In both examples where an AFPS ill-health pension is paid this will be deducted from the GIP payment and the difference will be payable on top of the ill-health pension. Payments are made monthly, increased in line with inflation (consumer price index) and payable until death. Payments will not be decreased if your health improves.
Where an individual has suffered multiple injuries/illnesses in a single incident, compensation can be sought for each of the individual injuries/illnesses. Calculation of benefit payable in these cases is complicated and JSP 765 should be consulted. This also applies to injuries sustained over a career where an AFCS award has been made whilst serving and a GIP is payable for each injury/illness on leaving the Service.
The Scheme is administered by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) at Norcross, Blackpool. The SPVA is an executive agency of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) who also manage the War Pensions Scheme. SPVA aims to provide comprehensive assistance and advice to Service personnel and their families in accessing the scheme. The Agency is also the focal point within the MoD for providing information and advice on a range of issues of concern to veterans and their families.
There is a time limit for claiming under the AFCS. You must normally claim by the earliest of the following dates:
You have 7 years to make a claim. There are some exceptions to this such as late onset illnesses. Former members of the UK armed forces can claim for a late onset illness at any time after the event to which it relates, as long as they do so within 3 years of seeking medical advice. A late onset illness is a malignancy or other physical disorder which is capable of being caused by an occupational exposure occurring more than 7 years before the onset of the illness. Late onset also covers mental disorders which are capable of being caused by an incident occurring more than 7 years before the onset of the illness.
If you want to claim after leaving service, you must also complete and send a claim form, available from the VA, within relevant time limits. This is normally within 7 years from the date of the incident that caused the injury, or 7 years from the date you first sought medical advice about an illness, and cannot be later than 7 years after leaving service, whichever is the earliest.
If you are medically discharged from the Armed Forces, the SPVA will, in some circumstances, automatically consider any illness/injury that contributed to your medical discharge, without the need to submit a claim form.
In all other circumstances, claims for compensation under the Scheme must be made on a AFCSWPS001_On_line_version claim form signed and dated by the claimant, or by someone authorised to do so on their behalf. AFCS claim forms can be downloaded here
Our Pensions Volunteers will be happy to chat through the scheme with you before you make a claim. You can contact them through the Members Only area or via the contact us page.
More important details can also be found in the ‘members only’ area.
Contact SPVA’s free Veterans-UK Helpline:
0800 1914 2 18 (UK only)
+44 1253 866 043 (overseas)
The helpline provides information and guidance on all aspects of the Scheme, including obtaining and completing claim forms.