How to claim AFCS
The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme is a no-fault scheme, so you do not have to prove anyone was to blame, only that the injury or illness was caused by service on or after 6 April 2005. This is compensation, separate from your AFPS pension. This guide covers the form, the time limit, the fast payment for serious injuries, and how to challenge a decision. To see the figures first, use the AFCS calculator.
Key takeaways
- It is a no-fault scheme: you show service caused the injury or illness, not that anyone was negligent.
- Claims should normally be made within 7 years, though there are exceptions for conditions that appear later.
- You can claim while still serving or after leaving, online or by post through Veterans UK.
- The most seriously injured serving personnel can apply for a fast payment of up to £64,148.
- You do not need a paid solicitor; free help is available from the Veterans Welfare Service and service charities.
Who can claim, and the time limit
All regular and reserve personnel are covered by the AFCS, whether still serving or already discharged. What matters is that the injury or illness was caused, or made worse, by service on or after 6 April 2005. For anything relating to service before that date, the older War Pension Scheme applies instead, and our AFCS vs War Pension guide explains the split.
A claim should normally be made within 7 years. The clock runs from the incident, from the point service made an existing condition worse, from when you first sought medical advice for an illness, or from discharge, whichever comes first. There are exceptions where the effects of a condition appear only years later, so a late claim is not automatically refused. If in doubt, it is better to claim and let Veterans UK decide.
Making the claim and the evidence that helps
You apply to Veterans UK using the single armed forces compensation and war pension claim, either online or on a paper form. You give your service and medical details and describe the condition and how service caused it. You do not need to gather all your own medical records first, because Veterans UK can request your service and medical records directly, but anything you already hold speeds the decision.
The most useful thing you can do is set out clearly what the condition is, when it started, and how it links to your service. Keep copies of anything you send. Free, independent help with the form is available from the Veterans Welfare Service and from service charities, so you do not need to pay a representative to make a good claim.
Fast payment for serious injuries
If you are still serving and very seriously injured, you may be able to apply for a fast payment without waiting for the full claim to finish. It is worth up to £64,148, the level 8 lump sum on the April 2026 tariff, and is designed to get money to those who need it quickly. It applies where the injury happened on or after 9 May 2011 and would give an award at tariff levels 1 to 8, and it should be applied for within 6 months of the injury.
A fast payment is an advance rather than a separate award, so it is taken into account when the full claim is decided. For the full tariff behind these figures, see the AFCS tariff table.
If you disagree with the decision
If you think a decision is wrong, you can ask Veterans UK for a reconsideration, normally within 12 months. If you are still not satisfied, you can appeal to an independent tribunal. Where an injury has not yet settled, Veterans UK can make an interim award and review it later, usually within one to two years, so the final level reflects how the condition turns out.
Assessments are not always final, so if a condition worsens you can also ask for it to be looked at again. Up-to-date medical evidence is what supports a higher award, so it is worth keeping your records current.
Frequently asked questions
James Hartley
James Hartley spent 22 years in the British Army, including unit personnel administration and pensions and records duties, and now writes the scheme guides and scenario pages on this site. He is not a regulated financial adviser, so the content is general information rather than personal advice.
Sources: gov.uk · GAD factors · Veterans UK · Forces Pension Society · MoneyHelper.