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Armed Forces Pension Scheme

The Armed Forces Pension Scheme runs in three generations, AFPS 75, AFPS 05 and AFPS 15, alongside the Reserve Forces Pension Scheme and a separate compensation arrangement, the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. Most serving personnel today are in AFPS 15, but plenty still hold legacy benefits, and McCloud touches almost everyone who served between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022.

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Armed Forces Pension Scheme: AFPS 75, 05 and 15 explained

The full plain-English guide for this scheme, what it is, how the sections fit together, what you contribute and what you get out.

What members usually ask

Which scheme am I in?
Depends on entry date and choices made in 2015. AFPS 75 closed to new entrants in 2005; AFPS 05 closed in 2015; AFPS 15 is the current scheme.
What is the Early Departure Payment?
A separate non-pension lump-sum-and-monthly-income arrangement for AFPS 15 leavers under State Pension Age. It is not the same as your pension.
How does AFCS fit in?
AFCS is completely separate. It compensates for service-attributable injury or illness; it is not part of the pension scheme.
What is McCloud doing to my service?
Pre-April-2022 service in AFPS 15 has been rolled back to your legacy scheme by default. You get a choice between the two when you draw your pension.

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Official sources for this scheme

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