A Pocket Guide to the AFPS
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A Pocket Guide to the AFPS
I was asked to sign for having received unsolicited mail today - 'mandatory junk mail' in everyday terms. A glossy purple (that should have warned me.....) brochure (note the obviously PC front cover - female RN officer at sea, army black mate in cabbage kit, 3 blokes in a Herc) called 'Your Pension Scheme Explained' was the hugely exciting document contained therein. In this wondrous publication, produced at no little expense, was a piece of utter ar$e called 'A Pocket Guide to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme'........
Now, why on earth would anyone want such a thing to be a 'pocket guide'? It measures the size of a credit card and unfolds into 66 separate panels, including tables of entitlements which must have the smallest font of any 'small print' I've ever read! I guarantee that most people will just throw the stupid thing away as they simply can't read it.....
Nor is there anything on Resettlement and/or Life Commutation beyond referring you (on p 16) to another page (p 5) to write to appropriate single service personnel administrators for the appropriate booklets (described on p 23)........ No phone numbers or e-mail addresses, of course.
Come on - this is an utter disgrace. If you're going to produce such a thing, AFPS, you must make it both relevant and legible. You need to provide PoCs and phone numbers.....
And why did I have to sign for this piece of cr@p????
Now, why on earth would anyone want such a thing to be a 'pocket guide'? It measures the size of a credit card and unfolds into 66 separate panels, including tables of entitlements which must have the smallest font of any 'small print' I've ever read! I guarantee that most people will just throw the stupid thing away as they simply can't read it.....
Nor is there anything on Resettlement and/or Life Commutation beyond referring you (on p 16) to another page (p 5) to write to appropriate single service personnel administrators for the appropriate booklets (described on p 23)........ No phone numbers or e-mail addresses, of course.
Come on - this is an utter disgrace. If you're going to produce such a thing, AFPS, you must make it both relevant and legible. You need to provide PoCs and phone numbers.....
And why did I have to sign for this piece of cr@p????
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I have to say, I find the whole subject of pensions absolutely, mind-numbingly, coma-inducingly dull . They could paste the guide to Geoff Hoon's forehead and fire him from a canon and I still wouldn't be interested. Perhaps they could produce a simple Janet and John (showing my age) type guide for the likes of me.
"I have pocket money from Mummy", says Janet.
"You will not have pocket money from Mummy tomorrow", says John.
"Then what shall I do?", asks Janet.
"Someone else will give you money", says John.
"How much will they give me?", asks Janet.
"Well, a projection based on the current non-contributory formula for an average pensionable engagement will provide a non-index-linked income amounting to 3/35ths of current gross annual pay, not taking account of income that is not subject to pensionable entitlements and any taxable discomknockerating emolument pursuant therein heretounder thereto ad infinitum. No salesman will call and this free carriage clock can be yours ", says John.
On the other hand, forget it. Ignorance is bliss.
"I have pocket money from Mummy", says Janet.
"You will not have pocket money from Mummy tomorrow", says John.
"Then what shall I do?", asks Janet.
"Someone else will give you money", says John.
"How much will they give me?", asks Janet.
"Well, a projection based on the current non-contributory formula for an average pensionable engagement will provide a non-index-linked income amounting to 3/35ths of current gross annual pay, not taking account of income that is not subject to pensionable entitlements and any taxable discomknockerating emolument pursuant therein heretounder thereto ad infinitum. No salesman will call and this free carriage clock can be yours ", says John.
On the other hand, forget it. Ignorance is bliss.
Thread Starter
S-u-L, how true! The trouble is that John might also say "And you're entitled to this that and the other, but unless you wade through the purple prose in my nice glossy tell-you-bug.ger-all brochure, you'll be likely to miss out on your entitlement"
'NOTE: neither this pocket guide nor the accompanying booklet covers everything in the AFPS. The complete rules are contained in three documents called Prerogative Instruments, one for each of the Services. Nothing in this guide or the booklet can override the rules, and if there is any difference between the two, then the rules must be followed.'
That's a direct quote from the so-callled 'explanation' of the AFPS. Gives you a really warm feeling, doesn't it.....
'NOTE: neither this pocket guide nor the accompanying booklet covers everything in the AFPS. The complete rules are contained in three documents called Prerogative Instruments, one for each of the Services. Nothing in this guide or the booklet can override the rules, and if there is any difference between the two, then the rules must be followed.'
That's a direct quote from the so-callled 'explanation' of the AFPS. Gives you a really warm feeling, doesn't it.....
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So, by signing for this little piece of cr@p you, I suppose, are acknowledging that you have been told something, (but it isn't obvious), so they will be able to beat you round the head with it at a later date and possibly deny you some of your entitlements?
Great!
Great!
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Collected my copy today and have to say - What a waste of money!
Where are the details on the new scheme? Apart from saying that there is a review under way and that it is unlikely to change until 2005, there are no details. I know its subject to change but...some details would have been useful.
The design is awful - who ever thought shades of purple and small print was easy to read needs to have their eyes tested. did anyone ever proof read the thing?
The information that is in the guide is available easily enough to anyone who is interested in their pension. i.e. those entering their last years of service. A person with 12 years left to serve is not overly bothered that at todays rate he will have a pension of £xxxx. But that will have increased to an unknown amount by the time he is actually out because of the pay rises.
To keep us informed of the increases in pension, the handy pocket guide will be reissued each year. Can't wait!
Final point - on the sheet that you are meant to send back to SP POL (Pensions) there is a block for you to put your UIN. Why? Is the UIN going to be billed for this waste of money?
Where are the details on the new scheme? Apart from saying that there is a review under way and that it is unlikely to change until 2005, there are no details. I know its subject to change but...some details would have been useful.
The design is awful - who ever thought shades of purple and small print was easy to read needs to have their eyes tested. did anyone ever proof read the thing?
The information that is in the guide is available easily enough to anyone who is interested in their pension. i.e. those entering their last years of service. A person with 12 years left to serve is not overly bothered that at todays rate he will have a pension of £xxxx. But that will have increased to an unknown amount by the time he is actually out because of the pay rises.
To keep us informed of the increases in pension, the handy pocket guide will be reissued each year. Can't wait!
Final point - on the sheet that you are meant to send back to SP POL (Pensions) there is a block for you to put your UIN. Why? Is the UIN going to be billed for this waste of money?
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A quick scan revealed no mention of flying pay or the proposed new taxes on lump sums.
Don't have the energy to say what I think of it. I've put the return sheet to the bottom of my in-tray and will await further copies until it floats to the top.
Don't have the energy to say what I think of it. I've put the return sheet to the bottom of my in-tray and will await further copies until it floats to the top.
