Normal retirement age
Age 60.
Deferred pension increase
Deferred benefits increase each year by the following:
- Any Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP) benefits are increased at a fixed rate depending on your date of leaving
- Pre-1985 benefits do not increase
- Pre-6 April 2000 benefits increase by 5%
- Post-6 April 2000 benefits increase in line with inflation up to a maximum of 5%
On death as a deferred member
There is a lump sum payable if you die before your normal retirement date (NRD) which is made up of the refund of your contributions. If you die in deferment on or after your NRD, a lump sum of five years of pension payments is payable, as if you had retired on the day before your death.
The contracted-out minimum benefits will be payable to your spouse/civil partner.
At retirement
You may exchange some pension for tax-free cash within statutory limits.
Early retirement possible from age 55 subject to Company consent.
A reduction will be made to take account of the fact that you will be receiving your pension for longer. Please note that the government intends to increase the minimum retirement age from 55 to 57 from the 6 April 2028.
Pension increases
Once your pension comes into payment, the non-GMP element of your pension will be increased each 1 January as follows.
| Pension relating to service prior to 6 April 1997 | No increase |
|---|---|
| Pension relating to service post 5 April 1997 | The lower of 5% and the rise in inflation |
Before you reach GMP age (60 for women and 65 for men), the Plan will not increase your GMP.
After you reach GMP age, post 1988 GMP will increase by the lower of 3% per annum and the annual rise in inflation (currently measured using the Consumer Prices Index).
Death in retirement
If you are receiving a Plan pension and die within five years of retiring, your dependants will receive a cash sum. This will be the balance of five years’ pension payments.
If you die after retirement your spouse/civil partner will receive a pension for life of 50% of the pension payable to you at the earlier of your retirement and normal retirement date, but calculated before any reduction if you took tax-free cash at retirement or chose an optional dependant’s pension.
Please note the Rules of the Plan are the binding documents of the Plan and will always override the information provided in this website. For deferred members the Plan Rules at the date of leaving are relevant.
