Retired
Understand the different retirement plans
and find out what kind of pension you have.
- What kind of pension do I have?
- The pension schemes
What kind of pension do I have?
Persons who entered the service of the armed forces before 6 April 2005 are automatically affiliated to the pension scheme for the armed forces 1975 (AFPS 75). This arrangement was closed to new members from the 6theApril 2005 and those who joined the regular defense on or after that date, or accepted a transfer offer from AFPS 75, would have automatically joined the 2005 Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS 05). Also on April 6, 2005, individuals who commenced or renewed a Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS) contract became eligible for membership in the 2005 Reserve Forces Pension Scheme (RFPS 05).
Service personnel who were members of AFPS 75, AFPS 05, or RFPS 05 on April 1, 2012 and under a certain age (45 for regulars and 50 for reservists) were automatically transferred to AFPS 15 on April 1, 2015, and AFPS 05 and RFPS 05 were closed to new members from that date. Employees who transferred to AFPS 15 retained accrued rights from their old pension plan, which means that pension earned up to March 31, 2015 in their old pension plan cannot be deducted.
All personnel joining the Regular and Reserve Forces from April 1, 2015, became members of AFPS 15. Under the AFPS 15 (McCloud) measure, all Regular and Reserve Force officers, who were allowed to remain in their old arrangement, were closed on April 1, 2022, as a result of the Transitional Arrangements for All Protection Arrangements, AFPS 50s and AFPS 50s (AFS 50 Arrangements RFPS 05).
The pension schemes
If you are currently serving in the armed forces, there are four retirement plans you may be entitled to:
AFPS 75(Regular customers only - access closed on 05/04/2005)
AFPS 05(Ordinary only - access closed on 31/03/2015)
RFPS 05(Only full-time reservists - access closed on 31/03/2015)
AFPS 15(All regulars and all reservists)
A separate pension scheme (FTRS 97) was also open to full-time reservists between April 1997 and April 2006. This arrangement was based on the AFPS 75 principles.
The current pension plan, AFPS 15, is a Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) plan. This is a type of defined benefit pension plan offered by employers.
Retirement benefits are based on your income and the length of your participation in the plan.
All other schemes are based on the final salary concept (AFPS 05 and RFPS 05) or an adapted version of 'representative salary' (AFPS 75).
AFPS75
Regulars only - access closed on 05/04/2005
A minimum of two years of service in the scheme is required to be entitled to a pension. Commissioned officers may leave with immediate retirement benefits after a calculation of 16 years (from age 21 or date of commencement of service, whichever is later).
Subordinate employees may leave with immediate retirement rights after 22 years of meritorious service (from age 18 or start date of service, whichever is later).
AFPS05
Regular guests only - access closed on 31/03/2015
A minimum of two years of service in the scheme is required to be entitled to a pension. The same rules apply to all regular service personnel.
No immediate pension is paid to leavers under age 55, and those who leave before age 55 receive a retained pension, which is paid at age 65. There is an early departure income stream (EDP) and a lump sum for leavers between the ages of 40 and 55 if they reach 18 years of service.
RFPS05
Full-time reservists only - access closed on 31/03/2015
You only need to be employed for one day to qualify for this pension. The same rules apply to all full-time reserve personnel. Pensions are paid at age 60 for those earning until age 60 or older. No immediate pension is paid to leavers under the age of 60. There are no EDP assignments.
Employees who leave before the age of 60 receive a retained pension, which is paid at the age of 65. All short-term contracts are paid at age 60 if staff leave full-time reserve service at that age.
AFPS15
All regulars and all reservists
A minimum of two years of service in the scheme is required to be entitled to a pension. The same rules apply to all permanent and reserve personnel.
Emigrants under the age of 60 are not paid an immediate pension and those who leave before the age of 60 receive a deferred pension at their state pension age. There is an EDP income stream and a lump sum that is only paid to regular leavers between the ages of 40 and 60, if they have 20 years of service.
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