AFCS tariff table 2026: levels, lump sums and calculator
Last updated · By Mustafa Bilgic · Figures from Schedule 3 to the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) Order 2011, as amended from 6 April 2026
The AFCS is a no-fault scheme: the award depends on the descriptor that best describes the injury and its effects, not on who was to blame. This page sets out the full tariff table in force from 6 April 2026, a calculator covering all 399 descriptors in Tables 1 to 9, the rules that reduce the lump sum when there is more than one injury, and the main descriptors for mental disorders, hearing loss, back and knee injuries, fractures and amputations.
AFCS tariff table: levels 1 to 15 from 6 April 2026
Every descriptor in Tables 1 to 9 points to one of these 15 levels. The 2026 order raised every amount by 3.8%, rounded to the nearest pound: level 1 rose from £650,000 to £674,700 and level 15 from £1,236 to £1,283. It was the first change to the table since April 2018, so the older column shows the amounts in force throughout 2024 and 2025.
| Tariff level | From 6 April 2026 | Before 6 April 2026 | GIP band |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | £674,700 | £650,000 | 100% (band A) |
| Level 2 | £502,496 | £484,100 | 100% (band A) |
| Level 3 | £406,273 | £391,400 | 100% (band A) |
| Level 4 | £310,051 | £298,700 | 100% (band A) |
| Level 5 | £187,100 | £180,250 | 75% (band B) |
| Level 6 | £149,680 | £144,200 | 75% (band B) |
| Level 7 | £96,223 | £92,700 | 50% (band C) |
| Level 8 | £64,148 | £61,800 | 50% (band C) |
| Level 9 | £42,766 | £41,200 | 30% (band D) |
| Level 10 | £28,867 | £27,810 | 30% (band D) |
| Level 11 | £16,572 | £15,965 | 30% (band D) |
| Level 12 | £10,691 | £10,300 | No GIP |
| Level 13 | £6,415 | £6,180 | No GIP |
| Level 14 | £3,207 | £3,090 | No GIP |
| Level 15 | £1,283 | £1,236 | No GIP |
AFCS lump sum calculator
399 descriptors, articles 18 to 22 applied
Or add a tariff level from an award letter
| Injury and body zone | Paid |
|---|
Check the body zone of each injury: with several injuries it can change the total. Supplementary awards are not included.
How the AFCS pays for more than one injury
When several injuries come from the same incident, the scheme order sets out three methods. Which one applies depends on the guaranteed income payment band and on the parts of the body affected.
- Band A cases (article 19). If the guaranteed income payment is paid at 100%, every descriptor is paid in full. That happens when the highest descriptor is at level 1 to 4, or when the two highest descriptors are both at levels 5 or 6.
- Body zoning (article 21). If descriptors at levels 1 to 11 fall in two or more body zones, the zones are ranked by their total value and paid at 100%, 80%, 60%, 40% and 20%. The five zones are head and neck, torso, upper and lower limbs, senses (Table 7) and mental health (Table 3).
- All other cases (article 22). The descriptors are ranked by value and paid at 100%, 80%, 60%, 40%, then 20% for the fifth and every later descriptor.
In every case, the total lump sum for injuries from one incident cannot exceed the level 1 amount, now £674,700. The Ministry of Defence's JSP 765 gives worked examples. Here is its Example 3, where body zoning applies, recalculated with the 2026 amounts:
| Injury | Body zone | Level | Tariff | Paid at | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fracture of ankle | Limbs | 9 | £42,766 | 100% | £42,766 |
| Left below knee amputation | Limbs | 6 | £149,680 | 100% | £149,680 |
| Blast injury to ears | Senses | 10 | £28,867 | 80% | £23,093.60 |
| Fracture of facial bones | Head and neck | 11 | £16,572 | 60% | £9,943.20 |
| Shrapnel wound to face | Head and neck | 12 | £10,691 | 60% | £6,414.60 |
| Mental disorder | Mental health | 13 | £6,415 | 40% | £2,566 |
| Burns to lower chest wall | Torso | 15 | £1,283 | 20% | £256.60 |
| Total lump sum | £234,720 |
Mental disorders, including PTSD
PTSD and other mental disorders are assessed under Table 3. From 6 April 2026, a mental disorder must be diagnosed by a registered mental health professional (doctor, psychologist or nurse) working as part of a multidisciplinary mental health team overseen by a named consultant clinical lead. The levels depend on how severe and how lasting the functional limitation is.
