Pensions

About the
Schemes

Understand the different pension schemes
and find out what type of pension you have.

Which type of pension do I have?

People who joined the Regular Armed Forces before 6th April 2005, automatically joined the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 (AFPS 75). This scheme was closed to new members from 6^th April 2005 and those who joined the Regular Armed Forces on or after this date, or accepted an offer to transfer from AFPS 75, would have automatically joined the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2005 (AFPS 05). Also on 6th April 2005, people starting or renewing a Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS) contract were eligible for membership of the Reserve Forces Pension Scheme 2005 (RFPS 05).

Service personnel who were members of AFPS 75, AFPS 05 or RFPS 05 and under a certain age (45 years old for Regulars and age 50 for Reservists) on 1st April 2012, were automatically transferred to AFPS 15 on 1st April 2015, and from that date AFPS 05 and RFPS 05 were closed to new members. Personnel who were transferred into AFPS 15 retained accrued rights from their legacy pension scheme, which means that pension earned up to 31st March 2015 in their legacy scheme cannot be taken away.

All personnel who joined the Regular Armed Forces and Reserve Forces from 1st April 2015 became members of AFPS 15. Under the AFPS 15 remedy (McCloud), on 1 April 2022 all serving Regular and Reserve personnel who were allowed to remain in their legacy scheme, due to the transitional protection arrangements, became members of AFPS 15 and all legacy schemes (AFPS 75, AFPS 05 and RFPS 05) closed.

The pension schemes

If you’re currently serving in the Armed Forces, there are four pension schemes you could have rights to:

AFPS 75 (Regulars only – entry closed on 05/04/2005)

AFPS 05 (Regulars only – entry closed on 31/03/2015)

RFPS 05 (Full Time Reservists only – entry closed on 31/03/2015)

AFPS 15 (All Regulars and All Reservists)

Full Time Reservists also had a separate pension scheme (FTRS 97) open to them between April 1997 and April 2006. This scheme was based on the AFPS 75 principles.

The current pension scheme, AFPS 15, is a Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) scheme. This is a type of defined benefit pension scheme offered by employers.

The benefits at retirement are based on your earnings and length of membership of the scheme.

All other schemes are based on the final salary concept (AFPS 05 and RFPS 05) or a modified ‘representative salary’ version (AFPS 75).

AFPS 75

Regulars only – entry closed on 05/04/2005

A minimum of two years’ service is needed in the scheme in order to be entitled to any pension. Commissioned Officers can leave with immediate pension award entitlements after 16 years reckonable service (from age 21 or service start date, whichever is the later).

Non-commissioned personnel can leave with immediate pension award entitlements after 22 years reckonable service (from age 18 or service start date , whichever is the later).

AFPS 05

Regulars only – entry closed on 31/03/2015

A minimum of two years’ service is needed in the scheme in order to be entitled to any pension. The same rules apply to all Regular serving personnel.

No immediate pension payable to leavers under the age of 55, and those who leave before age 55 receive a preserved pension payable at age 65. There is an Early Departure Payment (EDP) income stream and lump sum payable to leavers aged between 40 and 55 if they’ve completed 18 years’ service.

RFPS 05

Full Time Reservists only – entry closed on 31/03/2015

Only one days’ service is needed to be entitled to this pension. The same rules apply to all Full Time Reserve Service personnel. Pensions are paid at age 60 for those who serve until age 60 or beyond. No immediate pension is payable to leavers under the age of 60. There are no EDP awards.

Personnel who leave before age 60, will receive a preserved pension payable at age 65. All short periods of service are payable at the age of 60 if personnel leave full time Reserve service at that age.

AFPS 15

All Regulars and All Reservists

A minimum of two years’ service is needed in the scheme in order to be entitled to any pension. The same rules apply for all Regular and Reserve personnel.

No immediate pension is payable to leavers under the age of 60, and those who leave before age 60 receive a deferred pension payable at their State Pension Age. There is an EDP income stream and lump sum payable to Regular leavers only, aged between 40 and 60 if they’ve completed 20 years’ service.

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What our members say

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“I can’t stress how grateful I am for getting definitive and detailed answers to my pension queries. It has been a minefield in the years leading up to my discharge trying to decipher the various booklets, and which information in them relates to my situation. I also enjoy the fact that you get to speak to someone who has “been there and done that”, or has at least dealt with a similar situation in the past. I was presented with a thorough and comprehensive breakdown of my entitlement. Thank you Forces Pension Society.”

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“I would like to offer my sincere thanks to teh team for all the help and assistance you have given me over the past few years. My circumstances were “not typical”, but you will be pleased to learn that all my fears were unfounded and everything has materialised as it should have. I am now in receipt of my lump sum and regular pension, including the extra I had put in from my years with another employer. Thank you to FPS as a whole for all the help and guidance you give to members of the Armed Forces. We would be stuck without you!
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“I became a member 9 months after my father’s death as I have been handling the widow’s pension on behalf of my mother. The journey was an absolute nightmare. 13 months on and we are still not out of the woods, however, your team, especially Colin Thomas have been pivotal in progressing our case. I cannot think of another organisation that charges a nominal yearly fee for the time, compassion, empathy and sheer determination in making things happen fairly, honestly and justly as The Forces Pension Society. The service and commitment given is mind blowing.
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“Wow!”

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About theSchemes

Which type of pension do I have?

The pension schemes

If you’re currently serving in the Armed Forces, there are four pension schemes you could have rights to:

AFPS 75 (Regulars only – entry closed on 05/04/2005)

AFPS 05 (Regulars only – entry closed on 31/03/2015)

RFPS 05 (Full Time Reservists only – entry closed on 31/03/2015)

AFPS 15 (All Regulars and All Reservists)

AFPS 75

Regulars only – entry closed on 05/04/2005

AFPS 05

Regulars only – entry closed on 31/03/2015

RFPS 05

Full Time Reservists only – entry closed on 31/03/2015

AFPS 15

All Regulars and All Reservists

Expert pension guidance& much more for just £47*

Access to expertpension guidance

Big savings withour exclusiveMember offers

Free copies ofPennant Magazine

About the
Schemes

Expert pension guidance
& much more for just £47*

Access to expert
pension guidance

Big savings with
our exclusive
Member offers

Free copies of
Pennant Magazine