Pre April 2004 Service

[Postman Paul]

Hello all,

I've been a civil servant since September 2004 with a minimum retirement age of 65. All going well I would have 40 years service complete at 62.

In the summer of 2001 I was employed by a city council. I've always wondered if I could have been employed as a pre April 2004 entrant with a minimum retirement age of 60. There is a break in service but would I have a case to make the city council service reckonable for pension purposes and possibly retire at 62 on full pension

Thank you for any input

 

[Ruffian]

No. The break in service was more than 6 months.

 

[TheJackal]

Ruffian, I know the 6 months break in service rule is there for the pre 2012 (final salary) v post 2012 groups (career average).

Is it also there for pre 2003 (60) v post (65)?

 

[Ruffian]

Ruffian, I know the 6 months break in service rule is there for the pre 2012 (final salary) v post 2012 groups (career average).

Is it also there for pre 2003 (60) v post (65)?

There is some variation but essentially the 6 months break in service is also there for the 2004 scheme:

"Public servants who are deemed to be ‘New Entrants’ in accordance with the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 (‘the 2004 Act’), as amended, generally have a minimum pension age of 65 and have no compulsory retirement age. Public servants who are deemed not to be ‘New Entrants’ in accordance with the 2004 Act generally have a minimum pension age of 60 and a compulsory retirement age of 70. Section 2 of the 2004 Act sets out certain exemptions from New Entrant status, including, most commonly, where a person who is not a New Entrant ceases to serve in a public service body on or after 1 April 2004, they will not be deemed a New Entrant on taking up a subsequent public service employment, provided they do so within 26 weeks of ceasing their earlier public service employment. "https://assets.publicservicepension...rmination_Guidance_Document_February_2025.pdf

The OP had a break of more than 26 weeks and, anyway, I take it they were not a member of the pension scheme during their short 2001 service. They should be able to buy back this service for pension purposes if they want to (and can get it verified) but it won't change their "normal retirement age".

 

[Marsupial]

In the summer of 2001 I was employed by a city council.

Was a pension deduction taken from your pay during that period? If so, then you may be able to claim a refund as your total service was less than 2 years.

 

[becky]

He should preserve it rather than cashing it imo. I'm assuming he wants the service. I can't remember when temporary employees started paying into the pension schemes. It was around that time from memory.

 

[Ruffian]

He should preserve it rather than cashing it imo

Preserve and transfer - it wouldn't generate much as a standalone. I don't think he could even draw from it with such short service?