Taking Your Pension
Your Pension Options
It's what you have been saving for and looking forward to. Learn all you need about when and how you can take your pension and the different retirement options available to you.
When Can I Take My Pension?
There are some general rules which apply to all members taking their pension:
- You can only choose to take your pension from age 55* and you must take your pension before your 75th birthday.
- If you take your pension before your Normal Pension Age, your pension may be reduced for early payment. The only exception to this is Ill Health Retirement and members who qualify for full Rule of 85 protection.
- You cannot cash in or withdraw your LGPS pension. If you are over 55* and wish to access some or all of your pension you would need to transfer it to another pension provider. Learn more about transfers.
* Note that the UK Government has announced that the earliest age you can ordinarily take your pension will increase from age 55 to 57 from 6 April 2028. You may be protected from this increase if you joined the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) in Scotland before 4th November 2021, but we are still awaiting confirmation from the Scottish Government about how this protection will be applied.
What is Normal Pension Age?
Normal Pension Age (NPA) is simply the age you can take your pension benefits in full, without any reductions for early payment. Normal Pension Age differs depending on when you were paying into the Pension Scheme:
- Before 1 April 2015: NPA = 65
- On or After 1 April 2015: NPA = State Pension Age, with a minimum of 65. That means those who have a State Pension Age lower than 65, still have a NPA of 65. As your Normal Pension Age is linked to your State Pension Age, if your State Pension Age changes so too will your Normal Pension Age. You can find out your State Pension Age at www.gov.co.uk
If you were paying into the Pension Scheme both before and after April 2015, you cannot take payment of the benefits built up under each membership period separately. They must be taken at the same time.
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Types of Retirement
There are a number of options for retiring and taking your pension; from early to late retirement, or if you are too ill to continue to work, ill health retirement can be available.
Find Out More -
Rule of 85
Many people wonder what Rule of 85 is, if they have it and how it affects their pension.
Find Out More -
Early Payment Reductions
Choosing to take your pension before your Normal Pension Age means that in most cases your pension will be reduced for early payment.
Find Out More
Claim your pension
Whether you are taking your pension normally, or you are looking to cash it in, there are different ways to access your pension.
How much will my pension be?
See how taking your pension at different ages and under different circumstances impacts its value by logging into your My Pension+ account and using the pension calculators.
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More About Your Pension
Latest Updates
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Talk Money Week returns from 3rd – 7th November 2025, encouraging us to break down barriers and start open conversations about money.
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The North East Scotland Pension Fund (NESPF) has signed the Belém Investor Statement on Rainforests.
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Pension scams are on the rise and fraudsters are using luring tactics to get hold of hard-earned savings.
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Pensions Awareness 2025 is returning from 15th to 17th September and serves as a reminder to take time to check your pension is on track for the retirement you want.
