Changes to the Minimum Pension Age
From 6 April 2028, Minimum Pension Age (MPA), the earliest age at which most people can access their pension benefits will increase from 55 to 57. This change was introduced under the Finance Act 2022, and applies to alpha, NICSAVCS and partnership schemes.
Changes to the Minimum Pension Age
From 6 April 2028, Minimum Pension Age (MPA), the earliest age at which most people can access their pension benefits will increase from 55 to 57. This change was introduced under the Finance Act 2022, and applies to alpha, NICSAVCS and partnership schemes.
Who's affected by this change?
This change will not impact:
- any final salary service; or
- career average service of members who joined before the 4 November 2021.
When did you join the scheme
Before 6 April 2006 - The Minimum Pension Age for the following schemes is 50.
- Classic
- Classic plus
- Premium
- Northern Ireland Civil Service Additional Voluntary Contribution Scheme (NICSAVCS)
April 2006 - 3 November 2021 - The Minimum Pension Age for the following schemes is 55.
- Premium
- Nuvos
- alpha
- NICSAVC
- Partnership
4 November 2021 onwards - The Minimum Pension Age for the following schemes is currently 55, increasing to 57 from 6 April 2028 (standard normal minimum pension age set by HMRC).
alpha*
- NICSAVC
- Partnership
* Members affected by the 2015 Remedy (McCloud) have a protected minimum pension age of 55 in alpha, even if they only joined from 1 April 2022.
Transferring In and Protection
Please be aware that transferring pensions between schemes can affect your protected pension age.
Transfer into alpha
If you already have a protected minimum pension age in alpha and transfer another pension in, both your existing alpha pension and the transferred-in benefits will have a protected minimum pension age.
However, if you do not have a protected minimum pension age in alpha and you transfer in a pension that does, you will lose the protection. This means you will only be able to access those benefits from the new standard minimum pension age (57 from 6 April 2028).
Transfers into Partnership or the NICSAVCS
If you already have a protected minimum pension age and transfer a pension into partnership or the NICSAVCS, your protection will remain.
If you do not have a protected minimum pension age but transfer in a pension that does, the transferred-in pension will be ring-fenced and keep the lower protected pension age.