Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS)

FAQs

• Who is eligible to bring an AFCS claim?

  You are eligible to claim compensation if, while on duty, you suffered:

  • Injury
  • Illness
  • A mental health issue, such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

  Families of servicemen and women who have died on duty are also able to claim compensation for their loss.

  Current and former members of the UK Armed Forces, including reservists, can apply for army compensation as long as the application is made within seven years of the date of the incident.

  The situation with illnesses and pre-existing conditions that have been made worse by service is more complex and is subject to strict time limits, so it is wise to apply for compensation as soon as possible. More information about these time limits is available on the Ministry of Defence website, where you can also download the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme claim form.

  If you were injured before 2005 you will need to apply under a separate army compensation scheme, such as the War Pension Scheme.

• What compensation can I get from the AFCS?

  The level of the pay-out is dependent on the severity of the injury and its effects. These are determined by the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme Tariff (AFCS Tariff), which classes each incident from level 1 to level 15 (most to least severe). Injuries can vary from a minor fracture which heals quickly, leaving no disability, to very serious injuries, such as a limb amputation.

  There are two main ways in which AFCS compensation will be awarded:

  • Lump sum payment. This tax free payment is awarded if you have suffered an injury or illness. The amount will depend on the severity of your disability and will range from £1,200 to £570,000
  • Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP). This compensation is awarded for the most serious injuries or illnesses, with an assessment at tariffs 11 to 1. It is a tax-free lifetime income, paid monthly either from the date service ends or from the date of the claim if it is made after discharge. The amount is calculated by multiplying a person’s basic salary by the appropriate age factor. The award will be a percentage of this calculation, depending on the details of your illness or injury

• How do I apply to the AFCS?

  You can download claim forms from the Veterans Agency website.

  When filling in the Veterans Agency claim form, information is required about the illness or injury. Details such as the impact the problem has had on health and when and how it happened will need to be included.

  Please note that if we are advising you in relation to a (negligence or assault) claim, we would ask you to show us the form before you submit it to the Veterans Agency.

  Where appropriate, the Veterans Agency will request evidence to support a claim. Reports from the Medical Officer and copies of Orders and accident/incident reports will help the claim to be dealt with more quickly.

• Can I bring an AFCS claim and a civil claim at the same time?

  As mentioned above, it is possible to bring a claim in the courts alongside an AFCS claim. Please be aware that an AFCS award will not usually return a person to the financial position they would have been in had it not been for the accident.

  A court claim, on the other hand, will take into account the full short- and long-term impact of the illness or injury on the service person’s life and career. It will assess any care and domestic help needed as a result of the injury or illness, including any adaptations needed to the person’s home and any private healthcare needed.

  A claim with the courts will also look at the financial repercussions of the injury. This can be particularly beneficial to the claimant if it is an injury classed as minor by the AFCS, but which has had a long-lasting impact on your ability to seek employment following your military career.

  Do note that the time limits for when you need to bring a claim in the courts differ from those applicable under the AFCS.

  See this page for a useful infographic showing the distribution of claims made and paid under the AFCS.