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Armed Forces Compensation Scheme Claims

England & WalesLast reviewed 18 September 2026

The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) pays compensation for injury, illness or death caused by service. A claim generally has to be made within seven years of the earliest of the incident, the aggravation of a condition, or first seeking medical advice, though later claims can be accepted, for example within three years of awareness for conditions that develop in later life.

What AFCS Is

Direct Answer: The AFCS is the compensation scheme for members of the armed forces and veterans whose injury, illness or death is caused by service, and it works without proof that anyone was negligent.

Because it does not depend on fault, it can apply where a lawsuit against the Ministry of Defence would not be available, for example in combat situations. It operates separately from a civil claim, and taking one route does not automatically rule out the other, though payments may be taken into account.

The Time Limit

Applications must generally be made within seven years of the earliest of the date of the incident, the date a non-service condition was made worse by service, or, for an illness, the date you first sought medical advice for it. Exceptions exist, for instance where ill health prevented you from claiming or a disease appears later. If you first became aware of a condition after the seven-year limit, you may still claim within three years of awareness.

Making a Claim

Claims are made to Veterans UK. Gather your service and medical records, describe how the condition relates to service and keep copies of everything you send. Charities and support organisations can help with the process, and you can ask for a review or appeal if you disagree with a decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme?

A no-fault scheme paying compensation for injury, illness or death caused by service in the armed forces.

How long do I have to claim under the AFCS?

Generally within seven years of the earliest of the incident, aggravation of a condition or first seeking medical advice, with exceptions and a three-year awareness rule for later conditions.

Do I have to prove someone was negligent?

No. AFCS is a no-fault scheme based on the injury or illness being caused by service.

Can I claim if the illness appeared years after I left?

Possibly. If you first became aware of the condition after the seven years, you may claim within three years of that.

Can I also sue the MoD?

In some cases a negligence claim is possible alongside or instead of AFCS, but combat immunity and other rules limit it, so take advice.

Can I bring a military claim on a no win no fee basis?

Often, if a solicitor thinks the claim has reasonable prospects and is worth the cost of pursuing. Under a Conditional Fee Agreement you pay no solicitor fees if the claim fails, but a success fee is deducted from your damages if it succeeds and other costs may apply, so ask for the terms in writing and how disbursements are covered.

You May Also Be Interested In

Military Claims

Claims by service personnel and veterans

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Suing the MoD: Combat Immunity

When a negligence claim is possible

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Personal Injury

Personal injury claims overview

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Criminal Injuries

Compensation for violent crime

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What If I Lose?

What happens if a claim fails

Read more

Where this applies: This page covers England and Wales. The rules in Scotland and Northern Ireland are different.

Sources for this page

Every rule stated above is based on the primary sources below. Each link goes to the legislation, court rule or regulator itself so you can check it. Last verified 18 September 2026.

  1. GOV.UK — Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS)

    Claims for injury or illness caused by service must generally be made within seven years of the earliest of the incident, aggravation or first seeking medical advice, with later claims possible within three years of awareness for conditions that develop in later life.

  2. Courts and Legal Services Act 1990, s.58 (conditional fee agreements)

    The provision that makes CFAs lawful and enforceable. CFAs derive from this section, not from LASPO.

  3. Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013, arts. 4–5 · in force from 1 April 2013

    Art. 4 caps the success fee at 100% of base costs. Art. 5 caps what may be taken from damages in personal injury at 25% of PSLA plus past pecuniary loss, net of CRU, at first instance.

  4. Civil Procedure Rules, Part 44 (incl. rr.44.13–44.17, QOCS)

    Qualified one-way costs shifting and its exceptions. Rule 44.14 was amended with effect from 6 April 2023.

Who wrote and checked this page

Written and published by
Edward & Amaury Solicitors (Edward & Amaury Ltd, company no. 12195443), regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under no. 800525.
Legal review
This page has not yet been through independent legal review. It is written from the primary sources listed below, which you can check directly.
Review dates
Last reviewed 18 September 2026. Next review due 18 March 2027.

Fee rules change. California’s medical malpractice fee limits changed on 1 January 2023, and the QOCS rules in England and Wales changed on 6 April 2023. If you spot something out of date, tell us — we publish corrections.

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Where this applies: This page covers England and Wales. The rules in Scotland and Northern Ireland are different.

Sources for this page

Every rule stated above is based on the primary sources below. Each link goes to the legislation, court rule or regulator itself so you can check it. Last verified 2 August 2026.

  1. Courts and Legal Services Act 1990, s.58 (conditional fee agreements)

    The provision that makes CFAs lawful and enforceable. CFAs derive from this section, not from LASPO.

  2. Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013, arts. 4–5 · in force from 1 April 2013

    Art. 4 caps the success fee at 100% of base costs. Art. 5 caps what may be taken from damages in personal injury at 25% of PSLA plus past pecuniary loss, net of CRU, at first instance.

  3. Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, ss.44–46 · in force from 1 April 2013

    Ended recoverability of success fees and ATE premiums from the losing party. Did not create or regulate CFAs.

  4. Civil Procedure Rules, Part 44 (incl. rr.44.13–44.17, QOCS)

    Qualified one-way costs shifting and its exceptions. Rule 44.14 was amended with effect from 6 April 2023.

Who wrote and checked this page

Written and published by
Edward & Amaury Solicitors (Edward & Amaury Ltd, company no. 12195443), regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under no. 800525.
Legal review
This page has not yet been through independent legal review. It is written from the primary sources listed below, which you can check directly.
Review dates
Last reviewed 2 August 2026. Next review due 2 February 2027.

Fee rules change. California’s medical malpractice fee limits changed on 1 January 2023, and the QOCS rules in England and Wales changed on 6 April 2023. If you spot something out of date, tell us — we publish corrections.