Jump to


Share This Page

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.

Calculate the cost of buying Added Pension

You can use your scheme’s Added Pension Calculator to work out how much added pension costs to buy.

Added Pension Calculator

Limits and deadlines for buying Added Pension during the current scheme year (2024/25)

Added Pension for the 2024/25 scheme year can only be bought via lump sum.

Membership

Maximum Added Pension

classic

£7,300

(plus a lump sum of £21,900)

premium, classic plus, nuvos

£9,000

alpha

£9,000*

* This limit may be reduced if you're also buying EPA

Limits and deadlines for buying Added Pension during the next scheme year (2025/26)

Membership

Maximum Added Pension

classic

£7,500 (plus a lump sum of £22,500)

premium, classic plus, nuvos

£9,200

alpha

£9,200*

* This limit may be reduced if you're also buying EPA

Payment method rules when buying Added Pension

Payment Method

Rules:

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.

 

You can choose an amount to pay each month, such as £20, or a percentage of your monthly salary.

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.

  • If you've done this and decided to buy Added Pension, you'll need to complete an Added Pension Application form.
  • 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.
Added Pension application
Documents White

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 payment reduction.

Find out more on EPA (Effective Pension Age)

Deadlines:

Buying EPA

Deadline

2025/26 Monthly Contribution

7 March 2025

Frequently asked questions

You can buy added pension if you’re an active member of alpha. You cannot buy added pension if you’re in the partnership scheme, or you’ve left the scheme.

There is an overall limit to the amount of added pension you can buy. The limit is reviewed each year and is adjusted in line with rises in the cost of living. Please see the Limits and deadlines page for more information.

The Added Pension Calculators below will help you work out how much added pension you want to buy and how much it will cost you.

alpha Added Pension Calculator

You’ll receive tax relief on contributions that do not exceed the limits set by HM Revenue and Customs. If the deduction comes directly from your salary then your tax relief is automatic. If you make a lump sum contribution by BACS or personal cheque, no tax relief is applied. You’ll have to claim the tax relief from HMRC directly.

Buying added pension, particularly by lump sum, will increase the value of your pension from one year to the next, and you could potentially become liable to an Annual Allowance tax charge. You can find more information on the Government's Tax on your private pension contributions page (opens in a new window).

In the classic, classic plus or premium schemes, added pension will provide benefits for your dependants automatically. In nuvos or alpha, you’re able to select if you want to purchase added pension for yourself only or for yourself and your dependants.

From 1 April 2022, you can no longer apply to make new added pension purchases in the classic, classic plus, premium or nuvos schemes.

Your Annual Benefit Statement (ABS) will show you how much added pension you’ve bought each year and the current value of added pension bought in previous years.

If you buy added pension, you’ll receive tax relief on those contributions (as long as they do not exceed the limits set by HMRC). 

Any added pension you buy is also adjusted annually in line with the Consumer Price Index (inflation). 

You can only make a new added pension application in the alpha scheme. If you are currently contributing to your previous scheme, this can continue at the same rate until its intended end date or until you cancel.

You can’t purchase added years in alpha as alpha isn’t based on years of reckonable service. However, you can buy added pension, which is an additional amount of alpha pension which will be paid to you each year in retirement. Find out more about added pension.

There are different ways to increase your pension in alpha – you can buy added pension or make additional voluntary contributions (AVCs) to the Civil Service Additional Voluntary Contribution Scheme.

Remember, you may also be entitled to receive State Pension benefits. You can obtain a forecast of your state pension from The Pension Service. 

There are different ways to increase your pension in alpha – you can buy added pension or make additional voluntary contributions (AVCs) to the Civil Service Additional Voluntary Contribution Scheme.

Your employer will not pay anything towards your added pension.

Please submit your request via the Contact Us form or in writing.

We will instruct your employer to stop deducting your monthly contributions from your pay.

Important:

  • Cancellation requests must be received prior to the commencement of the new scheme year.
  • Written requests require a wet signature.

More information

Published:
18 December 2021
Last updated:
3 December 2024
Share this