Understanding your Armed Forces Pension
AFPS 75, 05 and 15 in plain English — when you can claim, and what you'll get.
6 min readLast reviewed May 2026
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Which scheme are you in?
There are three main schemes you may be on:
- AFPS 75 — for service before 6 April 2005.
- AFPS 05 — for service from 6 April 2005 to 31 March 2015.
- AFPS 15 — for service from 1 April 2015 onwards.
Many serving and ex-service members have a mix of two — and the McCloud remedy has changed how some of these are calculated. If you're unsure which applies, request your annual benefit statement from JPAC or Veterans UK.
When you can claim
- AFPS 75 / 05: Immediate Pension at age 37/40 (depending on scheme), or preserved pension at 60–65.
- AFPS 15: Pension at State Pension age. Early Departure Payment (EDP) lump sum + monthly payment from age 40 if you've served 20 years.
Big decisions
- Should you commute (swap pension for a lump sum)?
- Are there any added-pension purchases worth making before leaving?
- Are you affected by the McCloud remedy rollback?
These have long-term consequences. Get specialist advice before deciding.
Where to go next
We don't give regulated financial advice, but we can help you find an Independent Financial Adviser with real military pension expertise. Get a signpost →
Still need help?
Speak to a trained advisor. Free, confidential, and judgement-free — for anyone who has served, is serving, or is family of someone who has.