Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS): a guide
The AFCS is a no-fault scheme, run by Veterans UK, that compensates injury or illness caused by service on or after 6 April 2005. This guide explains who can claim, what it pays, the time limits, how to claim, and the role of medical evidence. Expert Medical is an independent medical reporting organisation (MRO); we provide independent medical evidence and do not administer the scheme or give legal advice.
This page is a general guide to the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, based on official gov.uk guidance published by Veterans UK. The scheme is run by Veterans UK for the Ministry of Defence. Expert Medical is an independent medical reporting organisation (MRO); we provide independent medical evidence, and we do not administer the AFCS, decide claims or give legal or financial advice. Always check gov.uk for the current rules and figures.
What is the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme?
The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) is a no-fault scheme that pays compensation for injury, illness or death caused by service in the UK armed forces on or after 6 April 2005.
Because it is a no-fault scheme, you do not have to prove that anyone was negligent. You only have to show, on the balance of probabilities, that service caused or made the condition worse. The scheme is administered by Veterans UK for the Ministry of Defence, and you can claim whether you are still serving or have left the forces.
Injury or illness caused by service before 6 April 2005 is covered by the separate War Pension Scheme, which Veterans UK also runs.
Who can claim under the AFCS
Current and former members of the UK armed forces can claim, provided the injury or illness was caused by service on or after 6 April 2005. That includes:
- Regular service personnel from the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force.
- Members of the reserve forces.
- Members of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment.
- Personnel who are still serving, as well as veterans who have left.
- In fatal cases, eligible family members and dependants.
Whether a particular condition qualifies depends on the medical facts and how they link to service. Veterans UK makes that decision, and clear medical evidence is central to it.
What the AFCS pays
The AFCS can pay a tax-free lump sum and, for more serious injuries, a tax-free monthly income payment, with a fast payment available for the most seriously injured who are still serving. The amounts are set by Veterans UK and change over time, so the current figures should always be checked on gov.uk.
How long you have to claim
There is a general seven-year time limit for an AFCS claim. It usually runs from the earliest of the date of the incident, the date an illness was caused or made worse by service, the date you first sought medical advice for it, or the date of discharge.
There are exceptions. Veterans UK can accept some claims outside the seven years, for example where an illness only appears years after the service that caused it. If you are not sure whether you are in time, it is worth checking with Veterans UK rather than assuming a claim is too late.
How to claim under the AFCS
You apply to Veterans UK, and you can start a claim on gov.uk. You do not need to pay for representation. Free, independent help is available from the Veterans Welfare Service and from armed forces charities such as the Royal British Legion and SSAFA.
Veterans UK gathers your service records and medical records to assess the claim. Providing your own GP and hospital records, and any specialist reports, helps the assessment and can reduce delay. Where a person is medically discharged, some claims are considered automatically without a separate application.
The role of medical reports in AFCS claims
Medical evidence sits at the centre of an AFCS claim. Veterans UK decides a claim on the balance of probabilities, using your service records, your medical records and, where it needs more, an examination by a doctor it appoints. The clearer that medical picture is, the more accurately the claim can be assessed.
Well-documented evidence matters at every stage: records that link the condition to service, specialist opinion on diagnosis and prognosis, and a clear account of how the injury affects daily life and work. Gaps or vague records are one of the most common reasons a claim is delayed or valued lower than it should be.
A civil claim against the Ministry of Defence works differently. There the court needs an independent expert report prepared to CPR Part 35, setting out diagnosis, causation and prognosis, with the expert's overriding duty owed to the court. That independent medico-legal report is separate from the AFCS process, and it is the kind of report Expert Medical prepares for solicitors handling military injury claims.
Reviews and appeals
If you disagree with a decision, you can ask Veterans UK for a reconsideration, usually within 12 months of the decision. An independent decision maker looks at the claim again, and can take account of any further evidence you provide.
If you are still unhappy after reconsideration, you can appeal to an independent tribunal, which is separate from Veterans UK. Where a condition covered by an earlier award later becomes worse, you may also be able to ask for a review. Strong, up-to-date medical evidence is often what makes the difference at these stages.
