Autumn 2023
Introduction from Simon Claydon, Civil Service Reward Director
What does 2015 Remedy (McCloud) mean for you?
The 2015 Remedy (McCloud) legislation came into effect on 1 October 2023.
Depending on your circumstances, read what it could mean for you:
I plan to take partial retirement in the next 12 months
Affected members partially retiring after 30 September 2023 will receive an expanded quote pack in the post with two retirement quotes.
I’m currently partially retired
If you’re affected by the Remedy, you will receive a Remediable Service Statement in the post by April 2025.
I plan to fully retire in the next 12 months
Affected members retiring after 30 September 2023 will receive an expanded quote pack in the post with two retirement quotes.
I’m not looking to retire yet
If you're affected by the Remedy and not planning to retire, your 2024 Annual Benefit Statement will include illustrative figures.
PSS recipients impacted by 2015 Remedy (McCloud)
PSS recipients impacted by 2015 Remedy (McCloud) will not receive a 2022/23 statement this year, instead it will be issued by 6 October 2024.
If someone has retired and is affected by the 2015 Remedy (McCloud)
The 2015 Remedy (McCloud) pages are updated regularly. For more information and timeline of what to expect and when, visit and bookmark the 2015 Remedy pages or log into the Pension Portal, where you'll also find the Remedy Benefits Illustrator.
Stay updated with the 2015 Remedy (McCloud)
Have you listened to the Remedy podcast?
Ian Korner, former Civil Service Pensions Policy Lead talks about this important topic, what it is, how it works and if you could be affected.
Poll: How would you rate your knowledge of your Civil Service Pension?
Around half of active members haven’t nominated a beneficiary – don’t be one of them
Your Civil Service Pension doesn’t just provide for you – it can also provide vital benefits for your loved ones if the worst happens.
Whether it’s family members, friends or a charity, nominating someone means they may receive a lump sum in the event of your death. You can choose as many nominees as you like and a percentage of the lump sum (making sure it totals 100%).
It’s one less worry for your loved ones if you make your wishes clear. Create a new nomination or update an existing nomination in the Pension Portal or by returning your Death Benefit Nomination form.
Give your pension a boost
Added Pension
Effective Pension Age
Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs)
Civil Service Pensions Podcast: Season 2 available now!
The second season of the Civil Service pensions podcast launched earlier this year on all major podcast platforms. There are 12 new episodes, each featuring expert guests, case studies and topics to help you get to grips with your pension.
We explore the cost of living challenges which can affect pension planning and why it's never too late to start planning for retirement. Plus there's a useful minisode which guides listeners through their Annual Benefit Statement - there’s something for everyone.
Listen now, wherever you get your podcasts.
Partial retirement explained
Partial retirement allows you to take some pension and tax-free lump sum (if applicable) and continue working.
Depending on your circumstances, you may need to reduce your working hours or pay to have a combination of pay and pension, until you fully retire. During this period, you can also continue to build up more alpha pension that will be paid to you when you fully retire.
Earlier this year, we featured Mary in season 2 of the Civil Service pensions podcast, who partially retired after a long, fulfilling career in the DVSA. It gave her the best of both worlds – the chance to continue doing a job she loved, whilst spending quality time in Turkey.
We know that partial retirement is a topic of interest for our members, and with around 38% of active members being age 50 or over, we’ve put the following information together to answer the most common questions we receive.
Partial retirement is available to all pension scheme members who meet the following criteria:
- You’ve agreed with your employer to reshape your job by reducing your pay by at least 20% (by either reducing your working hours or your pay)
- You apply for partial retirement no more than 3 months after reshaping your job
You should be over the minimum pension age for your scheme:
- In classic and classic plus it’s age 50
- In premium (if you joined before 6 April 2006, it’s age 50)
- In premium (if you joined after 6 April 2006, it’s age 55)
- In nuvos and alpha, it’s age 55
Abatement is the calculation to ensure that the total amount of pension payments plus salary does not exceed the previous pre-retirement or partial retirement salary.
Your salary of reference would be your pensionable earnings from the last 12 months before you partially retired. If you earned more in a previous year, it may be based on a different period. For abatement, it’s assumed that you take the standard lump sum.
Abatement only applies to the classic, classic plus, premium and nuvos element of a member's pension.
This online guide tells you what you need to think about, what you need to do and how long the process takes.
Case studies: what former civil servants are doing in retirement.
Earlier this year, we invited former civil servants to share their stories of life in retirement. Here are three:
Bob's story
“I left school at age sixteen in the swinging sixties with no real prospects. My father and brother both worked in Ministry of Defence in Bath, and I started there as well, albeit in a very junior temporary clerical position. After a few years, when I got a permanent position, I started seeing this line called ‘Superannuation’ on my weekly pay slip which I paid little-to-no interest to. I later moved to DHSS in Portsmouth 1967 and continued working there until 1982, when my wife and I both quit our jobs and emigrated to Canada, where we still live.
Among the documents I received when I left was something about a deferred pension, payable when I turned sixty. I filed it away and never thought about it again for almost thirty years, when I reached retirement age. How fortunate to have that secure and full indexed pension get deposited into my bank account each month. Now retired for seventeen years, I pass my time in the cold Canadian winter months painting and golfing in the summer. In between, we travel, enjoy time with our three (soon to be four) little grandchildren. We’re returning to UK this year for the first time in five years.
Retirement means the start of things, not the end.”
Mary’s story (shared by her family)
Mary worked at GCHQ as a secretary/typist alongside her husband, until they both retired in 1982. They met as teenagers during the Second World War in Bristol and married in 1947.
They spent their retirement playing golf, socialising with friends and travelling the world. In 1993, they emigrated to Melbourne, Australia to be closer to their two sons and their families. They enjoyed watching their grandchildren grow and travelling around the country with friends. Mary's husband (Armitage) sadly passed away in 2000.
Mary turned 100 earlier this year, receiving congratulatory cards from His Majesty the King, the Governor General and the Prime Minister in Australia, as well as letters from the Victorian Premier and Lieutenant Governor. Having brushed off Covid-19 twice, she’s strong, determined and happy, making friends in her inimitable way.
Eric's story
“I’m Eric, a retired Prison Officer, and I emigrated to the Philippines 12 years ago to soak up the sun.
I guess I’ve been lucky and not had any serious illnesses. I’ve still got my own hair, teeth, I don’t wear specs, I still drive and I’m creeping up to 79.
I think keeping active and have plenty of hobbies, watching what you eat and not drinking a lot of alcohol helps you along.
I took up painting when I retired, it’s great therapy for concentrating, and rewarding too.”
How are you planning for retirement?
We'd love to hear how members of the Civil Service Pension Scheme or partially retired members are planning for their retirement.
What would you like your retirement to look like? What do you want to achieve before then? Use the form below to share your story and how your retirement plans are taking shape.
Your pension explained in an hour
- Want to know how great alpha is?
- Thinking of going part-time or retiring early?
- Do you know when you can retire and what actions you need to take?
- Want to increase your pension?
If the answer to any of those questions is “Maybe”, we’re here to help.
Book a free, one-hour online Pension Power webinar and you'll soon have the facts you need to better understand your pension - and we’ll explain what makes your Civil Service pension one of the best workplace pensions. Take control of your financial future.