Eligibility
Up to 30 September 2002, the only pension offered to Civil Servants was the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS). On 1 October 2002, a new section of the PCSPS was introduced, and existing members were given the choice to stay in their current section – renamed classic – or join the new section, premium, or choose a hybrid of classic and premium, called classic plus.
From 1 October 2002, most new entrants could not join classic.
On 1 April 2015, a new scheme called alpha was introduced. This means that after 31 March 2015, no person is in or is eligible to be in classic unless they are a protected member.
Members who are subject to the remedy will have the choice, usually at retirement, to have their service in their legacy scheme up to either 31 March 2015 or 31 March 2022, joining alpha from 1 April 2015 or 2022, respectively.
Part time work and temporary absences from work.
Any type of part-time service counts based on the actual hours you work and the equivalent full-time pensionable earnings. However, prior to 1 January 1995 there were restrictions on who could join the scheme depending on the number of hours worked. If you have had part-time service before 1 January 1995, we can tell you how these restrictions may apply to you.
Your pension may be affected if you have a temporary absence from work, depending on the type of absence. We or your employer will be able to advise you.
Making a transfer
Members of classic could historically have transferred in benefits from another pension scheme in their first 12 months of service.
The transfer value would have bought a credit of reckonable service in classic.
Opting out
Members had the choice to opt out of classic. For any opt-out period there will have been no pension accrued. If or once a member opted back in, they will have benefits from that point.
Please note: The Pension Act 2011 requires all employers to periodically (usually every three years) automatically enrol most workers who are not in a qualifying pension scheme. The Civil Service applies this to all workers.
Switching schemes
Since 01 October 2022, all members of the Civil Service Pension scheme had the option to switch to partnership, a defined contribution scheme. If you want to do this, you will need to complete a Pension Switch form and return it to your employer at least two months before the date you want to switch. Find out more about partnership.
