You can choose to retire before your pension schemes retirement age
You can choose to claim your pension early any time after your pension scheme’s early retirement age:
nuvos and alpha - 55
classic, classic plus, and premium members who joined before 06 April 2006 - 50
classic, classic plus, and premium members who joined on or after 06 April 2006 - 55
If you claim your pension before the normal retirement age for your pension scheme, it will be reduced because it is paid early. The reduction depends on which pension scheme you’re in and how many years before your retirement age it’s being claimed.
If you still work for the Civil Service - talk to your employer about your plans to retire early and arrange a planned retirement date. Your employer will then request a retirement quote from us.
Read your scheme guide for more information on early retirement
EPA (Effective Pension Age)
EPA is buying the right to take a portion of your alpha pension unreduced before your normal pension age. This is one of the ways that alpha members can take control of their retirement planning.
Use the Pension Portal or other pension calculators to get an estimate of your pension amount and options.
4 months before your planned retirement date. If you’re still working for the Civil Service - talk to your employer about your plans to retire and arrange a planned retirement date. Your employer will then request a retirement quote from us.
We’ll check your records and calculate your pension amount. We may need to contact you or your employer for more information.
Around 2 months before your planned retirement date we’ll send you a quote of your pension amount, an option form and personal details form.
For those members impacted by 2015 Remedy (McCloud), it will also include a choice about how you would like part of your benefits to be calculated.
You should complete and return your forms to us as soon as possible.
If we receive your completed forms at least 1 month before your planned retirement date, any lump sum due should be paid shortly after you retire, into the bank account you provided in your form.
You’ll receive your first pension payment a month after your retirement date. This is paid monthly, in arrears. If we receive your option form less than 1 month before your planned retirement date, it may result in a delay.