If you take flexible retirement before your normal pension age, your benefits may be reduced as they will be paid early, unless your employer agrees to waive some or all of the reduction, or you meet the Rule of 85.
If you take flexible retirement after your normal pension age, your benefits will be increased as they will be paid later.
Membership built up to the date of flexible retirement will count towards deciding whether you have the two years’ minimum membership to qualify for benefits when you finally leave your continuing employment, but will not count towards any Rule of 85 protections you may have had.