Army pension

JoeyKaycee

I am 60 in six months and can claim my Army pension.  If I don't claim it till I am 65 will I get an enhanced pension or will the payments be back dated ?.

Marcon

Depends which scheme you are in - 1975, 2005 or 2015.

If you don't know (and you may be in more than one) you can check by contacting Veterans UK on 0800 085 3600 or by email dbs-pensionshelp@dbspv.mod.uk. You will need to have your service number to hand.

JoeyKaycee

1975 scheme 

Silvertabby

In that case you need to claim it from age 60.  If you leave it until 65 any increase will be minimal, and certainly won't compensate for the the lost 5 years.

Unlikely to be backdated if it was your choice to defer.

molerat

A quick wade through the treacle of the acts suggests that if you don't claim it you are not entitled to any back amounts without consent working up in stages from the scheme administrators to the treasury depending on the length of the back claim.

Gsea

Also make sure you contact them as they wont come looking for you. To ensure they pay out on time I think the forms need to be submit 3 months before your 60th birthday.

JoeyKaycee

I have the claim form and will sent next year to claim the pension. Hard to get information I wanted.

Gsea

There is some info here
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pensions-and-compensation-for-veterans#scheme-2

xylophone

Especially in the time of Covid, it might be as well to get on with the claim asap?

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/911030/FINAL_DRAFT_-_AFPS_75_Your_Scheme_Explained.pdf

A deferred pension is not paid automatically and should be claimed from the Scheme Administrator (DBS Veterans UK) approximately 3 to 6 months before it is due to come into payment. Form 8 can be found on www.gov.uk under Veterans UK Armed Forces Pensions Forms.

Hard to get information I wanted.

There is nothing in the  AFPS 75 Guide to indicate that "late retirement increases" (ie increases to a pension claimed after Scheme Normal Retirement Age) are payable or even that pension payment would be backdated if claimed after SNRA.

You would be well advised to telephone or write to the Administrator to check the point if your decision as to whether or not to claim rests on it.

vulcanrtb

The folks at Kentigern house could do with some lessons in manners and customer service. I have been on the phone to them over the years for a number of reasons and they treat you like excrement. You can't even record your current address and bank details with them to make their lives a bit easier, you have to inform them 'just' before they need it.
Yeah, I guess there are reasons, but if anyone has phoned them up, you'll know what I mean.