| Descriptor (Schedule 3) | Level | Lump sum |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent mental disorder causing very severe functional limitation or restriction | 4 | £310,051 |
| Permanent mental disorder, causing severe functional limitation or restriction. | 6 | £149,680 |
| Permanent mental disorder, causing moderate functional limitation or restriction. | 8 | £64,148 |
| Mental disorder, causing functional limitation or restriction, which has continued, or is expected to continue for 5 years. | 10 | £28,867 |
| Mental disorder, which has caused, or is expected to cause functional limitation or restriction at 2 years, from which the claimant has made, or is expected to make, a substantial recovery within 5 years. | 12 | £10,691 |
| Mental disorder, which has caused, or is expected to cause, functional limitation or restriction at 26 weeks, from which the claimant has made, or is expected to make, a substantial recovery within 2 years. | 13 | £6,415 |
| Mental disorder, which has caused or is expected to cause, functional limitation or restriction at 6 weeks, from which the claimant has made, or is expected to make, a substantial recovery within 26 weeks. | 14 | £3,207 |
Hearing loss and tinnitus
Table 7 sets hearing loss by decibel level, averaged over 1, 2 and 3kHz. There is no separate award for tinnitus: the Schedule says all awards for hearing loss include compensation for associated tinnitus.
| Descriptor (Schedule 3) | Level | Lump sum |
|---|---|---|
| Total deafness in both ears. | 2 | £502,496 |
| Bilateral permanent hearing loss of more than 75dB averaged over 1, 2 and 3kHz. | 6 | £149,680 |
| Total deafness in one ear. | 8 | £64,148 |
| Bilateral permanent hearing loss of 50-75dB averaged over 1, 2 and 3kHz. | 8 | £64,148 |
| Acute physical trauma to ear causing conductive or permanent sensorineural hearing loss in one ear of more than 75dB averaged over 1, 2 and 3kHz. | 10 | £28,867 |
| Acute physical trauma to ear causing conductive or permanent sensorineural hearing loss in one ear of 50-75dB averaged over 1, 2 and 3kHz. | 11 | £16,572 |
| Acute physical trauma to ear causing conductive or permanent sensorineural hearing loss in one ear. | 13 | £6,415 |
Back, knee, shoulder and other musculoskeletal injuries
| Descriptor (Schedule 3) | Level | Lump sum |
|---|---|---|
| Traumatic back injury resulting in vertebral or intervertebral disc damage and medically verified neurological signs, which has required, or is expected to require, operative treatment and which is expected to result in permanent significant functional limitation or restriction. | 9 | £42,766 |
| Ligament injury, which has resulted in full thickness rupture, affecting one knee, ankle, foot, shoulder, elbow or wrist which has caused, or is expected to cause, significant functional limitation or restriction at 26 weeks from which the claimant has made, or is expected to make, a substantial recovery beyond that date. | 12 | £10,691 |
| Traumatic back injury with one or more intervertebral disc prolapses or vertebral body or facet joint fractures which has required, or is expected to require, operative treatment and which has caused, or is expected to cause, significant functional limitation or restriction beyond 13 weeks. | 12 | £10,691 |
| Frozen shoulder, or other shoulder pathology, which has caused, or is expected to cause, significant functional limitation or restriction beyond 26 weeks. | 13 | £6,415 |
| Traumatic back injury with one or more intervertebral disc prolapses or vertebral body or facet joint fractures which has caused or is expected to cause, significant functional limitation or restriction beyond 13 weeks. | 13 | £6,415 |
| Back sprain or strain, with one or more intervertebral disc prolapses which has caused, or is expected to cause significant functional limitation or restriction beyond 13 weeks. | 14 | £3,207 |
| Low back or neck pain syndrome. | 14 | £3,207 |
| Knee meniscus injury which has caused, or is expected to cause, significant functional limitation or restriction at 6 weeks, from which the claimant has made, or is expected to make, a substantial recovery within 26 weeks. | 15 | £1,283 |
Fractures and dislocations
The 2026 order added a new descriptor for a fracture of the coccyx that needed, or is expected to need, an operation and causes significant functional limitation beyond 26 weeks, at level 13.
