If you have served in the armed forces you will have an entitlement to a pension provided you have served at least two years.
There are a number of different armed forces pension schemes. Which scheme you belong to will depend on the date on which you joined. You may have pension entitlements under different schemes.
You can find details of all of the various schemes here.
If you joined after 1st April 2015 you will have entitlement to a pension under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2015 (AFPS 15). If you joined before this date but after 6th April 2005 you will have had an entitlement under the 2005 scheme but also under the new scheme.
Pension entitlement under AFPS 15
Under AFPS 15, your pension is calculated according to your average earnings over your career.
Your age and the amount of paid service you have completed will determine the point at which you are entitled to benefits.
If you leave at age 60 or over you will be entitled to an immediate pension.
If you leave before the age of 60 you will be entitled to a deferred pension once you reach state pension age.
You might also be eligible for:
- Early Departure Payment
- Ill-health pension
- Resettlement Grant
Further details can be found here.
The armed forces pension calculator
You can use the armed forces pension calculator to work out how much you might get:
https://www.gov.uk/armed-forces-pension-calculator
Where can I get advice?
The Armed Forces Pension Scheme is run by Veterans UK.
You can find more details here.
The Royal British Legion can give advice on pensions.
You can find more details on their website.
