Leaving the scheme

If you choose to opt out of the police pension scheme, whilst remaining in service and you no longer want to be a member, you may have a choice of options for your benefits depending on your length of service. 

Less than three months
The contributions that you have made to the scheme will be refunded and you will no longer be entitled to benefits from the scheme.

Three months to two years
You have two choices:

• You can receive a refund of your contributions (assuming you have not transferred in any service), and no longer have benefits in the police pension scheme
• You can transfer your benefits to another pension scheme. Find out more in the transferring out section

Over two years
You have two choices:

• You can transfer your benefits to another pension scheme. Find out more in the transferring out section of this website
• You can leave your benefits in the scheme and they will become ‘deferred’. You can take your deferred benefits when you come to retire. Deferred benefits will be increased in line with the consumer prices index each year to ensure that they keep up with inflation. You can take your deferred benefits at state pension age. Find out more in the when can you retire? section of the website

Other police pensions
If you also have benefits in the 1987 or 2006 schemes, the age you can take these benefits may be affected if you opt out of the 2015 scheme and become deferred.

If you have over two years of qualifying service and leave your pension in the police pension scheme, your benefits are known as ‘deferred’. 

Increases
Deferred pensions are increased each year in line with the consumer prices index. You’ll receive a statement each year letting you know the latest value. 

Rejoining the scheme
You can rejoin the scheme. Your options may vary depending on how long you have been out of the scheme – find out more in the opting in / rejoining the scheme section of this website.

Death benefits
If you continue to work but aren’t contributing to the pension scheme, you won’t qualify for death benefits if you die in service.

Taking your pension
Deferred pensions can be taken from the scheme at state pension age. If you become ill and are eligible for an ill health pension, your deferred pension would be paid earlier than state pension age.

Other police pensions
If you also have benefits in the 1987 or 2006 schemes, the age you can take these benefits may be affected if you become deferred in the 2015 scheme. Find out more in the get retirement ready section of the website.

If you do not want to leave your benefits in the police pension scheme until you retire, you can apply to transfer your benefits from the police pension scheme to another public sector pension scheme or funded defined benefit scheme. 

Less than two years’ service
If you have less than three months’ service and want to transfer out, your contributions will be refunded. If you have between three months and two years’ service, you can choose between a refund of contributions or a transfer out.

Think about your choices
Before transferring you should carefully check that this is the right decision for you. Think about:

• The timing of the transfer – some transfers need to be made within 12 months of joining a new scheme
• If you receive a refund of contributions, you will no longer have a deferred pension to transfer
• You may now receive the equivalent value of benefits in the new scheme

Transfer process

1. Your administrator will be able to let you know their specific process and timescales for making a transfer. They will be able to provide you with a ‘cash equivalent transfer value’
2. Share the cash equivalent transfer value with your new pension arrangement to find out what your transfer might buy you
3. If you would like to go ahead, let your administrator know
4. Transfers can take time and you will be updated when the transfer is complete

Moving police force
If you are moving between police forces, your benefits may automatically transfer – find out more in the transferring in section of this website. 

Transfers to defined contribution or flexible benefit arrangements are not allowed.

All schemes have their own criteria for accepting transfers from the police pension scheme.

Although you may change employers whilst remaining a police officer, the British transport police, the civil nuclear constabulary and ministry of defense police do not offer the police pension scheme.

The civil nuclear constabulary and ministry of defense offer the civil service scheme and you may be able to transfer benefits in on favorable terms within one year of joining.

The British transport police is a section of the railway pension scheme. A transfer out to this scheme is not a year for year service transfer and will convert the transfer value to an amount of pension.

Your new employer will be able to advise you of their pension arrangements.