Armed Forces Compensation Scheme: How to Claim

The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) provides compensation for injury, illness or death caused by service on or after 6 April 2005. You can apply whilst serving or after leaving, but your claim must establish a link to service and meet the relevant deadline.

At Reform UK, we want veterans and their families to receive practical support when they need it. Start with the eligibility rules, then build a claim that explains what happened and how it affects you.

Key Takeaways

• AFCS covers physical and mental health conditions caused by service, including qualifying worsening of pre-existing conditions.
• Most injury and illness claims have a seven-year deadline, although exceptions exist.
• Awards can include a tax-free lump sum and, for qualifying injuries, a Guaranteed Income Payment.
• You can apply online or using a paper form.
• If you disagree with a decision, reconsideration and an independent appeal are available.

Who Is Eligible for the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme?

Serving personnel and veterans

AFCS covers eligible regular personnel and reservists across the Royal Navy, Army and RAF. Its coverage also includes the Royal Gibraltar Regiment and Sponsored Reserves.

You don’t need to leave the Armed Forces before applying. Equally, leaving service doesn’t prevent a claim if you meet the scheme’s conditions and time limits.

The scheme is no-fault, so you don’t have to prove that the Ministry of Defence was negligent. However, you still need evidence that connects the injury or illness to service. Simply developing a condition whilst employed by the Armed Forces doesn’t automatically establish entitlement.

Physical injuries, mental health and worsening conditions

Claims can concern physical injuries or mental health conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder. A condition that existed before service may also qualify where service worsened it.

The evidence needs to explain the service connection and the medical effects. A diagnosis is important, but it doesn’t establish either point by itself.

The official AFCS guidance explains the qualifying conditions. Separate provisions apply to eligible surviving family members when a death is attributable to service.

How Long Do You Have to Claim?

The usual seven-year limit

For most injury and illness claims, the deadline is seven years from the earliest applicable date. Depending on the circumstances, that can be the incident, the date service worsened an existing condition, the first medical consultation for an illness, or discharge.

The important word is “earliest”. Discharge doesn’t automatically start a fresh seven-year period if another relevant date came first.

Record the incident date, when symptoms began, when you sought medical advice and when you left service. These dates help explain the claim’s timing and identify any deadline issue.

Exceptions for delayed claims

Exceptions can apply, including where ill health prevented a timely application or an illness developed later. However, exceptions aren’t an automatic extension for every late claim.

If you’re outside the normal period, explain why. Include the dates and medical evidence that support your circumstances, rather than relying on a general statement that you didn’t know about the scheme.

Leaving service doesn’t automatically restart the claim clock. An earlier incident or medical consultation may determine the deadline.

Submit the claim promptly rather than waiting for every possible supporting document. Explain any evidence that remains outstanding.

What Compensation Can AFCS Pay?

AFCS awards can include a tax-free lump sum for pain and suffering. Qualifying cases may also receive a tax-free, index-linked monthly Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP).

The lump-sum assessment uses a tariff with 15 levels. Level 1 covers the most serious injuries, whilst level 15 covers the least serious injuries within the scheme.

Your diagnosis alone doesn’t determine the award. Veterans UK assesses the injury or illness against the tariff and the relevant medical evidence. Therefore, records explaining severity and lasting effects matter alongside the evidence linking the condition to service.

A GIP addresses the effect of qualifying injuries on future earning capacity. It isn’t part of every award, and a successful lump-sum claim doesn’t automatically establish entitlement to it.

Also, AFCS compensation is separate from an Armed Forces pension. Don’t assume that receiving a pension means a compensation claim has already been made or decided.

How to Prepare and Submit Your Claim

Gather evidence that explains the service connection

Start with your service number, National Insurance number, service dates and relevant contact details. Then organise the medical and service records that explain your condition.

Useful material can include incident reports, service medical records, hospital letters, specialist assessments and discharge documentation. For a condition that service worsened, records showing its earlier state can help explain what changed.

Write a short chronology. Describe the incident or service circumstances, when symptoms appeared, the treatment you received and any continuing limitations.

