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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 6th 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

“CRUCIAL SUPPORT”

“You are worth every penny. The support you have given to my wife and I has been crucial in navigating the complexities of AFPS during the course of our working careers in the RAF and after. Thanks for all you do.”

FPS Member – February 2025

“EASED MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE FUTURE”

“I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for the invaluable pension advice you provided me. Your expertise and guidance have given me a clearer understanding of my options and have greatly eased my concerns about the future. Thank you for taking the time to explain everything in such detail and for being so patient with my questions. I feel much more confident about my financial planning now.”

FPS Member – March 2025

“WORTH EVERY PENNY”

“I would just like to formally thank you for all your help and assistance in the pension minefield I have been going through, your experience and knowledge and the offer of the personal touch of going through the pension application form with me over the telephone was priceless and I am so grateful for your professionalism. My membership fees are worth every penny. I look forward to getting in touch again at the end of my FTRS contract for more invaluable advice. “

FPS Member – January 2026

“WHAT YOU DO IS INVALUABLE”

“Thank you so much for all your time and work on this. What you do is invaluable, and only now that you have laid everything out so simply, can I see my choices clearly. I really appreciate it. Thank you again for your time, and the confidence you have given me to now make an informed decision.”

FPS Member – October 2025

“CAN’T STRESS HOW GRATEFUL I AM”

“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. Thank you Forces Pension Society.”

FPS Member – September 2025

“A HAPPY ENDING”

“I would just like to thank the team at FPS. I can confirm that over the last couple of weeks I have received several payments with regard to my previously unclaimed pension, nearly £2000 tax free, £5600 after tax and nearly £600 for loss of interest in addition to a £45 monthly increase to my pension, so one very happy ex-serviceman. Once again thanks for your continued help and support in such matters”

FPS Member – September 2025

“EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL WEBINAR”

“On behalf of DHU, thank you very much for your extremely comprehensive Webinar this was extremely beneficial. “

Roadshow – May 2025

“UNCLAIMED PENSION”

“I have received overall £12743. Could not have done it without the support of the Society so I would like to thank you for pointing me in the right direction and particularly the help you gave me with the paperwork and answers to my questions. Really appreciate what you have done for me.”

FPS Member – October 2024

“OUTSTANDING BRIEF”

“Many thanks for your outstanding brief, I’ve been inundated with nothing but positive feed back with people learning a lot and actioning things off the back of it. RSM at the Defence SERE “

Roadshow

“A WEALTH OF INFORMATION”

“Thank you for the wealth of information that you have just provided through your webinar this afternoon. It was very much welcomed. I look forward to joining the Forces Pension Society in the very near future and have no doubt, after serving 33 year’s service thus far, that this will prove invaluable as I enter my final two years of service.
“

Roadshow

“FASCINATING WEBINAR”

“Many thanks for allowing me to connect to the last webinar. I found this a fascinating update on all the complex issues pertaining to service pensions and left me much better informed to engage with Veterans UK once my AFPS 12 returns.”

July 2025 – Member

“ONE OF THE BEST MOVES I’VE MADE”

“I would like to pass on my sincere thanks to the FPS, who have been superb in providing me the most excellent feedback on my pension enquiries. I have to say, joining the FPS, and seeing such in-depth, detailed, pension forecast checks, is by far one of the best moves I have made in my 32 year career. The patience, professionalism, knowledge and willingness to help was nothing short of outstanding. Thank you all.”

FPS Member – April 2025

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