunity to submit views through a consultation site. In excess of 25,000 service personnel participated in both phases of the consultation.
Further consultation will take place on the scheme regulations in January 2014.
Legislation
The Public Service Pensions Act 2013 granted powers to the Government to close existing pension schemes to new members and transfer existing members to the various public schemes including AFPS 15 unless they qualified for transitional protection.
MOD has conducted an Equalities Impact Analysis on the AFPS 15.
The Government Actuary’s Department has produced a report into the cost of the final scheme design. See the ‘Cost of final scheme design’.
Further information
The FAFPS Team leads on the strategic policy development of the new scheme. The FAFPS team is led by and includes officers from all three services, all of whom have experience in pay and pensions at MOD level. If you think the team has overlooked a policy issue, you can email them via the FAFPS group mailbox, however, SPVA should be the first port of call for individual queries.
The FAFPS team are not financially accredited to give specific individual advice; should you feel this is what you need, you should contact an independent financial adviser. The Services Insurance and Investment Advisory Panel (SIIAP) can give specialist independent financial advice to service personnel.
Further information can be found in the frequently asked questions (FAQs). These FAQs will be regularly updated as further detailed issues are finalised and in response to queries and feedback.
The Forces Pension Society (FPS) is an independent organisation that can advise service personnel on their pensions
Conclusion
The new Armed Forces Pension Scheme will remain among the very best pension schemes available. It will remain a defined benefit scheme, which means it will keep a guaranteed level of pension, calculated as a fraction of a service person’s salary, not an uncertain amount based on investment returns. It will also continue to provide valuable benefits, like ill-health and dependants’ pensions.
The service chiefs have endorsed the new scheme as one which meets the armed forces’ recruitment and retention needs, while striking a fair balance between providing proper recognition of the unique commitment made by members of the armed forces and the requirement for an affordable and sustainable scheme that is fair to the taxpayer.
The Forces Pension Society says: “I believe it is probably the best proposal out of all the public sector scheme choices in terms of a complete package. … in overall terms I am 100% sure that the scheme on offer is as good as the armed forces could have hoped for…’ (See Pathfinder magazine for full article.)
How to transfer benefits in and out of the Armed forces pension schemes
Transfer factors
The factors for all types of transfer are:
AFPS 05 Club Transfers In
AFPS 05 Club Transfers Out
AFPS 05 Non Club Transfers In
AFPS 05 Non Club Transfers Out
AFPS 75 Club Transfers Out
AFPS 75 Non Club Transfers Out
Factors for AFPS 75 Non Club Transfers In are available from SPVA on request.
Types of transfer
There are two types of transfers ‘Club transfers’ and ‘Non club transfers’’:
A “club” transfer
A club transfer takes place when the previous or new arrangement is a member of the public sector transfer club and under this transfer you would receive a service credit of equivalent value to that built up in the previous scheme, regardless of any change in salary.
A “non-club” transfer
A non-club transfer takes place if the previous or new scheme is not a member of the public sector transfer club and you would receive a lower service credit under these arrangements.
What does Transferring pension benefits mean?
Transfers in
Transferring pension benefits into AFPS 75.
If you are a member of AFPS 75 then you are now no longer able to transfer any “club” scheme pension benefits into the scheme. This is because there is a time limit of undertaking this option, within one year of taking up employment and AFPS 75 has been closed to new entrants from 5 Apr 05. It is still possible to transfer in from a “non club” scheme provided the application is made on or before your 54th birthday.
Transferring pension benefits into AFPS 05
If you are a member of Armed Forces Pensions Scheme (AFPS) 05 and 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 AFPS 05.
If you are a member of AFPS 05 you can undertake a “club” transfer within one year of taking up employment and “non-club” transfers before the beginning of your final year of service before your pension is due.
Transfers out
If you leave AFPS 75 or AFPS 05 without receiving immediate pension benefits (including leaving with an Early Departure Payment (EDP) under AFPS 05) you have the option to transfer the value of your preserved pension benefits to another pension arrangement.
Transferring benefits out of AFPS 75 or AFPS 05
If you leave the armed forces with a preserved pension and take up new employment where an occupational pension scheme is available, you can transfer your preserved AFPS benefits into that scheme.
You can apply for a transfer at any time up to one year before your benefits become payable or up to six months after leaving the armed forces, if that is later, provided you left the armed forces on or after 1 Jan 86. However, the receiving scheme may also impose its own time limits for transfers in.
How is the transfer value calculated?
SPVA use factor tables to determine the amount of reckonable service to be credited. These tables relate to the sex and age of the individual.
What do I need to do to arrange a transfer in of benefits?
