Getting your pension early
You can retire and take your pension at any time from age 50 if you joined classic plus before 6 April 2006, or from age 55 if you joined on or after that date. However, your benefits are worked out using the scheme pension age so we will reduce the pension because of early payment.
Leaving before scheme pension age (60)
If you leave before scheme pension age, your classic plus pension benefits may be affected, depending on your circumstances. The following booklets provide more information.
- Leaving before pension age with 2 or more years’ service*
- classic plus and premium ill health retirement pension benefits*
- Civil Service Compensation Scheme (CSCS) Early retirement and redundancy for classic plus, premium and partnership members *(Compensation terms applicable up to 31 March 2010 and in some transitional cases only. Your employer will advise if they apply to you)
Re-employment
You need to be aware that if you take your pension, whether through one of the early retirement options or through ill health retirement, your pension may be reduced if you are later re-employed by the same employer or by another employer who participates in the Civil Service pension arrangements. The leaflet What is abatement? * tells you more.
You should also be aware that if you leave with benefits under the Civil Service Compensation Scheme and are re-employed by a Civil Service Pensions employer you may have to repay some or all of your compensation benefits
* Booklets and leaflets are also available from your pensions administrator – see under Pensions helplines for contact details.