| Descriptor (Schedule 3) | Level | Lump sum |
|---|---|---|
| Fracture of one femur, tibia, humerus, radius or ulna, with complications, causing permanent significant functional limitation or restriction. | 9 | £42,766 |
| Fracture of one femur, tibia, humerus, radius or ulna causing permanent significant functional limitation or restriction. | 11 | £16,572 |
| Fracture of one femur, tibia, humerus, radius or ulna, which has caused, or is expected to cause, significant functional limitation or restriction beyond 26 weeks. | 12 | £10,691 |
| Fracture of one femur, tibia, humerus, radius or ulna from which the claimant has made, or is expected to make a substantial recovery within 26 weeks. | 13 | £6,415 |
| Fracture or dislocation of one hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow or wrist from which the claimant has made, or is expected to make, a substantial recovery within 26 weeks. | 13 | £6,415 |
| Fracture of coccyx which has required or is expected to require operative treatment and has caused or is expected to cause significant functional limitation beyond 26 weeks. | 13 | £6,415 |
| Fracture of three or more ribs. | 15 | £1,283 |
Amputations
| Descriptor (Schedule 3) | Level | Lump sum |
|---|---|---|
| Loss of one arm above elbow (shoulder disarticulation or forequarter). | 2 | £502,496 |
| Loss of one arm at or above elbow (trans-humeral or elbow disarticulation). | 4 | £310,051 |
| Loss of one arm below elbow (trans-radial). | 5 | £187,100 |
| Loss of one leg at or above knee (trans-femoral or knee disarticulation). | 5 | £187,100 |
| Loss of one leg below knee (trans-tibial). | 6 | £149,680 |
| Loss of one hand (wrist disarticulation) or where amputation distal to that site has led to permanent total loss of use of one hand. | 6 | £149,680 |
| Loss of one toe, other than great toe, from one foot. | 15 | £1,283 |
Burns
| Descriptor (Schedule 3) | Level | Lump sum |
|---|---|---|
| Burns, with partial, deep or full thickness burns affecting 70% or more of whole body surface area. | 4 | £310,051 |
| Burns, with partial, deep or full thickness burns affecting 15 to 49.9% of whole body surface area. | 6 | £149,680 |
| Burns, with partial, deep or full thickness burns affecting 9 to 14.9% of whole body surface area. | 8 | £64,148 |
| Burns, with partial, deep or full thickness burns affecting 4.5 to 8.9% of whole body surface area. | 11 | £16,572 |
| Burns, with partial, deep or full thickness burns affecting less than 4.5 % of whole body surface area. | 12 | £10,691 |
| Burns, with superficial burns affecting 1 to 4.4% of whole body surface area. | 15 | £1,283 |
Guaranteed income payment and armed forces independence payment
A guaranteed income payment (GIP) is payable only for injuries at tariff levels 1 to 11, and not until the day after service ends. Its size is a percentage of a base figure worked out from salary and age: 100% for band A (levels 1 to 4), 75% for band B (levels 5 and 6), 50% for band C (levels 7 and 8) and 30% for band D (levels 9 to 11). With several descriptors, if the two highest are in the same band the next band up applies.
A person entitled to a GIP at 50% or more can also receive the armed forces independence payment, which is £194.60 a week from 6 April 2026, provided they are not claiming or receiving another extra-costs disability benefit.
Who can claim and time limits
The AFCS covers injury, illness or death caused by service on or after 6 April 2005. Claims must normally be made within 7 years of the earliest of the dates set out in the GOV.UK guidance, such as the date of the incident. If your disablement was caused or made worse by service before 6 April 2005 and you are no longer serving, the claim is made under the War Pension Scheme instead.
Sources and methodology
The tariff amounts, descriptors and multiple injury rules were taken from the legislation itself. The calculator reproduces the four worked examples in JSP 765 Annex D exactly when run with the amounts in force before 6 April 2026.
- The Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2026, S.I. 2026/272, on legislation.gov.uk.
- The Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) Order 2011, S.I. 2011/517, Schedule 3 and articles 16 to 24A (revised), on legislation.gov.uk.
- JSP 765, Armed Forces Compensation Scheme statement of policy, Ministry of Defence, on GOV.UK (PDF).
- Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) guidance, Veterans UK, on GOV.UK.
Frequently asked questions
How much is an AFCS level 12 award?
From 6 April 2026, a level 12 lump sum is £10,691. The amounts for the other levels run from £1,283 at level 15 to £674,700 at level 1, as set out in Table 10 of Schedule 3.
What is the maximum AFCS lump sum?
The total lump sum for all injuries from one incident cannot exceed the level 1 amount, which is £674,700 from 6 April 2026. A guaranteed income payment can be paid on top for injuries at levels 1 to 11.
How does the AFCS pay for more than one injury?
If the guaranteed income payment is at 100%, every descriptor is paid in full. If descriptors at levels 1 to 11 fall in two or more body zones, the zones are ranked and paid at 100%, 80%, 60%, 40% and 20%. Otherwise the descriptors are ranked and paid at 100%, 80%, 60%, 40%, then 20% each.
Does the AFCS pay for tinnitus?
Not on its own. Schedule 3 says all awards for hearing loss, including blast injury and acute acoustic trauma, include compensation for associated tinnitus, and no separate award is payable for tinnitus alone.
What is the time limit for an AFCS claim?
GOV.UK says claims for injury or illness must be made within 7 years of the earliest of several dates, such as the date of the incident. Injuries caused by service before 6 April 2005 are claimed under the War Pension Scheme.