Served as a boy 28 January 2017 at 4:13PM in UK armed forces MoneySaving 2 replies 8.2K views

BigMank

Hi
I served in the RN from Feb 72 to Dec 78, joined as a boy at 15.
HMS Ganges.
Is there a pension entitlement now I'm aged 60?
Thankyou

unforeseen

You should be entitled to a pension for your service from age 18.

See https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pensions-and-compensation-for-veterans#pensions

Silvertabby

I'm sorry, but you don't qualify for a pension. At the time you left, you needed to have accrued 5 years service from age 18 in order to qualify for any deferred pension benefits.

Service deferred pensions

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 deferred for payment at age 60 for all those discharged over the age of 26 with a minimum of 5 years service. On 31 March 1978 the age criterion was dropped and on 6 April 1988, the qualifying period was reduced from 5 to 2 years.