Leaving before scheme pension age (60)
If you leave before scheme pension age, your premium pension benefits may be affected, depending on your circumstances:
- Leaving before pension age with 2 or more years service *
- classic plus and premium ill health retirement pension benefits – a guide to what is available *
- Civil Service Compensation Scheme (CSCS) Early retirement and redundancy for classic plus, premium, and partnership members – a guide to what is available *
(Compensation terms applicable up to 31 March 2010 and in some transitional cases only. Your employer will advise if they apply to you)
Getting your pension early
You can retire and take your pension at any time from 50 if you joined premium before 6 April 2006, or from 55 if you joined on or after that date. However, as your benefits are worked out using the scheme pension age we will reduce the pension because of early payment.
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 helpline for contact details.