Keep the account factual. Explain what you experienced without suggesting that a clinician supports a conclusion unless their records actually say so. Statements from others can support events they witnessed, but medical questions need medical evidence.

Complete and send the application

You can apply through the online claim service or use a paper form. The online service handles claims, rather than reviews or appeals.

There is no application fee, and you don’t need to employ a solicitor to submit a claim.

Describe each condition you’re claiming for and explain its connection to service. Include relevant supporting documents, identify anything outstanding and provide the details requested about medical treatment.

Before submitting, make sure your dates and descriptions are consistent across the form and attachments. Keep a complete copy, including any confirmation of submission or proof of posting. That record will help if Veterans UK requests more information or you later challenge the decision.

What Happens After You Apply?

Veterans UK acknowledges receipt within five working days. That acknowledgement confirms receipt, rather than acceptance of the claim or entitlement to compensation.

Claims are processed in the order received and can take many months. Medical records and further enquiries may be needed before a decision is possible.

If Veterans UK requests more evidence, you have three months from the request date to provide it. The claim will be closed if the requested material isn’t supplied within that period, so keep correspondence and response dates together.

The decision should explain whether the claim succeeds and what award applies. Read the reasons as well as the payment figure because the findings matter if you disagree.

Following a successful decision, payment may take up to 20 working days from notification. Avoid treating the acknowledgement letter as a payment timetable.

How to Challenge a Compensation Decision

Request reconsideration in writing

If you disagree with the decision, request reconsideration in writing within 12 months of the original decision notification.

Identify the decision, explain which findings you dispute and state the outcome you want. Address the reasons Veterans UK gave, rather than repeating your original application without explaining the disagreement.

For example, your dispute may concern the service connection, the medical findings or the tariff assessment. Refer to the records supporting each point and include relevant additional evidence.

Keep copies of your request and attachments, together with proof of submission. A clear explanation helps the reviewer understand the alleged error.

Take the case to an independent tribunal

An appeal allows an independent tribunal to consider the dispute. In England and Wales, cases go to the First-tier Tribunal (War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Chamber). Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate tribunal arrangements.

The usual appeal deadline is 12 months from the decision letter. If you request reconsideration first, the appeal period runs from the reconsideration decision.

Reconsideration must happen before an AFCS appeal proceeds, although you can lodge an appeal before that review finishes. The AFCS Statement of Policy sets out the relationship between these stages.

Don’t confuse a reconsideration request with an appeal. They are separate parts of the challenge process.

Getting Support Alongside Your Claim

Compensation is only one part of support after injury or illness. You may also need treatment, housing advice or help managing the move into civilian employment.

Your GP surgery can help with healthcare needs, whilst veterans’ welfare advisers and service charities can help you understand the claims process. Support from family members can also make it easier to organise records and correspondence.

Our veterans support policy prioritises housing, healthcare, mental health and financial support. Those policy commitments are separate from the statutory rules Veterans UK applies to individual claims.

You don’t need to wait for a compensation decision before seeking medical treatment or asking for practical support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I claim whilst still serving?

Yes. AFCS accepts claims from eligible serving personnel as well as veterans. You don’t have to wait for discharge, and waiting could affect your position under the normal claim deadline.

Can I claim for a mental health condition?

Yes, where the evidence establishes that service caused the condition or qualifying worsening. Explain the service circumstances, symptoms and treatment history. Relevant mental health records can support the claim alongside your own account.

Does a successful claim always include monthly payments?

No. A lump-sum award doesn’t automatically include a Guaranteed Income Payment. GIP entitlement depends on the scheme’s rules for qualifying injuries and their effect on future earning capacity. The decision should explain which payments apply.

Put the Service Connection at the Centre of Your Claim

A strong AFCS claim explains what happened, connects the condition to service and supports that account with relevant evidence. The deadline matters, even when you’re still serving or treatment continues.

Keep your application, supporting records and decision letters together. If you disagree with the outcome, use the reconsideration and appeal routes within their time limits. Clear evidence and an organised record give your case the strongest practical foundation.