Myth: A colleague of mine is in FTRS after leaving Regular service and says they will get their AFPS 15 pension from their Regular service if they retire at age 60, but I was told that my AFPS 15 pension is deferred until I reach State Pension Age
Fact: If someone leaves Regular service with a deferred AFPS 15 pension and then rejoins into any form of Reserve service within 5 years, they will remain an active member of AFPS 15. If they stay in Reserve service until they are age 60, their AFPS 15 pension will be payable at the point of discharge with no reduction. This will include the AFPS 15 pension accrued during Regular service.
Myth: I’ve heard that I need a break between leaving Regular service and re-joining into the Part Time Volunteer Reserves (PTVR). Is this true?
Fact: You would only need a break of 28 days between leaving Regular service and joining PTVR service if you are going to be in receipt of your AFPS 15 pension when you leave Regular service. If you are only in receipt of an AFPS 75 pension, AFPS 05 pension, AFPS 05 EDP or AFPS 15 EDP (or any combination of these awards), then no break is required.
Myth: I have to repay my lump sums when joining the Reserves?
Fact: No! The Resettlement Grant, Early Departure Payments, pension and commutation lump sums are not affected by PTVR service. The same is not true for those undertaking FTRS duties after leaving the regular Armed Forces. Pension, commutation and AFPS 15 lump sums are not affected on joining the FTRS but:
- If leaving with a Resettlement grant (RG) you need a break of 30 days between leaving
regular service and joining the FTRS if you are to avoid having to pay back some or all of it;
and: - If leaving with an AFPS 05 EDP lump sum, you will have to repay any ‘unexpired portion’ of the lump sum. So, for example, if your AFPS 05 EDP lump sum is worth nine months’ pay and you join the FTRS or the regular Armed Forces six months after receiving it, you will have to pay back the equivalent of three months’ pay.
Incidentally, the same claw back of RG will apply if you re-join the Regular Armed Forces within- three months.
There are plenty more questions around this subject, so instead of listening to rumous, we thought it would be helpful to answer some of your main concerns via Q&A, which you can download here.
Information correct at time of publication September 2024 (Updated 01/10/24 with an amendment to the Q&A download)
