Armed Forces Pension UK 2026: AFPS 75, 05 and 15 Compared
Quick answer
The Armed Forces Pension Scheme has three versions. AFPS 75 and AFPS 05 are final salary schemes, now closed. AFPS 15 is a career average scheme and is the only one open to serving personnel, who were all moved into it by 1 April 2022.
Armed Forces Pension Schemes compared
| Scheme | Type | How the pension builds | Pension point |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFPS 75 | Final salary (closed) | Based on final pensionable rank and length of reckonable service | Immediate pension after 16 years from age 21 (officers) or 22 years from age 18 (other ranks); deferred pension age 60 |
| AFPS 05 | Final salary (closed) | Based on final pensionable pay and reckonable service, up to a maximum of 40 years | Normal pension age 65; Early Departure Payment from 18 years service and age 40 |
| AFPS 15 | Career average (CARE), open | Builds at 1/47th of pensionable earnings each year, revalued each year | Normal pension age 60; Early Departure Payment from 20 years service and age 40 |
The Armed Forces Pension Scheme is not one scheme but three, layered over the decades. Which version applies to you depends on when you served. AFPS 75 covered earlier service, AFPS 05 covered those joining from 6 April 2005, and AFPS 15 opened on 1 April 2015. The table above maps each scheme to how it builds and the point at which a pension can be drawn.
The big structural split is final salary versus career average. AFPS 75 and AFPS 05 are both final salary schemes, meaning the pension is worked out from pensionable pay near the end of service and length of reckonable service. AFPS 15 is a career average (CARE) scheme: it adds up 1/47th of pensionable earnings for every year, revaluing the running total each year. Under the McCloud remedy, every serving Regular and Reserve member was moved into AFPS 15 by 1 April 2022, and the legacy schemes closed, although benefits already built up in them are protected.
For the wider context on how defined benefit and other UK pensions fit together, see our pillar guide on UK pensions explained. The Armed Forces scheme sits alongside the other unfunded public service schemes covered in the sibling guides on the Civil Service pension and the police pension, and you can read how a comparable career average scheme works in our article on the Teachers' Pension.
Frequently asked questions
How does the Armed Forces pension work?
It is a defined benefit, non-contributory public service pension. The amount is set by the scheme rules rather than investment returns. AFPS 75 and AFPS 05 paid out based on final salary; AFPS 15, the current scheme, builds up at 1/47th of your pensionable earnings each year and is revalued annually.
What is AFPS 15?
AFPS 15 is the Armed Forces Pension Scheme that opened on 1 April 2015. It is a career average (CARE) scheme: your pension builds at 1/47th of your pensionable earnings each year. The normal pension age is 60, and an Early Departure Payment is available from 20 years service and age 40.
Can I be in both AFPS 75 and AFPS 15?
You can have benefits in both. Service before you moved to AFPS 15 stays in your legacy scheme (AFPS 75 or AFPS 05) and is paid at the point that scheme originally promised, while service from the move onwards builds in AFPS 15. All serving personnel were moved into AFPS 15 by 1 April 2022 under the McCloud remedy.
Is the Armed Forces pension final salary?
The two older schemes are. AFPS 75 and AFPS 05 are both final salary schemes, but both are now closed. The current scheme, AFPS 15, is a career average (CARE) scheme, so your pension is based on earnings across your whole career rather than your final salary.
Sources
Save these facts
View the key facts as a shareable graphic.
General information, not financial advice. Tax rules and figures can change; check the current position on gov.uk before acting.