What is the Armed Forces Pension Calculator?
The Armed Forces Pension Calculator helps serving personnel, veterans and early service leavers understand how their Armed Forces pension works and how it supports retirement income. It models pension entitlement under AFPS 75, AFPS 05 and AFPS 15, shows when payments start, and highlights how income and assets are used to bridge any gap between leaving service and pension age.
How the Calculator Works?
This calculator models your Armed Forces career and pension entitlement based on your scheme, length of service and retirement timing. It calculates your military pension using scheme-specific rules, applies any automatic lump sums or commutation options, and shows when your pension begins.
If you leave service before pension payment starts, the calculator models the bridge period using assumed civilian income and assets. It can also layer in State Pension, Early Departure Payments, rental income or other civilian earnings to show how your overall retirement income comes together over time.
All outputs are shown year by year so you can see how income sources change across your working life, service exit and retirement.
Step One: Choose Your Pension Scheme and Service Profile
Select AFPS 75, AFPS 05 or AFPS 15 and enter your service start age, expected length of service and salary assumptions. The calculator applies scheme-specific rules automatically.
Step Two: Review Pension Start Age and Bridge Period
See when your Armed Forces pension starts and whether there is a gap after leaving service. The model assumes civilian income during the bridge period, where relevant and highlights any funding shortfall.
Step Three: Explore Income Over Time and Sensitivity
Review charts showing income, assets and pension usage over time. Adjust service length, salary or retirement timing to see how small changes affect your pension and bridge requirements.
Armed Forces Pension Calculator (AFPS 75, 05, 15)
Compare Armed Forces pension schemes and model your retirement income and timing
Disclaimer: This calculator provides illustrative projections only and does not constitute financial advice. Armed Forces pension rules, pay scales and personal circumstances vary. Always refer to official MOD pension statements or seek professional advice for confirmation.
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What is the Armed Forces Pension Calculator?
It is a UK-specific planning tool that models Armed Forces pension income under AFPS 75, 05 and 15, showing when payments start, how bridge periods are funded and how the pension supports retirement.
Which Armed Forces pension schemes does this support?
It supports AFPS 75, AFPS 05 and AFPS 15, each with their correct accrual methods, pension ages and lump sum rules.
How is my pension calculated?
Each scheme has its own formula, based on salary and reckonable service. AFPS 75 stops counting after 34 years for officers and 37 years for other ranks. AFPS 05 stops at 40 years. AFPS 15 has no maximum. There is no single 35-year cap for a whole career, so split mixed service by scheme and check any calculator warning against your Veterans UK record.
When does my pension start?
This depends on the scheme. AFPS 75 and AFPS 05 may pay earlier, while AFPS 15 aligns pension age with State Pension age unless Early Departure Payments apply.
What is the bridge period?
The bridge period is the time between leaving service and when your pension starts. The calculator automatically assumes civilian income during this period if you leave early and highlights whether assets are needed.
Does the calculator include Early Departure Payments (EDP)?
Yes. Where applicable, EDPs can be included for AFPS 05 and AFPS 15.
Can I model pension commutation?
Yes. For schemes that allow it, you can choose to commute part of your pension for a lump sum and see how this affects income.
Does it include the State Pension?
Yes. You can include or exclude the State Pension and choose when it begins.
Can I add other income sources?
Yes. Civilian work, rental income, reserves pay and other income can be layered in to create a realistic retirement picture.
How accurate are the results?
They are estimates based on the assumptions you enter. The calculator is best used to explore scenarios and understand pension structure rather than predict exact payments.
Why do I need to know which service sits in each scheme?
AFPS 75, 05 and 15 have different accrual, pension ages, lump sums and Early Departure Payment rules. Transitional service can create benefits in more than one scheme. Enter each official entitlement separately rather than averaging service into one pension.
How should an Early Departure Payment be used in the plan?
Treat it as scheme-specific income for the years it is payable, not as a lifelong pension. Include any lump sum separately and check when preserved or deferred pension benefits later begin. The payment can be a valuable bridge, but the amount and indexation need to come from official statements.
Does leaving before the qualifying point mean I get nothing?
Not necessarily. You may retain deferred or preserved pension rights even if you do not qualify for an immediate pension or Early Departure Payment. The start age and amount depend on the scheme and service. Use Veterans UK records before assuming the benefit is lost.
What family benefits should be checked?
Look at spouse, civil partner, eligible partner and child benefits under the relevant scheme, along with death-in-service cover if still serving. These are not identical across AFPS versions. A retirement decision should compare survivor protection as well as the member’s starting income.
Is my data stored?
Inputs are saved locally in your browser for convenience. Nothing is transmitted or stored externally.
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Certified Money First Aider®
These calculators are built by a Certified Money First Aider to help you think more clearly about money and time. Money First Aid® is about practical, non-judgemental support for financial wellbeing. The calculators can certainly help you make informed decisions, but they are not regulated financial advice.
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