AFCS vs War Pension: which scheme covers you
There are two armed forces injury schemes, and the date of the injury or illness decides which one applies. Neither is your AFPS service pension, which is a separate benefit you can claim alongside compensation. This guide explains the 6 April 2005 dividing line, how each scheme is assessed, and whether you can hold awards under both.
Key takeaways
- The date of the injury or illness sets the scheme, not when you claim.
- On or after 6 April 2005: the [AFCS](/afcs), assessed by a 15-level tariff (lump sum plus GIP).
- Before 6 April 2005: the [War Pension Scheme](/war-pension), assessed by percentage of disablement.
- You can hold awards under both schemes if you have conditions on each side of the date.
- Both are separate from, and paid in addition to, your AFPS pension.
The 6 April 2005 dividing line
The single most important fact is the date. If the injury happened, or the illness was caused or first reported, on or after 6 April 2005, it is dealt with under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. If it relates to service before 6 April 2005, it is dealt with under the older War Pension Scheme. This is about the date of the injury or illness, not the date you put in a claim, so a veteran claiming today for a condition from the 1990s is still under the War Pension Scheme.
For a condition that was made worse by service that straddles the date, Veterans UK will decide which scheme fits the facts. If in doubt, you submit one application to apply for armed forces compensation or a war pension, and the right scheme is applied.
How each scheme is assessed
The two schemes work very differently. The AFCS uses a tariff with 15 levels. Your injury is matched to a level, which fixes a tax-free lump sum, and the more serious levels (1 to 11) add a Guaranteed Income Payment for life. The War Pension Scheme instead assesses a degree of disablement as a percentage. From 20% upwards that percentage pays a tax-free weekly pension; below 20% it pays a one-off gratuity.
| AFCS | War Pension | |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | On/after 6 Apr 2005 | Before 6 Apr 2005 |
| Assessed by | Tariff level 1 to 15 | Disablement % |
| Main award | Lump sum + GIP | Weekly pension |
| Top rate | £674,700 + GIP | £248.10/week (100%) |
Can you claim both, and what about your pension?
Yes, you can hold awards under both schemes at once if you have one condition from before April 2005 and another from on or after that date. What you cannot do is be paid twice for the same condition under both schemes. Each award is considered on its own facts.
Both schemes are entirely separate from your AFPS service pension. Compensation does not reduce your pension, and your pension does not reduce your war pension. The one interaction to know is that an AFCS Guaranteed Income Payment is coordinated with a medical discharge pension paid for the same condition. To estimate your service pension, use the pension calculator.
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.