Thousands of Royal Navy, Army and RAF veterans owed deferred pension benefits - how do I claim?
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Thousands of military veterans are owed pension benefits they may not realise they’re entitled to.
Ministry of Defence data shows that more than 15,000 pension benefits have remained unclaimed. Unlike the civilian scheme which is paid automatically, these military benefits need to be claimed.
Dame Caroline Dinenage, Conservative MP for Gosport, has joined a campaign run by the Forces Pension Society to push as many veterans as possible to check what they’re entitled to. “As the home to the highest proportion of veterans in the UK, there will almost certainly be veterans in Gosport, Lee on the Solent, Stubbington and Hill Head who have not claimed pension benefits that they are eligible for,” she said.
“I’m especially talking about those who left service early and so did not receive an immediate pension. The eligibility rules are quite complicated, though, so I recommend those who want to check whether they can claim, to use the Forces Pension Society’s handy flowchart.”
Preserved or deferred pensions were introduced for the armed forces from April 6, 1975. A preserved pension is a term used to define one set out from an Occupational Pension Scheme, that’s maintained after a service person leaves employment. The benefit is paid scheme’s pension age. They may also be due to partners of deceased veterans.
How do I claim the preserved pension?
Due to changes over time to the criteria for receiving a preserved pension, the rule in force at the time a serviceperson left service is the rule which applies to them. The Forces Pension Society has displayed a flow chart on its website that shows the differences.
Anyone who left the forces between April 1, 1975, and March 31, 1978, must have been aged 26 or over when they completed their service to claim. They also have to have completed five or more years of reckonable service.
People who left between April 1, 1978, and April 5, 1988, must have five ore more reckonable service years to claim. Anyone who left between April 5, 1983, and April 5, 1988, must have enlisted after April 5, 1978, and need five years of contracted-out service - full paid service from any age.
Personnel who left after April 6, 1988, must have two years of reckonable service. Reckonable service the total period of employment that counts towards calculating specific employee benefits.
Veterans then need to apply to Veterans UK using the AFPS Form 8, or call 0800 085 3600 for further details. Residents who married a veteran who met this criteria but passed away may be entitled to these benefits. Further details, and a link to the appropriate form, can be found on the Forces Pension Society website.
If you have successfully claimed an armed forces pension that you missed, we’d love to hear from you. You can email [email protected], or call 07801195443.