Armed Forces Pension Calculator
Calculate Armed Forces pension benefits under AFPS 75, AFPS 05 and AFPS 15. Estimate your annual pension, Early Departure Payment and resettlement grant.
Last updated: March 2026
Armed Forces Pension Calculator 2026
Select your AFPS scheme and enter your service details to estimate your pension, Early Departure Payment, lump sum and survivor's pension.
Armed Forces Pension Scheme Comparison
| Feature | AFPS 75 | AFPS 05 | AFPS 15 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scheme type | Final salary | Final salary | CARE |
| Accrual rate | Varies by rank/service | 1/70th per year | 1/47th per year |
| Normal Pension Age | 55 (some 60) | 55 | 60 |
| Automatic lump sum | 3× pension | None | None |
| Commutation | Available | 3:1 | 3:1 |
| EDP qualifying point | N/A | Age 40 + 18 yrs | Age 40 + 20 yrs |
| Resettlement Grant | Available | Available | Available |
| Survivor's pension | 50% of member's pension | 50% of member's pension | 62.5% of member's pension |
| Employee contributions | 7% | 9.2% (OR/JNCO) 11.0% (officers) | 4.15%–14.5% |
Expert Reviewed — This calculator reflects AFPS 15 regulations, Early Departure Payment qualifying criteria and the McCloud remedy framework. Last verified: March 2026.
Worked Examples: Armed Forces Pension Calculations
AFPS 15: 22 Years Service, Corporal, Age 40 Departure, £30,000 Pay
- CARE pension: 22 ÷ 47 × £30,000 = £14,043/year at age 60
- EDP qualifies (age 40 + 20 years service): YES
- EDP lump sum: 2.25 × £14,043 = £31,597 tax-free
- EDP annual income: 34% × £14,043 = £4,775/year until age 60
- Full pension from age 60: £14,043/year
- Survivor's pension: 62.5% × £14,043 = £8,777/year
AFPS 75: 22 Years, Sergeant, Age 40, £35,000 Pay — At Normal Pension Age 55
- Pension (simplified): 22 ÷ 67 × £35,000 = £11,493/year
- Automatic lump sum: 3 × £11,493 = £34,478 tax-free
- Survivor's pension (50%): £5,746/year
- Monthly take-home: approximately £870/month after basic rate tax
Expert Guide: Armed Forces Pensions in Depth
AFPS 15 — The Current Career Average Scheme
AFPS 15 is a Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) scheme that applies to all Armed Forces personnel joining from 1 April 2015, and to existing members who were required to move from AFPS 05 (subject to McCloud remedy). Each year, you build up 1/47th of your pensionable pay as pension, revalued by CPI+1% while you are serving. This is one of the more generous CARE accrual rates in UK public sector pensions — the LGPS uses 1/49th and the Civil Service Alpha uses 2.32% (approximately 1/43rd). Your Normal Pension Age is 60 for all members, meaning pension is payable from that age regardless of when you leave service. If you leave before 60 having met the EDP qualifying criteria (age 40 with 20 years service), you receive an EDP bridge payment until your pension starts at 60.
Early Departure Payment — The Critical Decision
The Early Departure Payment is one of the most financially significant decisions Armed Forces personnel face. Under AFPS 15, to qualify you must be at least 40 years old AND have completed at least 20 years of qualifying service. Under AFPS 05, the requirement was age 40 AND 18 years service. When you qualify and choose to leave, you receive a tax-free EDP lump sum of 2.25 times your accrued annual pension, plus an ongoing income of 34% of your accrued pension per year until your Normal Pension Age (60 for AFPS 15, 55 for AFPS 05). At Normal Pension Age, the full accrued pension (in addition to any EDP income that ceases) becomes payable. The EDP does not use up your pension — the full pension is always payable from Normal Pension Age. Many service personnel leave at the EDP qualifying point to pursue second careers while receiving EDP income.
Resettlement Grant
The Resettlement Grant (RG) is available to Armed Forces personnel who leave before qualifying for EDP but after completing minimum service. Under AFPS 15, the RG is available to those with at least 4 years' service (officers) or 12 years' service (Other Ranks) who do not qualify for the EDP. The RG is a one-off tax-free payment that compensates for leaving before benefit entitlement begins. Under AFPS 05, the qualifying service for RG was 9 years (officers) or 12 years (Other Ranks). RG amounts are reviewed periodically by MoD. The RG is separate from any Enhanced Learning Credits (ELCs) or Standard Learning Credits (SLCs) for resettlement training, and from the redundancy compensation available when MoD initiates departure.
AFPS 75 — The Legacy Scheme
AFPS 75 was the original Armed Forces pension scheme, closed to new entrants from 6 April 2005. It is a final salary scheme with accrual rates that vary by rank and type of service. The key features are the built-in lump sum of three times the annual pension (automatic, tax-free, no exchange required) and a Normal Pension Age of 55 for most ranks. Unlike the Police PPS 1987, AFPS 75 does not have a maximum service cap — pension continues to accrue year by year. Officers under AFPS 75 have separate, more complex accrual structures based on rank-related pension entitlements. For personnel still receiving AFPS 75 pensions or with deferred AFPS 75 benefits, pensions are index-linked by CPI in payment. Officers who served in AFPS 75 will often have their pre-2005 service as AFPS 75 and post-2005 service in AFPS 05 or AFPS 15, creating a mixed pension entitlement.
McCloud Remedy and Armed Forces
Armed Forces personnel are covered by the same McCloud/Sargeant remedy as other public sector workers. Those who were in service on 1 April 2012 and remained serving on 1 April 2015 (when AFPS 15 was introduced) may have a deferred choice for the remedy period (1 April 2015 to 31 March 2022). The choice is between AFPS 15 benefits and legacy scheme (AFPS 75 or AFPS 05) benefits for that period, made at the point of leaving service or drawing pension. Veterans UK and Defence Business Services (DBS) are responsible for implementing the remedy calculations. Given that AFPS 15 has a higher Normal Pension Age (60 versus 55 for AFPS 05), many personnel who served during the remedy period may find the legacy scheme benefits more valuable — this is exactly what the remedy is designed to allow them to choose.
Attributable Benefits and the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
Entirely separate from pension benefits, the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) provides compensation for injuries, illness or death caused by service on or after 6 April 2005. Lump sum awards (Tariff Awards) are available for specific injuries, and a Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP) provides ongoing income for more serious conditions. GIP is index-linked and payable for life. The GIP can be paid alongside pension benefits — they do not reduce each other. For attributable injuries before 6 April 2005, the War Pensions Scheme (WPS) administered by Veterans UK applies. Attributable death in service triggers a Survivor's Attributable Pension that is additional to any regular survivor's pension. These attributable benefits represent an important safety net for service personnel and their families and should be factored into any comprehensive retirement planning.
Sources & Methodology
- MOD — Armed Forces Pension Schemes Overview
- Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2015 Regulations
- Veterans UK — Pensions and Compensation
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for guidance only. AFPS 75 benefits vary significantly by rank and type of service — this calculator uses a simplified average. EDP and Resettlement Grant eligibility depends on exact service terms. McCloud remedy options will be calculated by Veterans UK at the point of leaving service. Always contact Veterans UK or a regulated military pension specialist for official figures.