The Armed Forces occupational Pension Scheme, the AFPS, provides a valuable pension package for regular Service personnel, which includes enhanced attributable death and injury benefits.  Benefits can be further enhanced by members through Additional Voluntary Contributions.  For further information refer to the booklet, ‘Your Pension Scheme Explained’, which can be obtained from your Regimental Administrative Office.  Attributable death and injury benefits are also paid to Reservists under the Reserve Forces (Attributable Benefits Etc) Regulations. Details can be found on the Ministry of Defence website. Click here for an overview of the main benefits.

As a Regular serviceman or woman you are automatically a member of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS).  You do not contribute directly from your pay into a pension fund, but the Armed Forces Pay Review Board (AFPRB) does make an adjustment to your salary to take into account the relevant benefits of the Services' scheme when compared with civilian pension arrangements.

Benefits vary depending on whether you are a member of the 75 scheme or the 05 scheme.

Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, the AFCS, was established to provide benefits for injuries sustained.

Army Dependants Trust

The Army Dependants Trust, ADT, provides an additional amount of £10,000 for the immediate benefit of the next of kin in the event of death. You pay a small amount in to the fund each year, which is deducted from your pay. The actual amount payable on death is not guaranteed and depends on the amount of funds available.

War Pension Scheme

The War Pension Scheme provides compensation for ex-Service personnel disabled due to service (i.e. a disablement pension and supplementary allowances) and to the families of those whose death is due to service.  Further information is available from the Veterans Agency Help Line UK Free phone 0800 1692277 (Overseas +44 1253 866043) or visit www.veteransagency.mod.uk.

The subject of Pensions and Benefits is a complex one and you are strongly advised to seek the assistance of your Unit Admin staff if you need detailed information.

Even so, getting the right information on all the MoD schemes is not always easy to arrange, so all the Abacus advisers have been trained to have an understanding of how each scheme works and they will be happy to give you some help.