Category
Author: James Heppe-Smith
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The triple lock explained: how the State Pension rises, what changes from 2030, and why your public sector pension is different
The triple lock raises the State Pension each April by the highest of earnings growth, inflation or 2.5%. It gives 3.9% in April 2027, and the government plans to change it from April 2030. It…
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Budget 2026 and public sector pensions: what changed for scheme members, and what didn’t
The 28 October 2026 Budget created a Pension Tax Allowance, confirmed lower employer contributions for the public service schemes, changed the triple lock from 2030 and removed the two-year rule on death benefits. What each…
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Opting out of the NHS Pension Scheme: what you give up, and how to rejoin
NHSBSA’s latest figures count 231,000 NHS staff opted out of the pension scheme. What opting out saves, what it gives up, and how the SD502 form, re-enrolment and rejoining work.
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Public service pension increase 2027: the expected 3.5% April rise and who gets it
Public service pensions rise every April by the previous September’s CPI. September 2026’s figure, published on 21 October, is 3.5%, and it sets the April 2027 increase for pensions in payment and deferred pensions. How…
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The NAO audit of the Civil Service pension move to Capita: what it covers, and what it can’t do for you
The National Audit Office has opened an audit of how the Civil Service Pension Scheme was handed to Capita and how it has been run since. What it will examine, when it is due, and…
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Civil Service pension contributions 2026/27: the rates, a calculator and what changes in 2027
The Civil Service pension contribution rates for 2026/27: four bands from 4.6% to 8.05%, a calculator, the new lower threshold, the employer rate falling to 22.32% in April 2027, and how pensions will increase.
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Civil Service nuvos pension explained: how it works, what it pays, and when
The nuvos pension scheme is the Civil Service’s career average scheme for civil servants who joined between July 2007 and March 2015. How the 2.3% build-up works, pension age 65 and the late retirement increase,…
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Civil Service premium pension explained: how it works, what it pays, and who it pays
Premium is the final salary scheme for civil servants who joined between October 2002 and July 2007. How your Civil Service premium pension is worked out, pension age 60, the £12 for £1 lump sum,…
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Civil Service classic pension explained: how it works, what it pays, and who it pays
Civil Service classic is the final salary scheme for civil servants who joined before October 2002. How your classic pension is worked out, the automatic lump sum, early and ill-health retirement, what happens when you…
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Civil Service alpha pension explained: how it builds up, when you can take it, and what it pays
Civil Service alpha is the career average pension every serving civil servant has been building since April 2022. How the 2.32% accrual and CPI revaluation work, your pension age and Effective Pension Age, lump sums,…