War Pension for PTSD
PTSD and other mental health conditions caused by service are compensated like any other condition, under the War Pension Scheme for service before 6 April 2005 or the AFCS for service on or after that date. This is compensation, separate from your AFPS pension. This guide explains how PTSD is assessed and what it pays.
Key takeaways
- PTSD is assessed by its effect on you, as a percentage of disablement (War Pension) or a tariff level (AFCS).
- There is no fixed PTSD rate; the assessment reflects how much the condition affects daily life.
- A War Pension is a tax-free weekly amount; at 100% that is £248.10 a week from April 2026.
- Severe cases can add Constant Attendance Allowance, Unemployability Supplement or the Mobility Supplement.
- Assessments can be reviewed if the condition deteriorates.
How PTSD is assessed
There is no single PTSD payment. Instead, a doctor appointed by Veterans UK assesses how much the condition affects you compared with a healthy person, and expresses that as a degree of disablement under the War Pension Scheme, or matches it to a mental-health tariff level (Table 3) under the AFCS. A mild, well-managed condition sits low; a severe condition that disrupts work and relationships sits high.
Because PTSD can change over time, assessments are not always final. If the condition worsens, you can ask for a review, which can raise the percentage and so the pension. Keeping medical evidence up to date is the single most useful thing you can do to support a fair assessment.
What a War Pension for PTSD pays (April 2026)
Once a percentage is set, it pays the standard war disablement pension rate. These are the Other Ranks weekly and yearly figures from April 2026.
| Disablement | Weekly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 100% | £248.10 | £12,946 |
| 70% | £173.67 | £9,062 |
| 50% | £124.05 | £6,473 |
| 30% | £74.43 | £3,884 |
| 20% | £49.62 | £2,589 |
Below 20% a one-off gratuity is paid instead. For the full band table see the War Pension rates page, or turn a percentage into your figure with the War Pension calculator.
Extra help for severe PTSD
Severe PTSD often qualifies for more than the basic pension. Unemployability Supplement (£153.25 a week from April 2026) applies where the condition stops you working. Constant Attendance Allowance helps where you need regular care, and the War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement helps with getting around. Veterans UK and the Veterans Welfare Service can advise on what applies, and support is also available through service mental-health charities.
If your condition relates to service on or after 6 April 2005, it is handled under the AFCS instead, where a mental-health tariff level sets a lump sum and, on levels 1 to 11, a Guaranteed Income Payment. Our AFCS guide explains that route.
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.