This page is for active members. If you are no longer a contributing member of the scheme but want to draw your deferred benefits, visit our planning to retire from deferred status page.

Life after work

Watch the LGPS video about planning to retire.

Read a transcript (.pdf format, 20 KB).

If you're an active member of the LGPS and you are planning to retire, this page explains:

  • when you can retire
  • your pension ages
  • how to tell us you want to retire
  • how to get a pension benefit estimate
  • retiring early or late
  • the retirement process overview 

When you can retire

The LGPS doesn't have a fixed retirement age. In most cases, you choose when to take your pension at any time between the ages of 55 and 75, provided you've been a member for at least 2 years.

Understanding your pension ages

Your normal minimum pension age (NMPA) is the earliest age you can access workplace or personal pensions. The NMPA is 55 now, but the government is increasing it to 57 on 6 April 2028. 

Your normal pension age (NPA) is the age at which you can take your LGPS pension in full without any reductions for early payment. It is linked to your State Pension age, but the minimum is 65. 

Check your State Pension age on the GOV.UK website.

If you choose to take your pension before your NPA, it will normally be reduced because it is being paid early. If you take it after your NPA, your pension will be increased because it's being paid late.

Learn more about your NPA on the LGPS website.

You may have two normal pension ages

Pension built up before 1 April 2014

If you were in the final salary scheme, these benefits usually have a normal pension age of 65.

Pension built up after 1 April 2014

These benefits are part of the 'career average scheme' and are payable in full at your normal pension age which is your State Pension age.

If you have a pre‑ and post‑2014 membership

You may have two different normal pension ages, but you must take all your LGPS benefits at the same time. However the adjustments are applied separately:

  • only the elements of your benefits that you’ve taken early will be reduced
  • benefits taken at normal pension age will be paid in full, with no adjustment
  • benefits taken late will be increased

How to tell us you want to retire

You will need to complete the retirement declaration form. If you are retiring early, you must give at least 3 months' written notice.

Tell us you want to retire

Plan ahead

We recommend you start planning at least six months before you want your pension to begin. You will want time to:

  • prepare your finances
  • understand what your payments will be
  • review your options (including lump-sum choices)

Use our retirement planner tool to figure out how much you need to save to achieve the retirement you want.

Get an estimate

When you start your pension, you can choose to swap part of your annual pension for a tax-free lump sum.

Use our retirement calculator to estimate:

  • benefits if you leave before retirement
  • benefits if you retire (including early retirement)
  • benefits for your dependants

You can also use the lump-sum calculator to explore how much you can take as a tax-free amount.

Retiring early or late

The 85-year rule

If you were a member between 1 April 1998 and 30 September 2006, you may have some protection under the 85-year rule.

The 85-year rule does not allow you to retire early. But it does mean that you can take some of your pension benefits without them being reduced for early payment. Learn more about the 85-year rule.

Retiring before your normal pension age

If you retire early, your pension is normally reduced to reflect that it will be paid for longer.

The earlier you retire, the larger the reduction.

You can view the early retirement reduction factors on the LGPS website.

Retiring after your normal pension age

If you take your pension later than your normal pension age, your benefits will be increased for late payment.

You must take your Oxfordshire LGPS pension benefits at the same time. 

You may have different normal pension ages for benefits earned before and after 2014. Some parts of your pension may be increased for being taken late, while others may be reduced for being taken early.

Overview of the pension process

Below is a typical retirement timeline.

Step 1. You submit your forms

  • you complete the retirement declaration form and return it to us
  • your employer sends us your final pay details by the 19th of the month after you leave

Step 2. We confirm your pension

  • within 10 working days of us receiving full and correct information, we will contact you to confirm your pension figures

Step 3. We set‑up payment 

  • we will arrange payment of your pension and any lump sum
  • we will pay your lump sum as soon as possible
  • we will pay your pension and any arrears due on the last working day of the month (subject to payroll deadlines)

If you have additional voluntary contributions (AVCs)

If you have AVCs, you will have extra choices to make. A retirement with AVCs can take more time than usual.

Let us know if you have AVCs as soon as you start thinking about retirement.

Freedom and Choice (2015 reforms)

Pension freedoms allow people over 55 to access their pensions flexibly, rather than having to take them all at once. 

Pension freedoms only apply to defined contribution (DC) schemes, but the LGPS is a defined benefit (DB) scheme. This means you must take your LGPS benefits in the standard DB way.

Some people may consider transferring their LGPS benefits to a DC scheme offering flexible options. In this case, different rules will apply.

Need more help?

Contact your employer for questions about:

  • your entitlement
  • pensionable pay

Contact us for questions about:

  • how we calculate your pension
  • how we will pay your pension