Pension Advice

poisonheart666

Hi,
I am trying to help my mother with a query about pension entitlement.
She joined the WRAF 18/10/1971 and left 29/03/1978.
She originally signed up for a 9 year term of service with the option to leave after 6 which she took up as her husband at the time, also in the RAF had completed his term and did not want to sign up again and from what i understand, the rules at the time meant she could not continue to serve as he had left.

We are trying to figure out if she qualifies for any pension at all from the RAF. We have found some information on the AFPS 75 but do not know if this is applicable as it was brought in mid way through her service. Also found some information that implies she might be eligible for a pension in the service she completed after 6/4/75 but it all seems to be conflicting.

Any help at all would be brilliant.

molerat

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/252574/Pre75factsheetversion2.doc gives a breakdown of the "legacy" issues.

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The Social Security Act 1973 brought about changes by requiring all pension schemes to preserve pension rights for those who left service after 6th April 1975 having completed at least five years qualifying service, and having attained the age of 26. Later Social Security Acts reduced the qualifying period from five years to two years and removed the age qualification requirement. These changes were not made retrospective. Individuals receive the benefits in accordance with the scheme rules in place at the time of their retirement.

[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]As her date of leaving was after[/FONT] April 75 she was a member of AFPS75 [FONT=&quot]so[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]may[/FONT] be entitled to a preserved pension for all her service at age 60 but possibly only if aged over 26 on discharge[FONT=&quot]. The age 26 thing could be the deciding factor as could [FONT=&quot]being under 18[/FONT] at joining [FONT=&quot]as[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]that could affect "[FONT=&quot]reckonable service" and "qualifying service"[FONT=&quot][/FONT].[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]

Prior to 6 April 1975 there was no provision for a preservation of pension benefits and service personnel who left the armed forces had to have completed 16 years from age 21 (officers) or 22 years from age 18 (other ranks). Those who left before that date without completing the above criteria, lost all pension entitlement.
The rules changed on 6 April 1975 to provide for pensions to be preserved for payment at age 60 for all those discharged over the age of 26 with a minimum of 5 years service. On 6 April 1988, the qualifying period was reduced from 5 to 2 years and the age criterion was dropped. Preserved pensions have to be claimed at age 60 or at age 65 if your service began after 5 April 2006. However, you can claim your preserved pension sooner if you become permanently incapacitated.

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Contact [FONT=&quot]Veterans UK and they [FONT=&quot]will[/FONT] be able to help, I [FONT=&quot]am not sure if[/FONT] the 1988 changes were re[FONT=&quot]trospective [FONT=&quot]as the published[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] information is not clear, the [FONT=&quot].g[/FONT]ov site and scheme booklet present it slightly differently.[/FONT][/FONT] https://www.gov.uk/pensions-and-compensation-for-veterans#contact-details[/FONT][/FONT]
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poisonheart666

That's the information i had been able to find as well and got stuck at the retrospective aspect for the 2 years. I called Veterans Uk today and unfortunately it isn't retrospective so she would have had to have 5 years service from 31/3/1975 which unfortunately she doesn't have so not luck. Thanks for your help anyway, much appreciated.

Fergie76

Try these guys - https://forcespensionsociety.org/