Added Pension

Take control of your retirement planning by building up more pension with added pension and EPA.

What is Added Pension?

Added pension is an amount of extra annual pension you can buy which will be combined with your Civil Service pension when you choose to take it.

Added Penson can be bought either by:

• a single one-off payment (lump sum); or
• regular monthly payments for an agreed period.

Eligibility

• You can only make a new application to purchase added pension in the alpha scheme.
• Members can no longer start new added pension contracts in classic, premium, classic plus, or nuvos.
• Existing monthly contributions in these schemes will continue until their intended end date or cancellation by the member.

Limits and deadlines for buying Added Pension during the next scheme year (2026/27)

Limits

Deadlines

Before you choose to buy Added Pension, please note the following

• The 2026/2027 scheme year runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.
• You can only buy Added Pension via a lump sum payment once during the scheme year.
• Monthly contributions to buy Added Pension must start on 1 April 2026.

Payment method rules when buying Added Pension

Monthly Contributions

• You must select the duration of your added pension contract on the application form.
• Contracts start on 1 April and must run for the full scheme year (until 31 March), unless you leave the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
• You must submit your application by the annual deadline to buy added pension by monthly contribution.
• Your employer is responsible for informing you of the annual application deadline.
• The minimum monthly contribution that can be made is £10.
• If you apply within three months of joining, your contributions will be backdated to your start date.
• Monthly contributions are non-refundable unless you leave the scheme with less than two years’ qualifying service.

Lump Sum Payment

• You may make a lump sum contribution at any time within the scheme year (1 April to 31 March), but only one lump sum payment per year.
• You must be in service for 12 months to purchase Added Pension by lump sum.
• The maximum lump sum contribution you can make by salary is one month’s salary after the standard pension and NI deductions. You cannot split your payment over multiple months.
• Your employer is responsible for informing you about the deadline for buying added pension.
• You can contribute via salary deduction or BACS transfer; BACS payments must come from your own bank account.
• You may pay by cheque if salary deduction or BACS transfer is not available. Cheques must be made out to ‘CO Civil Superannuation’ and received by the Civil Service Pension Scheme with the application form by the deadline.
• The minimum lump sum that can be paid is £100
• An annual cap applies to the amount of added pension you can purchase, which is reviewed each year and adjusted for inflation.
• Lump sum payments are non-refundable unless you leave the scheme with less than two years’ qualifying service.

Apply to buy Added Pension

​​Please note: You must use the Added Pension Calculator to calculate the cost of buying Added Pension required before applying. To use the calculator, you first need to download it to your computer and then open in Microsoft Excel. You will then be able to enter figures into the spreadsheet to calculate the cost of your Added Pension.

• If you've done this and decided to buy Added Pension, you'll need to complete an Added Pension application form online or by post Added Pension application form - postal.
• Please read the Declaration section on the form carefully before submitting your application.
• You can buy Added Pension by monthly contributions or a one-off, lump sum payment.
• You can choose to make an open-ended commitment to go on contributing every month, until you either leave the Civil Service pension scheme, or choose to cancel it.

Effective Pension Age (EPA)

Members can also buy something called an EPA. An EPA allows alpha members to increase their pension flexibility by building up a portion of their pension that can be taken one, two, or three years before their Normal Pension Age (NPA) without any early repayment reduction.  

EPA Deadlines:

​​​Deadline: 6 March 2026 

​Buying EPA: 2026/27 Monthly Contribution

More information 

alpha scheme guide - Section 2B (Added Pension)