The AFCS (Armed Forces Compensation Scheme) is set-up to provides compensation to forces personell if they sustain injuries or illness as a result of service in the Armed Forces. In the extreme case of a death-in-service, the scheme can provide a compensation payment to an eligible surviving partner.

How to claim
You can contact the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency to get a claim form and, if you wish – help to complete it..?

Lines are open 8.15 am to 5.15 pm Monday to Thursday, and 8.15 am to 4.30 pm on Fridays.

Telephone: 0800 169 2277
Textphone: 0800 169 3458

You can also download a claim form and find out more about the scheme from the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency website – Veterans UK (http://www.veterans-uk.info/pensions/afcs.html)

Who can’t apply..?
You are not eligible if your injury or illness or your partner’s death is caused by service before 6 April 2005.

If you receive a current War Disablement Pension or War Widows Pension you are not affected by the scheme. You will continue to receive War Pension or War Widows Pension and any related benefits.

Who can apply..?
You are covered by the scheme if you are Regular (including Gurkhas) or Reserve personnel and were injured or disabled through serving in the Armed Forces on or after 6 April 2005.

It is a ‘no fault’ scheme, which means that you still have the option to sue the Ministry of Defence for negligence – although any compensation awarded by the scheme would be considered if a court decided that damages were to be paid to you.

If you receive a current War Disablement Pension or War Widows Pension you are not affected by the scheme. You will continue to receive War Pension or War Widows Pension and any related benefits.

How much will you get..?
If you are eligible under the terms of the scheme to receive compensation, a tariff-based lump sum will be paid based on the seriousness of your injury or health condition. There are 15 levels to the tariff. Level 1 gives the highest payment covering the most severe conditions, Level 15 covers less severe injuries such as minor burns.

• Download the AFCS Tariff .pdf – (updated January 2010) 

Loss of earning capacity
Under the terms of the scheme, a Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP) can also be paid to you if it is expected that you will experience a significant loss of earning capacity. It is payable for life once you have left the Armed Forces and is tax-free.

Surviving partners
Under the terms of the scheme, a Survivor’s Guaranteed Income Payment (SGIP) may be paid to your partner if you have one, including unmarried and same sex partners, if your death is caused by service. This is taxable.

Unmarried surviving partners must meet certain criteria to be eligible. One of them is that a ‘substantial relationship’ needs to be demonstrated. This can include same-sex couples who have not entered into a Civil Partnership.

Effect on other benefits and entitlements
If you claim for an illness or injury through the scheme and have received a payment or pension through the Armed Forces Pension Scheme for the same injury, this will be taken into account when calculating AFCS. The same may apply for awards received under other schemes such as Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme or through a claim for contributory negligence.

If you receive any payments received under the scheme and you receive, or plan to claim, an income-related benefit such as Income Support or Housing Benefit, you should let the Department for Work and Pensions know via Jobcentre Plus.

Benefits such as Disability Living Allowance, that you may be entitled to, are not affected by the scheme.

Is there an Appeal process..? 
There is a reconsideration process where you can ask for a review of your case or award. Decisions made under the scheme can also be appealed to the independent Pensions Appeal Tribunal.

This page was last updated Thursday 11th February 2010.

Other pages that you may find useful…

• Armed Forces Compensation Scheme – (Update February 2010)
• War Disablement Pension 
• Forces Home Ownership Scheme 

Please Note:
Although we do our very best to keep-up with any changes regarding HM Forces - you should treat this information as a guide only..!!
For verification – please speak to any of the Forces organisations, or see the Direct Gov website.
Thank you..!!

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