AFCS, War Pensions and civil claims
Three routes can apply to a service-related injury, and they are not the same. The right one depends on when the injury happened and on the facts of the case.
- AFCS covers injury or illness caused by service on or after 6 April 2005. It is no-fault, so negligence does not have to be shown.
- The War Pension Scheme covers service before 6 April 2005. It is also run by Veterans UK.
- A civil claim against the Ministry of Defence is a separate, fault-based route where negligence must be established, and it needs independent medical evidence prepared to CPR Part 35.
Whether more than one route applies is a legal question for a solicitor, not something we advise on. What we do provide is the independent medical evidence a civil claim needs.
Independent medical evidence for military injury claims
Expert Medical Examination Ltd is an independent, MedCo registered medical reporting organisation (MRO). We prepare independent medical evidence for serving personnel and veterans pursuing military injury claims, working with the solicitors who handle this area of law. We provide medical evidence only. We are not part of the AFCS, we do not decide claims, and we do not give legal or financial advice.
Every report is prepared by a clinician on the GMC or HCPC register and written to CPR Part 35 and Practice Direction 35, with the expert's duty owed to the court. Each instruction is matched to an expert in the right field, from orthopaedic and musculoskeletal injury to noise-induced hearing loss and mental health conditions including PTSD.
Armed Forces Compensation Scheme: frequently asked questions
What is the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS)?
The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) is a no-fault scheme that pays compensation for injury, illness or death caused by service in the UK armed forces on or after 6 April 2005. It is administered by Veterans UK for the Ministry of Defence, and you can claim whether you are still serving or have left.
Who is eligible for the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme?
Current and former members of the regular and reserve forces, and the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, can claim under the AFCS. The injury, illness or death must have been caused, or made worse, by service on or after 6 April 2005. Service before that date is covered by the separate War Pension Scheme.
How much does the AFCS pay?
The AFCS pays a tax-free lump sum set by a 15-level tariff, where level 1 is the most serious and carries the highest award. For more serious injuries it also pays a tax-free, index-linked monthly Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP). Amounts are set by Veterans UK; always check gov.uk for the current figures.
What is the time limit for an AFCS claim?
The general time limit is seven years, usually running from the incident, from when an illness was caused or made worse by service, from first seeking medical advice for it, or from discharge. Veterans UK can accept some claims outside seven years, for example for illnesses that appear later. Check gov.uk for the exceptions.
How do I claim under the AFCS?
You apply through Veterans UK on gov.uk. Free, independent help is available from the Veterans Welfare Service and armed forces charities, and you do not need paid representation. Supplying your medical records and any supporting reports helps Veterans UK assess the claim. Some medical discharges are considered automatically.
What is the difference between the AFCS and the War Pension Scheme?
The AFCS covers injury or illness caused by service on or after 6 April 2005. The War Pension Scheme covers service before 6 April 2005. Both are run by Veterans UK. Which scheme applies depends on when the injury or illness happened, so a claim usually falls under one or the other, not both.
Can I make a civil claim as well as an AFCS claim?
Possibly. The AFCS is a no-fault scheme, so you do not have to prove negligence. A civil claim against the Ministry of Defence is separate and does require fault to be shown. They run on different rules, and a solicitor can advise whether both apply. A civil claim usually needs independent medical evidence prepared to CPR Part 35.
Does an AFCS claim need medical evidence?
Yes. Veterans UK gathers your service and medical records and may arrange an examination by a doctor it appoints. Providing GP records, hospital notes and any existing reports helps the claim. A civil claim runs differently and needs an independent medico-legal report prepared to CPR Part 35, which is the kind of report Expert Medical provides.
Can I appeal an AFCS decision?
Yes. If you disagree with a decision you can ask Veterans UK for a reconsideration, usually within 12 months, and an independent decision maker reviews it. If you are still unhappy after reconsideration, you can appeal to an independent tribunal. If your condition later worsens, you may be able to ask for a review.
What is a Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP)?
A Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP) is a tax-free, index-linked monthly payment for more serious AFCS injuries, meant to reflect lost future earnings. It usually starts when you leave the armed forces. The amount depends on the tariff level and salary, grouped into bands, with the lowest tariff levels not qualifying for a GIP.
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