I receive a 100% SAP under AFPS 75 and I’d like to know what pension my wife and/or children will receive if I pre-decease them. I asked VetsUK(Glasgow) for a pension forecast but, rather than considering my personal circumstances (i.e. my SAP), they have only considered the SIP that I received for a few months in 2006/7.
Main question: Can those receiving an SAP get an accurate spouse/dependents pension forecast on their SAP?
My background
Thanks in advance for any thoughts. I imagine that this is a good topic for @Forces Pension Society.
Glasgow’s pension forecast letter
Main question: Can those receiving an SAP get an accurate spouse/dependents pension forecast on their SAP?
My background
- AFPS75
- (Upon medical discharge in 2006, awarded SIP of £2932, which was soon uprated to an SAP).
- SAP 100% disablement (technically I receive an AFAB, but it’s the equivalent of an SAP): £28,245
- War Disablement Pension @ 100%: £10,123
- WPMS & Clothing allowance
- PIP Daily Living (standard) – paid
- PIP Mobility (enhanced) – not paid because of WPMS
- Submitted request to AFPS forecast requests
- VetsUK(Glasgow)'s response at the end of this post.
- Summary: We cannot provide a pension forecast regarding your SAP nor your death potentially being attributable to your service-related injury.
- What AFPS pension will my wife receive if I pre-decease her and my death is attributable to my service-related injury?
- What AFPS pension will my wife receive if I pre-decease her and my death is not attributable to my service-related injury?
- If I were to be in receipt of Unemployability Supplement (which I’m probably entitled to but haven’t claimed), how would that affect questions 1 and 2?
- Is there any sort of spouse/dependents pension linked to a WDP?
Thanks in advance for any thoughts. I imagine that this is a good topic for @Forces Pension Society.
Glasgow’s pension forecast letter
ARMED FORCES PENSION SCHEME(APRS)-FORECAST
Thank you for your recent enquiry requesting details of the pension payable to your spouse should you pre-decease her.
Please note that we can only provide a forecast based on your rank & length of service at discharge. We are unable to provide a forecast based on your death being attributable to service.
Under current regulations your spouse, could expect to receive the following benefits:
A Short Term Family Pension for the first 91 days equating to the rate of your pension in payment at time of death.
Thereafter, she would receive a Forces Family Pension of
£2,042.28 per annum at current rates.
As your children were born of a marriage that took place after you discharged from the Armed Forces they have no entitlement to any dependents benefits under AFPS 75 scheme rules.
Under AFPS rules, a divorced spouse has no entitlement to pension benefits in her own right from the scheme, unless the Courts under the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 order a Pension Share. However, you should also note that the AFPS must comply with any valid Court Order made in accordance with the Pensions Act 1955(as amended) against certain types of benefits or gratuities, which may become due for payment.
If you pre-decease your spouse she should write to this office. She will then be sent an application form for completion. This should be returned together with a verified copy of the death certificate and marriage certificate, which will be returned immediately after examination. The award of a pension is likely to be delayed if the application form and certificates are not submitted promptly.
Every care has been taken to ensure that the information given is correct and in accordance with current regulations. However, should, this assessment subsequently be found to be inaccurate, the Ministry of Defence can accept no liability for it, nor is the Ministry bound, by reason of anything stated therein, to pay a particular sum at a future date. Should you enter into any financial commitment based on this assessment you will therefore do so at your own risk