A timely summary of the key benefits of AFPS15

A timely summary of the key benefits of AFPS15

Off By Ed Hanna

Maj Gen Neil Marshall, CEO Forces Pension Society

As you know, from 1st April, everyone serving is now on AFPS15 which remains one of the best public sector pension schemes in operation. There are numerous benefits to AFPS15 and in this article I’m going to highlight some of them.

First, the basics: if you serve to the age of 60, your pension will be paid immediately you leave – if you exit earlier, (which is highly likely for most serving today), pension payments are deferred until state pension age. For every year you serve, the MoD adds 1/47th of your annual pensionable earnings to your individual pension. Each year, it increases in line with the Average Weekly Earnings Index, thereby retaining the value of your pension for the long term.

Early Departure Payment (EDP): in order to encourage retention to at least age 40 (and assuming departure before age 60), for a 20-year minimum term, you will qualify for an EDP equivalent to at least 34% of your deferred pension, plus a tax-free lump sum equivalent to 2.25% of the deferred pension. This is quite separate from any pension you’ll receive at state pension age and is unique to the Armed Forces!

Buy Added Pension: this is extra pension you can purchase to increase your benefits on retirement – and I recommend you consider doing this. It’s very flexible- with a minimum contribution of just £25 a month. You can do it for a year at a time and include your spouse/partner if you wish. And it’s highly tax-efficient since payments into the scheme are taken from your gross pay before tax. The scheme not only delivers a bigger pension, but it   also increases your EDP and lump sum. At the moment, the extra annual pension benefits you can buy is capped at £6,500pa.

Dependant’s Benefits: provided you have served more than two years at the time of your death, your spouse or civil partner will be eligible to receive a pension under AFPS15. If you die in Service, your spouse/civil partner or eligible partner will receive an immediate pension, paid for life, and a tax-free lump sum amounting to four times your final pensionable earnings. To ensure these benefits pass to the right person, you just need keep your personal details up to date with Joint Personnel Administration.

In summary, the benefits of AFPS15 compare very favourably with other schemes across the public and private sectors and the longer you are in it, the greater the rewards.

To ensure you’re aware of the full details of the scheme and how the McCloud Remedy might affect you, join our growing membership, now well over 63,000. Visit www.forcespensionsociety.org and remember, it pays to understand your pension.