Partial Retirement:

The Best of Both Worlds

Partial retirement allows you to reduce your work hours while enjoying some of your pension benefits. You can even boost your pension further by continuing contributions, purchasing added pension, or making voluntary contributions.

Key Points About Partial Retirement

Partial Retirement Eligibility:

You can opt for partial retirement at 55 or 50 (if you joined classic, classic plus, or premium before 6th April 2006).

Partial Retirement Reduction:

Taking your pension early can reduce it by around 5% for each year before your pension age. Use our partial retirement calculator to see the potential reduction.

Partial Retirement Tax-Free Lump Sum:

Enjoy a tax-free lump sum based on your chosen pension amount. Read how this is calculated in the relevant scheme guides.

Check out this lump sum example:

Mo takes partial retirement when he’s 65 and his initial nuvos pension entitlement is £14,000 per year. He could take a cash lump sum of anything up to £60,000 but he decides to maximise his income and take no lump sum at all.

Mo decides to retire at 72, with a remaining nuvos pension entitlement of £7,000 a year. He now has the option to take a lump sum of anything up to £30,000. He cannot opt to use the lump sum entitlement he had when he took partial retirement.

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Abatement

Be mindful of earnings not exceeding your previous salary, as this can affect your pension.

Final Salary

For classic, classic plus, or premium members, partial retirement can impact your final salary calculation. Examples are provided for clarification.

Next steps...

Thinking of taking partial retirement or looking to apply?

Full Retirement: Your Reward Awaits

When it's time for full retirement, your pension provides steady monthly payments, a potential tax-free lump sum, and any added pension or purchased years. Access the Pension Portal for a personalised retirement estimate and options. You can find out more about how your pension is calculated in the scheme guides

 

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Your Choice, Your Terms

Your Choice, Your Terms

Consider early retirement, available from 55 or 50, depending on your scheme. Early retirement payments are reduced, with reductions varying by scheme. Log into the Portal and use the modeller to see how much your pension might be reduced by.

Effective Pension Age (EPA)

Effective Pension Age (EPA)

EPA lets alpha members access part of their pension early. It's a strategic move for retirement planning.

Early Retirement

Early Retirement

State Pension: Remember that your Civil Service pension is separate from the State Pension. The State Pension is separate to your Civil Service pension. Visit the GOV.UK website for more information.

Preparing to retire:

Preparation is key and It’s something we don’t often think about until we actually start the process, but the more research and planning you can do beforehand, the more prepared you’ll feel.

Making the decision to retire isn’t usually one that happens overnight. Here are some things one should consider:

  • Income
  • Family and friends
  • The community
  • Leisure
  • Travel

What Income will you need?

The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) urges savers to consider what outgoings they anticipate in retirement such as:

  • Housing
  • Food
  • Transport
  • Holidays & Leisure
  • Helping others

 

What about the 2015 Remedy (McCloud)?

Anyone retiring after 30 September 2023 will be given their remedy options with their quotation.​ This is called the Deferred Choice Underpin (DCU).

Support after retirement

The Civil Service Pensioners’ Alliance (CSPA). The CSPA is an independent, non-political organisation working to protect your Civil Service pension. The CSPA is recognised by the Government with the mandate to speak on your behalf and have direct access to the Cabinet office.

The CSPA can offer you:

  • Quarterly Magazine ​
  • Access to free legal guidance and signposting to appropriate legal services ​
  • IT advice​
  • Significant range of discounts from high street retailers, discounted holidays and travel through to lifestyle

New episodes of the Civil Service Pensions podcast every Thursday

The Civil Service Pensions Podcast will help you get to grips with your pension and make more informed choices about your financial future, whatever stage of life you're at.

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Pensioner Newsletter

We're continuing to go green and print less. Our digital format delivers interactive content, videos, polls and more which you can read from your PC, laptop or mobile device.

We cover a range of topics including:

  • Details of this year's Pension Increase
  • Your P60 explained 
  • Support from our trusted partners during the cost-of-living crisis
  • Retirement stories - featuring Mike, Louise and Patrick
  • An update on the 2015 Remedy

Watch again now and unlock the power of your pension.

In this hour-long Starting Your Journey session from week 1, our experts covered the following topics:

  • Why your Civil Service pension is important
  • Your options after joining the scheme – including transferring in, and the partnership scheme
  • Things you should do after joining the Civil Service pension scheme
  • The benefits of the alpha pension scheme