Important update - changes from 1 December 2025. For more information visit our news story.
Originally posted: 14/01/2022
1. Members of classic, classic plus, premium, nuvos or alpha can top-up their benefits by buying added pension. Added pension can be bought via a lump sum payment or monthly contributions. Members of alpha are also able to buy an EPA (by monthly contributions only). By contributing to an EPA, members of alpha are able to take part of their pension earlier than their Normal Pension Age (NPA) without any early payment reduction.
2. Members can choose to buy added pension via lump sum (through payroll, BACs or by cheque*) or monthly contributions (through payroll). Please note: alpha members cannot buy added pension via lump sum in their first 12 months of alpha membership. Members who wish to pay for their added pension by monthly contributions can only start from 1 April - or the date the member joins alpha, if different (see information about purchases for the 2021/22 scheme year, below).
3. If a member applies to buy added pension or EPA within three months of joining the scheme, their payment can be backdated to the date they joined
4. Buying added pension before 1 April 2022
The table below shows the maximum amount of added pension that members are eligible to buy before 1 April 2022.
| Membership | Maximum amount of added pension |
| classic | £5,900 (plus a lump sum amount of £17,700) |
| premium, classic plus or nuvos | £7,300 |
| alpha | £7,300 (this limit may be reduced if the member is also buying EPA) |
*Please note that, in light of restricted access to offices, this year we are encouraging members to not pay by cheque. With this in mind, please note that members can pay via payroll or BACS, and only if these options are not available to them then they should pay by cheque. Cheques should be made payable to ‘CO Civil Superannuation’ and application forms must be with the Scheme Administrator by 14 January 2022.
5. Added Pension purchase by Lump Sum for before 1 April 2022 deadline
To ensure that the application can be processed, members must ensure that the scheme administrator (MyCSP) receives their application and cheque (if applicable) to purchase added pension by lump sum before the deadlines shown below.
| Buying added pension | Deadline |
| Lump sum through payroll & BACs | 11 February 2022 |
| Lump sum by cheque | 14 January 2022 |
6. Purchasing added pension during 2022/23
Depending on the scheme the member is in when they apply for Added Pension will determine what scheme the Added Pension amount is credited to. Please see specifics below:
The maximum amount of added pension that members can buy in 2022/23 is:
| Membership | Maximum amount of added pension |
| classic | £6,100 (plus a lump sum amount of £18,300) |
| premium, classic plus or nuvos | £7,600 |
| alpha | £7,600 (this limit may be reduced if the member is also buying EPA) |
The 12-month restriction on making lump sum purchases for members who had full or tapered protection has been removed. This will allow this group of members to purchase Added Pension by lump sum under alpha immediately.
The limit for alpha added pension and EPA is £7,600 and is separate from the limit for classic, classic plus, premium and nuvos. It will be possible for members to buy the maximum amount in alpha even if they have already bought the maximum amount in classic, classic plus, premium, or nuvos.
7. Purchasing EPA during 2022/23
alpha members cannot buy EPA if they have bought the maximum amount of added pension. There is no limit on how much EPA a member can buy, however it counts towards the limit of added pension allowed.
8. Added Pension and EPA monthly contribution deadline
Members who wish to take out a contract to buy added pension or an EPA by monthly contributions for 2022/23 must send their completed application form to the Scheme Administrator (MyCSP) by 11 March 2022.
Members due to transition into alpha on 1 April 2022 who want to buy added pension in alpha will need to apply in April 2022 and their application will be backdated to 1 April 2022.
9. Information for members
You should signpost members to the following Information about added pension and EPA on the Civil Service Pensions website.
Webpage, Leaflets, and booklets
There is a dedicated webpage on Added Pension which provides information on all scheme and links through the support materials mentioned below.
The Added Pension leaflet contains information for members of classic, classic plus, premium and nuvos.
Section 02 of the alpha scheme guide, Taking Control of your Retirement Planning, contains information about added pension and EPA for alpha members.
Calculators
The added pension calculators and EPA estimator enable members to see how much added pension and/or EPN they can buy and how much it will cost.
Application forms
To apply for added pension or EPA, members must complete the relevant application form and return it to the address provided on the form.
If you have a question about the distribution of EPNs, or would like to receive them in a different format, please contact EPN@MyCSP.co.uk.
You can find electronic copies of the Employer Pension Guide, all current EPNs and forms in the Employer section of the Civil Service Pensions website.
This notice is for employers and should not be issued to scheme members.
Members can find information about their pension by visiting the member's section.