If you leave or opt out within one month of being enrolled into the scheme, your employer will automatically refund any contributions that you have made, less a deduction for tax.
If you leave or opt out after one month but within three months, and are under normal pension age, your employer will automatically refund any contributions that you’ve made, less a deduction for tax. This’ll happen if you don’t already have a qualifying preserved award in the Civil Service pension scheme or have not had a transfer value paid in from a personal pension. If you’re over normal pension age you’ll receive a pension award.
If you leave or opt out with more than three months but less than two years’ service, and are under normal pension age, you may be able to transfer the value of your pension to another scheme, or have a refund of your contributions, less a deduction for tax. This’ll happen if you don’t already have a qualifying preserved award in the Civil Service pension arrangements or haven’t had a transfer value paid in from a personal pension. If you’re over normal pension age you’ll receive a pension award.
If you’ve more than two years’ service your pension will be ‘preserved’ and held in the scheme until you claim it, or apply to transfer the value of your preserved pension to another pension scheme.