Before you apply to Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) for a transfer you need to obtain details of the amount of your transfer value from your previous pension scheme, and then an estimate from SPVA of the additional reckonable service that this will buy in your new scheme. If you decide to go ahead with the transfer, you should make your application to SPVA in writing (see address below).
You must be serving in the armed forces to be eligible to transfer in and once you have chosen 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.
What do I need to do to arrange a transfer out of benefits?
If you leave the armed forces to take up new employment where an occupational pension scheme is available, you can transfer your preserved pension from the Armed Forces Pension Scheme into that scheme. Alternatively you can transfer to a personal pension scheme. Before you apply for a transfer please ensure that you have considered all the issues carefully and the time limits that may apply. See the Transferring benefits booklet for further information. If you then decide to go ahead with the transfer, you should make your application to SPVA in writing (see address below).
Once you have chosen a transfer from the Armed forces pension scheme and the transfer of funds has been completed, you cannot change your mind and you will have given up forever your rights and those of your dependants under the Armed forces pension schemes.
Where can I get more information?
The booklet ‘Transferring benefits’ provides more information and points out some of the issues you should consider before undertaking any transfer of benefits. The SPVA Help Desk can also answer any queries you have:
SPVA Pensions Division
Mail Point 480
Kentigern House
65 Brown Street
Glasgow, G2 8EX
Tel: 0800 085 3600
Email: jpac@spva.mod.uk
Members of the armed forces
The AFCS provides compensation for any injury, illness or death which is predominantly caused by service on or after 6 April 2005.
ALL current and former members of the UK armed forces, including reservists, may submit a claim for compensation. In the event of service-related death, the scheme pays benefits to eligible partners and children.
You can submit a claim while you are still serving or when you have left the armed forces. There are time limits for putting in a claim but, above all, you should make sure that you submit a claim for compensation at a time which is best for you.
You can submit a claim for any injury or illness which occurs while you are participating in a service-related activity. This includes Adventurous training (AT), physical exercise and organised sport for example, inter-service athletics
If you are thinking of putting in a claim or are looking for more information about the scheme, you can find further details by:
Download a contact card
AFCS contact card
PDF, 1.12MB, 1 page
Visit the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) to download a claim form
SPVA
Listen to a selection of podcasts
Podcasts on the SPVA
Phone the free helpline for information and guidance
0800 169 22 77 (UK only)
+44 1253 866 043 (overseas)
Reserve forces pension scheme (RFPS)
Reserve forces pension and compensation benefits
Details of the different benefits available under the Reserve forces pension and compensation schemes
Reserve Forces Pension and Compensation benefits
PDF, 1.81MB, 52 pages
RFPS - Your pension scheme explained PDF booklet explaining the details of the Reserve forces compensation scheme
RFPS: Your Pension Scheme explained
PDF, 696KB, 24 pages
For further information on the delivery of your pension and to download the forms related to the scheme please see the section on Service Personnel and Veterans Agency pensions forms where you will find:
Inverse commutation application (AFPS Form 1)
Nomination/revocation of death lump sum (AFPS Form 2)
Allocation of pension (AFPS Form 3)
Claim Payment of Preserved Pension (AFPS Form 8)
The Central Advisory Committee on Pensions and Compensation
The Central Advisory Committe (CAC) on Pensions and Compensation was first established by the War Pensions Act 1921 to “consider such matters as may be put before them by the Minister for their advice”.
Its role today has evolved. Having previously been concerned mainly with compensation for ex-service personnel and wider veterans’ issues, the committee now provides advice on policy issues and act as a consultative mechanism for all service pension and compensation schemes.
The CAC is chaired by the Minister for Defence Personnel Veterans and Welfare and comprises representatives from:
the Royal British Legion (RBL)
the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA)
the Confederation of British Service Organisations (COBSEO)
the British Limbless Ex-Service Men’s Association (BLESMA)
the Forces Family Federation (FFF)
the Independent Medical Expert Group (IMEG)
the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Commitee (VA&PC)
the War Widows’ Association (WWA)
the Forces Pension Society (FPS)
the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA)
Ministry of Defence (MOD) policy officials
Agendas and minutes of previous CAC meetings can be found in the CAC section.
The Criminal injuries compensation (overseas) scheme
The Criminal injuries compensation (overseas) scheme (CIC(O)) provides compensation for service personnel and their accompanying eligible dependants who, whilst serving overseas, is the innocent victim of a crime of violence.
What is the CIC(O) scheme?
The CIC(O) scheme is designed to give comparable levels of compensation to that which would be awarded by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), had the incident occurred in Great Britain. The CIC(O) is an ex-gratia scheme and is analogous to the 2008 CICA Scheme.
For further information see the guide to the Criminal Injuries Compensation (Overs