This is an estimate only. For an official pension forecast contact Veterans UK or use the official GOV.UK Armed Forces Pension Calculator.
AFPS 15 Pension Estimator
Zero employee contributions · 1/47th accrual · AWE revaluation
What Is AFPS 15?
The Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2015 (AFPS 15) is the current statutory pension scheme for all UK regular service personnel — Army, Royal Navy, Royal Marines, and Royal Air Force. It is a defined benefit Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) scheme, meaning it guarantees a set income in retirement based on career earnings rather than investment returns.
One of its most distinctive features is that service personnel pay zero employee contributions. The full cost is met by the Ministry of Defence on their behalf. This makes AFPS 15 unique among UK public sector schemes and represents one of the most valuable financial benefits of military service.
How AFPS 15 Is Calculated
For every scheme year (1 April to 31 March) you serve, the MOD adds 1/47th of your annual pensionable pay to your CARE pension pot. A sergeant earning £38,000 adds approximately £808 of pension that year. Unlike most other CARE schemes which revalue by CPI, AFPS 15 uses Average Weekly Earnings (AWE) — which typically grows faster than CPI, providing better long-term protection.
The AWE revaluation for April 2026 has been confirmed at 4.8%. At retirement (or when you leave and the pension becomes payable), all your revalued annual slices are added together to give your total pension for life, uprated by CPI each April in payment.
AFPS 75, AFPS 05 and AFPS 15 — Key Differences
All serving personnel have been exclusively in AFPS 15 since 1 April 2022. Benefits built up under legacy schemes are fully protected. The McCloud remedy also gives eligible personnel a choice of which scheme rules apply to the 2015–2022 remedy period.
| Feature | AFPS 75 | AFPS 05 | AFPS 15 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Final Salary | Final Salary | CARE |
| Accrual Rate | 1/70th | 1/70th | 1/47th |
| Employee Contribution | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Revaluation (serving) | Pay-linked | Pay-linked | AWE (4.8% in 2026) |
| Normal Pension Age | 55 (OR), 60 (Officer) | 65 | 60 (or State Pension age) |
| Automatic Lump Sum | 3× pension | 3× pension | No (commutation available) |
| Death in Service (lump sum) | 3× PP | 3× PP | 4× PP |
💡 AFPS 15 accrual advantage: At 1/47th per year, AFPS 15 has a significantly higher accrual rate than the older schemes (1/70th). A sergeant earning £38,000 adds £808/year under AFPS 15, compared to only £543/year under the AFPS 75 or AFPS 05 rate — a 49% higher annual build-up for the same salary.
Early Departure Payment (EDP) — A Unique AFPS 15 Benefit
The Early Departure Payment (EDP) is a distinctive AFPS 15 benefit with no equivalent in most civilian pension schemes. If you leave the Armed Forces after at least 20 years of service and having reached age 40, you qualify for an immediate EDP — even though your full pension does not become payable until age 60.
EDP Components
- EDP Lump Sum: A tax-free lump sum equal to 2.25 times your deferred pension value at the point of leaving.
- EDP Income: A regular income payment equal to approximately 34% of your deferred pension — payable immediately from the day you leave until your pension comes into payment at age 60 (or State Pension age if pension is deferred).
⭐ EDP Example: A warrant officer with a deferred pension of £15,000/year at the time of leaving would receive an immediate £33,750 tax-free lump sum (2.25 × £15,000) plus ~£5,100/year income (34% × £15,000) to bridge the gap until pension age 60 — while still building up State Pension and any civilian employment pension.
Immediate Pension (IP) at Age 60
If you serve until age 60 and leave, your full AFPS 15 pension is paid immediately upon leaving. There is no waiting period. The pension is then uprated by CPI each April for the rest of your life.