Retiring

Normal pension age for your 2015 Scheme benefits will be the same as your state pension age or age 65, whichever is later. As the state pension age increases so will your normal pension age meaning that you could be older than 65 when you reach your normal pension age. You can find out your state pension age at www.gov.uk/state-pension-age. It may also be shown on your last NILGOSC annual benefit statement. 

Although the retirement age for the benefits that you have built up before 1 April 2015 will still be 65, you cannot draw these pension benefits before your benefits under the 2015 Scheme. Therefore, if you decided to withdraw all of your benefits at age 65 and your normal pension age under the 2015 scheme is 66, any benefits that you have built up after 1 April 2015 will be reduced as they will be paid early. 

To be entitled to retirement benefits you must have at least two years’ membership in the Scheme, or have brought in a transfer from another pension scheme or have a deferred benefit elsewhere in the Scheme which takes you over the two year limit.

If you do not retire at your normal pension age there are specific rules relating to the other types of retirement which may be available to you.

Retirement options