Estimate the pension you earn in the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2015 (AFPS 15) and the Early Departure Payment
you get if you leave the Regular forces between 40 and 60.
Your service
Basic pay only: allowances and most extra pay are not pensionable.
If you enter this figure it replaces the earnings estimate. Your statement includes the yearly revaluation that the estimate leaves out.
Your AFPS 15 pension and Early Departure Payment
Enter your earnings and AFPS 15 service (or your statement figure) to see the estimate.
Share
Early Departure Payment rules
Rule
AFPS 15 Early Departure Payment
Age when you leave
40 or over and under 60
Qualifying service
At least 20 years in the Regular forces, continuous or aggregated
Lump sum
2.25 x your provisional deferred pension, paid within 3 months of leaving
Monthly payments, basic amount
34% of your provisional deferred pension a year
Additional service allowance
0.85% of that pension for each full year beyond the 20-year and age 40 point
Paid until
The day before your deferred pension age (State Pension age)
If you were not in AFPS 15 for the whole of your qualifying service, the scheme manager decides the amounts
after consulting the scheme actuary. Work out the date your deferred pension starts with the
State Pension age calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How is an AFPS 15 pension calculated?
AFPS 15 builds up pension each scheme year. The earned pension for a year is 1/47th of your pensionable earnings for that year. Each year's pension is then revalued by an index adjustment before it is added to your pension account, so the figure on your benefit statement differs from earnings divided by 47 added up.
What counts as pensionable earnings?
Basic pay for your rank and seniority, plus any other amount the Secretary of State treats as pensionable. Allowances, extra amounts for qualifications, duties, location or conditions of service, and medical or dental officer extras are not pensionable unless they are expressly provided as pensionable.
What is the AFPS 15 normal pension age?
60 for members of the armed forces. If you leave service at 60 or over you are entitled to your pension straight away. If you leave earlier, your pension is deferred until your deferred pension age, which is the same as your State Pension age.
Can I take my armed forces pension before 60?
A deferred member who has left service can claim from age 55. An early payment reduction applies if the pension comes into payment before the deferred pension age. This calculator does not apply the reduction.
What is an Early Departure Payment (EDP)?
An EDP is a lump sum plus monthly payments for people who leave the Regular forces between 40 and 60 with at least 20 years of qualifying service. The monthly payments run from the day after you leave until the day before your deferred pension age.
How much is the Early Departure Payment?
The lump sum is 2.25 times your provisional deferred pension at the point you leave. The monthly payments are 34% of that pension a year, plus 0.85% for every full year you served beyond the 20 year service and age 40 qualification point.
Can I swap the EDP lump sum for higher monthly payments?
Yes. A person may opt to exchange the whole of the lump sum for an increase in the monthly payments. The scheme manager sets the increase, after consulting the scheme actuary, at an amount equivalent in value to the lump sum.
Why does this estimate differ from my own statement?
The estimate leaves out the yearly revaluation of your pension, the 2015 pension remedy, service in earlier schemes, added pension and lump-sum commutation. Enter the deferred pension from your own benefit statement to get the EDP figures on your real pension. GOV.UK points serving members to the official calculator or form 12, and people who have left to form 14.
