Category
Category: Pension Basics
Foundational explainers: how UK public sector pensions actually work.
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NHS Mental Health Officer status: what MHO doubling is, and what McCloud changes
Mental Health Officer status doubles NHS pension service after 20 years and lets some staff take an unreduced pension from 55. The 2015 scheme switched the doubling off, but McCloud temporarily turns it back on…
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Can you transfer your public sector pension out? The rules explained
If you are in an unfunded scheme like the NHS, Teachers or Civil Service, you generally cannot transfer your pension out to a flexible pot. The LGPS is different. Here is what the 2015 ban…
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The Annual Allowance and your public sector pension (2026/27)
The annual allowance is £60,000 for 2026/27, but a defined benefit pension is measured by how much it grows, not by what you pay in, so a pay rise can trigger a tax charge. Here…
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How to read your public sector pension Annual Benefit Statement (2026)
Your public sector pension Annual Benefit Statement lands by 31 August. Here is what each figure means, the difference between the pension you have built up and the pension you are projected to get, the…
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Pension inheritance tax from April 2027: an executor’s guide for public sector families
From 6 April 2027, unused pension pots fall into your estate for inheritance tax, and your executors must value them, report them and pay the bill. The reassuring part for public sector families: death-in-service lump…
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What does ‘LGPS’ on your payslip mean?
Spotted ‘LGPS’ or a pension deduction on your payslip? It’s your contribution to the Local Government Pension Scheme. What it is, why it’s there, how the 2026/27 rate is worked out, and what you get…
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The LGPS 85-year rule explained
The LGPS 85-year rule was removed in 2006 but still protects long-serving members. What it is, who keeps protection (it depends on your date of birth), and how it lets some pension be paid unreduced…
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What is a Collective Defined Contribution pension? A plain-English guide for workers
A plain-English guide to Collective Defined Contribution (CDC) pensions, the new TPR multi-employer code of practice laid 29 April 2026, the 31 July 2026 regulations commencement, and named early entrants TPT Retirement Solutions and LifeSight.
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The State Pension Age started rising to 67 on 6 May 2026: what it means for public sector pension members
The State Pension Age started rising from 66 to 67 on 6 May 2026 in monthly increments through to 6 March 2028. Here is the birthdate-by-birthdate timing, the interaction with the frozen personal allowance, and…
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Pension scams in 2026: how AI deepfakes are changing the threat to public sector pension members
Consumer-grade AI voice cloning has changed the pension fraud picture in 2026. TPR has reviewed 1,000+ suspicious sites with £500k stolen and £2.5m at risk. Public sector members are particularly exposed — here’s how the…