This page is for deferred members. If you are a contributing or active scheme member and are planning to retire, visit our planning to retire page.

When you can retire

The LGPS doesn't have a fixed retirement age. You can take your LGPS pension between the ages of 55 and 75, provided you've been a member for at least 2 years.

Your normal pension age (NPA) is the age at which you can take your deferred pension without reductions for early payment. Your NPA depends on when you left the scheme. Learn more about your NPA on the LGPS website.

Your deferred pension must be paid before age 75.

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 deferred LGPS pension in full. Your NPA depends on when you left the scheme. 

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 (linked to your State Pension age - minimum age is 65).

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.

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)

Get an estimate

You can check your most recent benefit statement or use our retirement calculator to estimate your benefits.

Early retirement

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. You can find more information on the 85-year rule and whether you may qualify on the LGPS website.

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.

If you opted out of the scheme

If you opted out of the scheme, you must have left that employment before the LGPS can pay your deferred pension.

You do not need your former employer's consent for standard early retirement. However, you must contact your former employer if you want either of these two options:

  1. An unreduced early pension (employer discretion).
  2. To apply for early payment due to permanent ill-health.

Requesting payment due to permanent ill-health

There is no minimum age for ill‑health retirement from deferred status. If ill‑health now prevents you from doing your former job, contact your former employer.

Your former employer is responsible for the decision and must organise a formal medical assessment before the LGPS can release your benefits.

You can contact us if your former employer no longer exists or if you are unsure who to contact.