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LIVE Civil Service Pension Scheme Task Force Update We are experiencing intermittent issues with One Time Passwords (OTPs) being received to mobiles and emails. Please continue to attempt registration, there is no need to contact us Quotes update: All outstanding retirement quotes will be issued to members by the end of June. Please see our Quotes Hub for information and support. Please note we cannot escalate any quotes in advance of the end of June whilst we work through this distribution. The Member Portal and Employer Portal will be unavailable from 7:30pm on Wednesday 17 June while we carry out planned maintenance. You will not be able to log in, register or use online services on either portal during this time. This will not affect your information or any previous activity. Services should be available by 7am on Thursday 18 June.

Member Knowledge Article

classic scheme guide - Introduction

Overview of classic features

classic

  • Is a defined benefit occupational pension scheme based on final salary.

  • Most members have a scheme pension age of 60.

  • Gives you an automatic lump sum and income that is increased in line with rises in the cost of living when you retire and benefits for your dependants in the event of your death.

  • You can choose to take an additional lump sum from your pension benefits when you retire.

  • Includes valuable life cover before you retire, and it may provide protection if you suffer serious ill health.

Contracting out

The classic scheme was ‘contracted out’ of S2P between 6 April 1978 and 5 April 2016, and as a result, members paid lower rates of National Insurance contributions and did not build up entitlement to the S2P element of the previous two-part state pension during this time. 

On 6 April 2016, the Government introduced the new State Pension for people reaching State Pension age from that point onwards. This replaced the previous two-part state pension arrangements: the Basic Pension and earnings-related State Second Pension (S2P); and the predecessor to S2P, the State Earnings-Related Pension Scheme (SERPS). 

When your new State Pension is calculated at retirement age, it will take into account any period you were a member of a contracted-out scheme. From 6 April 2016, classic is no longer contracted out of S2P.