On this page you will find information about:
- Eligibility criteria, including the conditions and injuries you can claim for.
- How to make a claim.
- Useful information about appeals and how the Royal British Legion may be able to help you.
If you suffered an injury or illness related to your service in the Armed Forces on or after 6 April 2005, you can make a claim under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.
The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) is a financial award, administered by Veterans UK and paid by the Ministry of Defence (MOD).
The Scheme aims to provide compensation, irrespective of fault, across the full range of circumstances in which illness, injury or death may arise as a result of service.
- a tax free lump sum payment for pain and suffering, and
- a Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP) which is a tax free, index linked monthly payment.
Read more about Veterans UK on the RBL Knowledge Base website.
If you have an illness or injury, either caused or worsened by Service in HM Armed Forces on or after 6th April 2005 then you may be able to claim Armed Forces Compensation.
If you are no longer in service and wish to make a claim for a condition which was caused or made worse by service before 6th, April 2005, you can make a claim under the War Pension Scheme.
Learn more about the War Pensions scheme here on the RBL website.
Eligibility
You can make a claim for Armed Forces Compensation if you are still serving with or have left HM Armed Forces. The scheme is available to:
- all regular service personnel
- the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, and
- members of the reserves from all three services.
Any injury, illness, or adverse health condition caused by your time in the military can be claimed for; it does not have to have been caused by conflict, operations, or military exercises, and can include activities such as training, and recognised and authorised sport.
It is a not fault liability scheme which means you do not have to prove anyone was at fault or to blame for the injury.
Illnesses, injuries, and circumstances of death that are covered by the scheme include but are not limited to:
- physical conditions
- mental health conditions
- physical and mental illnesses which can occur years after exposure, and
- deaths which occurred after the individuals' service has ended, as a result of an illness or injury caused or made worse by their time serving with HM Armed Forces.
The illness, injury or death must have been caused or made worse by, the individuals’ time in service.
Find out more about eligibility criteria for AFCS on GOV.UK.
Surviving spouses, civil partners, surviving adult dependants and eligible children can make a claim for Armed Forces Compensation if the individual who served has passed away.
Payments are made to eligible children where the deceased does not have a surviving spouse, civil partner or surviving adult dependent.
How to apply
You can apply for Armed Forces Compensation online or via post.
To make your claim you will need access to certain information including:
- An email address if you want to make your claim online.
- Your own details, including your national insurance number.
- Your Armed Forces service, including dates you served, if you know them.
- The illness or injury you’re claiming for and why you think they are related to your Armed Forces service.
- Your doctor’s details and, if you have them, details of any hospitals that have treated you for the medical conditions you’re claiming for.
- Any other compensation or benefits you receive or have received for the conditions you’re claiming for.
- Your bank account details.
Having this information ready to access will make the process of making a claim faster.
If the individual named on the application has ever served with the United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF) the process for making a claim is different.
Making a claim online
If you wish to make your claim online you can do so using the link below.
Begin your application on GOV.UK.
If you have information to support your claim it should be submitted with your application.
If you have already begun you application you will need your last name, National Insurance number and date of birth to continue.
Access your saved application on the GOV.UK website.
Making a claim via post
To make a claim via post contact Veterans UK to request a paper form. You will be sent a form with a pre-paid envelope to return it.
You can contact them using the phone number or email address below.
If you have information to support your claim it should be submitted with your application.
Appeals and reconsiderations
If your claim to the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme is rejected, or you are unhappy with your award, you have the right to ask Veterans UK to look at their decision again.
This is known as a Reconsideration. This request must be submitted within 12 months of the date of the decision letter.
Following this Veterans UK will review their decision. If you are still not happy then you have the right to request an Appeal.
You will have 12 months from the date of the Reconsideration letter to request an Appeal. Your case will then be heard by an independent Tribunal.
Further information about the appeals process will be provided by Veterans UK when they notify you of their decision.
Support with an appeal or reconsideration from the Royal British Legion
If you would like to make an appeal our team may be able to help you. Please get in touch with us to find out more.
To find out more about the support the RBL could offer you, contact us via
Telephone: 0808 802 8080
Telephone overseas: +44 (0)20 3376 8080
Calls are free
from UK landlines and main mobile networks
Email: [email protected]
Frequently asked questions
How is Armed Forces Compensation assessed?
Awards for Armed Forces Compensation are based on a fixed tariff, and are mostly one-off lump sum payments. If you are entitled, you will be paid one of 15 fixed amounts, depending on the severity of your condition.
In cases of the most substantial injuries or conditions, a Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP) is awarded. This is a tax-free regular payment, intended to compensate for loss of earnings.
Although GIP is tax free, it may be considered when you apply for other benefits.
Is there a time limit on when I can make a claim?
You must make your application for Armed Forces Compensation within seven years of the earliest of the following dates:
- the date of the incident leading to the injury or illness,
- the date on which an injury or illness not caused by service was made worse by service,
- in the case of illness, the date of first seeking medical advice for that illness, or
- the date of discharge.
However, there are certain circumstances that will lead to a claim being accepted outside of these limits. For example if you are prevented from claiming due to ill health, or your illness occurs later.
You can contact Veterans UK for advice on making a claim after seven years.
Find out how to contact the Veterans UK team on GOV.UK.
What is an AFCS fast payment?
Fast payments are for the most seriously injured service personnel.
The scheme removes the need to go through the full AFCS claim process and gives them the option to claim an upfront AFCS payment.
Learn more about AFCS fast payments on the GOV.UK website.
This payment is intended to provide some financial reassurance and support as quickly as possible after injury.
You may be eligible for a fast payment if:
- you are still serving in HM Armed Forces
- you have injuries which occurred on or after 9th, May 2011, and
- one or more of these injuries would, upon claiming, give rise to an award between tariff levels one to eight.
Download the application form to apply for a fast payment.
What happens when I submit my application?
Once your application has been submitted Veterans UK will obtain your service records, medical records, and any relevant notes.
If you have information to support your claim it should be submitted with your application.
Veterans UK must first satisfy themselves that it was the individuals’ time in service with HM Armed Forces which caused of worsened their condition.
Once this has been established, Veterans UK will then assess the severity of the condition and the extent to which it has impacted on the individuals.
Veterans UK will then make a decision about whether you are entitled to compensation, and how much you will get.
How long will my claim take?
Veterans UK are working through back logs and so it may be around 6 months until they get to your application.
You can call the Veterans UK helpline at any point to check the status of your application.
Find out how to contact the Veterans UK Helpline on GOV.UK.
What should I do if an individual who is receiving an Armed Forces Pension passes away?
If the deceased individual was receiving an Armed Forces Pension, an informant will need to tell the paying agent so that the payments will stop.
If there is a dependent of the individual who would like to make a claim, they should contact the AFPS Team.
What can I do if an individual who may have been entitled to an Armed Forces Pension has passed away?
If the deceased individual had not claimed their Armed Forces Pension before they passed away, a dependant may be able to make a claim.
If there are no eligible dependents there may be a lump sum which is part of the individual’s Estate.
To establish entitlement, the dependent or informant should contact the Armed Forces Pension Scheme Team.
Other support you may be able to receive
As someone who is living with a disability or long-term condition, you may be entitled to further support.
Read more about financial support that you could be eligible for here on the RBL website:
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) - for those living in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.
- Adult Disability Payment - for those living in Scotland or with a sufficient link to Scotland.
- Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) – awarded by local councils to fund adaptations to a disabled person’s home.
- Benefits, loans and grants awarded by UK governments.
