Pensions - Army to RAF

[Dan_Brown]

A question for the pension gurus please:

I have 3yrs 313 days Army Service - 3yrs and 1 day count towards my pension. I was British Army 1990 - 1994.

I joined the RAF in 1997 and plan to complete 19yrs with them, giving me a total of 22yrs pensionable service. With the RAF i am on the 75 scheme

With me so far?!

My questions are:

1. I do not know what pension scheme i was on with the Army (17 yr old sprog and wasn't interested then!) and having looked through all my paperwork i cannot find any mention of it. How do i find out?

2. Will my army pension autmatically have been aggregated with my RAF pension?

3. If it isn't aggregated, should i get it aggregated?

4. With regards to redundancies, i may find myself in Tranche 2, although i now have 18yrs pensionable military service, i am concerned that the army 3yrs will not count.

5. Any advice/recommendations?

6. Anybody recommend someone to speak to (i am not a member of the FPS).

Thank you.

 

[CC]

You defo would have been on AFPS 75 when you joined the Army.

I am well aware of people in similar situations having difficulty in proving their earlier service. First thing I would recommend is an iSupport request to the JPAC, and ask them your questions on your earlier service.

As for any redundancy questions, I would put them to the Redundancy Focal Point, they have a Dii Group Mail box account.

Good luck.

 

[Dan_Brown]

You defo would have been on AFPS 75 when you joined the Army.

I am well aware of people in similar situations having difficulty in proving their earlier service. First thing I would recommend is an iSupport request to the JPAC, and ask them your questions on your earlier service.

As for any redundancy questions, I would put them to the Redundancy Focal Point, they have a Dii Group Mail box account.

Good luck.

I have a letter from PMA when i started with the RAF detailing my previous service ie it states "Service for Pension 3yrs and 1 day" - i guess i need to keep that safe?!

Many thanks for your advice - always appreciated.

 

[CC]

I have a letter from PMA when i started with the RAF detailing my previous service ie it states "Service for Pension 3yrs and 1 day" - i guess i need to keep that safe?!

Many thanks for your advice - always appreciated.

Hi Dan,

LOL, I would get that letter copied and keep them both very safe DT_Xtremez_14:

 

[Dan_Brown]

OK, i did as all suggested and the results are in! I submitted a JPAC isupport request and the following has been confirmed:

1. I was on AFPS 75 for my 3yrs with teh Army.

2. My pension has NOT been aggregated.

I have been advised that should i wish to aggregate, i need to send a letter to Pensions, Glasgow, G2 8EX and request this.

My questions are:

1. Is it really a no-brainer and i should aggregate NOW!

2. Are there any reasons you wouldn't aggregate?

Thanks all, nearly there!

 

[Vauxhall]

OK, i did as all suggested and the results are in! I submitted a JPAC isupport request and the following has been confirmed:

1. I was on AFPS 75 for my 3yrs with teh Army.

2. My pension has NOT been aggregated.

I have been advised that should i wish to aggregate, i need to send a letter to Pensions, Glasgow, G2 8EX and request this.

My questions are:

1. Is it really a no-brainer and i should aggregate NOW!

2. Are there any reasons you wouldn't aggregate?

Thanks all, nearly there!

See my reply to this question on ARRSE. I have spelt out the one reason why you would not want to aggregate and I doubt that it applies (if you were in a very much higher rank when you left the first time than you are now). However, if you join FPS, our Help Desk will give you the figures so that you can make a fully informed decision.

 

[Dan_Brown]

Thank you very much for your help (and thanked on that *other* site too!)

 

[Lcfcfox1]

You defo would have been on AFPS 75 when you joined the Army.I am well aware of people in similar situations having difficulty in proving their earlier service. First thing I would recommend is an iSupport request to the JPAC, and ask them your questions on your earlier service.As for any redundancy questions, I would put them to the Redundancy Focal Point, they have a Dii Group Mail box account.Good luck.

Do not send anything to the RFP because it is nothing to do with redundancies and they are not pension specialists

 

[Dixie68]

When I left the RAF after 15 years my discharge papers also had my Army service on them without me having to do/say anything, but it's always worth checking as you have. Incidentally, I also had a few days leave from my Army service which was added to my 1st years RAF leave - too late for you now though if you weren't told about it.

 

[Dan_Brown]

Hey Dixie,

My Terms of Service with the RAF did include my previous service. However, having asked the afore mentioned questions, i have now found out that my pensions were never aggregated. I'm just glad i caught it now!!

The letter has been submitted and am now just waiting out for a reply.

 

[CC]

Do not send anything to the RFP because it is nothing to do with redundancies and they are not pension specialists

You're dead right mate, having seen how they operate, I wouldn't send anything to the RFP; they are fookin useless.....chocolate fireguard comes to mind every time I contact them.

 

[Dan_Brown]

Received letter back from SPVA today. They have confirmed:

1. "Your letter will be added to your file and actioned at the point of your discharge from the Armed Forces".

2. Prior service was on AFPS 75.

3. Prior service added to current service and discharge date equates to 22yrs exactly and will qualify me for IP.

I take it from all that my pension is now aggregated and i qualify for IP when i am discharged at 22yrs point.

Thanks for all your help and if it wasn't for this site and its contributors, i could well have missed out on an IP and subsequently a some serious cash!!

 

[CC]

Dan,

Glad it all got sorted, keep copies of everything you have and lock them away for safe keepings!! DT_Xtremez_14:

 

[leave your hat on maam]

I am also glad this thread came about. Having checked with SVPA, they also confirmed that my previous pension accrued had not been agregated, and I would have to apply for it to happen.

Have also asked the admin staff to inform any individuals who they know have previous service, to check the satus of their pension rights.

I would have been one miffed individual if I thought I was leaving after 22 with a full pension only to be told NO.