Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

What is the armed forces compensation scheme?

The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, also known as AFCS, is a government scheme managed by Veterans UK. The scheme compensates individuals who have suffered an injury, illness or death during UK Armed Forces service on or after 6 April 2005.

Any injury which was caused by service before this date falls under a different scheme, called the War Pensions Scheme.

How does the armed forces compensation scheme work?

To receive compensation under the scheme, you will need to make a claim, which is submitted to Veterans UK

 On the form, you will be required to provide information about your injury or illness, including details on why you think it was caused by service. You will also need to include any medical treatment you have received.

The form can either be completed online, or by post. If you choose to apply by post, you need to request a paper form from Veterans UK, who will send you the form as well as a pre-paid envelope used to return it.

To request a paper form, you can either call their helpline on 0808 1914 218, Monday to Friday 8am – 4pm, or email veterans-uk@mod.gov.uk.

How long does it take to get an Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payout?

Applications are processed and compensation is usually paid out within six months, however this can change depending on the complexity of the case.

Factors that can affect the payout time include severity of the injury, the type of evidence required and the status of your treatment.

Armed Forces Compensation Scheme tariff table

The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme tariff table is a set of tables which is used by the government to assess how much compensation money should be awarded for each claim. Different payout amounts are awarded depending on the type of injury and the severity of it.

The tariff system is made up of 10 tables – the main tariff table which shows how much compensation is awarded for each tariff level, and nine separate injury tables. The injury tables vary from burns in table one, to musculoskeletal disorders in table nine.

Within each of the injury tables, there are also 15 tariff levels with descriptors next to each level. Tariff level one is the most severe, and tariff level 15 is the least severe.

To get an idea of how much your payout amount will be, you firstly need to find the correct table for your injury. To do this on the injury tables web page, simply scroll down to find each table and it’s injury descriptors.

• Table 1 - Burns
• Table 2 - Injury, Wounds and Scarring
• Table 3 - Mental Disorders
• Table 4 - Physical Disorders
• Table 5 - Amputations
• Table 6 - Neurological Disorders
• Table 7 - Senses
• Table 8 - Fractures and Dislocations
• Table 9 - Musculoskeletal Disorders.

Once you have decided, you then need to find the descriptor that best fits your type of injury within the table. Make a note of this tariff level and compare it to the main tariff table. This will tell you the amount of compensation you are likely to receive for your injury.

Armed forces compensation tariff table - PTSD

You can claim for PTSD caused in the Army, Royal Navy or Royal Air Force through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. However, you will need to be diagnosed by a clinical psychologist or a psychiatrist who is at consultant grade.

The amount you will receive for a PTSD claim will consider how your injury will affect you over your lifetime. Veterans UK will consider any ‘functional limitations’ you may have because of your injury, including

• Whether you can take on work which is suitable to your experience and skills
• Whether you can work regularly in a less demanding job
• How long your functional limitation is expected to last, including if you will make a recovery or not.

Each of these functional limitations will be graded, and PTSD injuries which are classed as permanent usually have the highest claims. Typically, the payout amount for PTSD can range from £1,200 to £570,000.

If your PTSD is severe, you could also be eligible for Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP).

How to find my armed forces compensation scheme case

To find your AFCS case, you can contact the Veterans UK helpline who can provide information about the status of your case and any other information about your claim. Their contact number is 0808 191 4218.

Armed Forces Compensation Scheme appeal

On your letter that tells you the outcome of your case, there will be some information telling you whether you can appeal.

If you think there are some facts that Veterans UK may not have known, which could influence the decision, you should contact them and ask for the decision to be looked at again.

Decisions under the AFCS are called a reconsideration. This is when someone who was not involved in the original decision will look at your claim again.

A reconsideration will need to be asked in writing within 12 months of the date of your original decision notification. In the letter, you need to include any information relating to your condition, or any events surrounding your injury or illness, that you did not provide in the original claim.

You will get notified of the decision of the reconsideration, and if you still feel the decision is incorrect then you can appeal it to an independent tribunal.

We can help you with your reconsideration letter. All you need to do is submit an online form or call our friendly helpline team on 0300 303 9888.

Most frequent armed forces compensation scheme injury list

Although the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme covers a large range of injuries and illnesses, there are some which are commonly applied for, including hearing loss, back injury, and stress and anxiety.

Hearing loss

The amount which is compensated for hearing loss under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme can vary depending on the degree of the injury. Factors such as whether there is accompanying tinnitus, and the impact of the injury on the individual’s everyday life will influence the payout amount.

On average, the payout is around £6,000 for a milder hearing loss injury, however it usually ranges between £5,000 and £30,000.

Back Injuries

The average payout for a back injury under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme can vary from £1,200 to a maximum of £650,000.

For serious back injuries which causes disability, you may be eligible for Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP) which is a tax-free payment continuing after service. To find out more about this, visit the government’s website page on disability benefits and support.

Stress and Anxiety

When claiming for stress and anxiety under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, medical evidence, which states the condition, severity and the cause, is essential.

If the claim is successful, you can expect to receive anywhere from a few thousand pounds to significantly higher amounts for cases like PTSD.

Medical Discharge

Those that are medically discharged from the armed forces can also be considered for compensation. Your service documents may be referred to Veterans UK, and people are sometimes automatically considered for an award under the scheme, without having to do anything.

Veterans UK will usually only consider appeals when the main reason for medical discharge is an injury, illness or disease.

Once a claim has been considered, they usually won’t automatically get reviewed again. However, once your service has ended you can apply for a review of the award.

There are currently some inconsistences in the medical discharge process, and we are campaigning for several changes to be made to improve it. To read more about the issues surrounding the process, and to get involved in the campaign, visit our medical discharge campaign page.

Need help with the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme?

If you need support, our team can help you. You can submit an online form or call our friendly helpline team on 0300 303 9888.