Can employer refuse retirement?

Chris_English · 23 January 2022 at 3:51PM

molerat said:

NoMore said:

toolateforsums said:

Although unlikely , a DB pension could prevent taking your pension before an age specified in the trust deeds and rules. Normally early retirement is actuarily reduced though to take account of early retirement.But , it could happen!
A dc scheme is yours to access from whatever age from (currently) 55 and up

Yes my DB pension says 'subject to trustees agreement' for retiring before scheme normal pension age, but as far as I'm aware they have always agreed to the actuarial reductions and never stopped anybody taking it earlier

This thread is about a specific scheme so generalisations are of no relevance, the right to retire at 55 is contractual.

That’s not true. The right to receive a pension may be, but you can retire whenever you want by handing in your notice and leaving.

zagubov · 24 January 2022 at 12:14AM

In education there may be restrictions on when you can retire. In primary/secondary education there are usually only three days in the year when you can retire, to prevent people vanishing during a teaching term. Higher education may be different.

Have you asked your union rep or your pension provider ( or HR if you're happy for them to know your intention)?

atw_uss · 24 January 2022 at 11:23PM

Thanks for all the comments. I can’t see anything on the USS website or my employer’s pension pages to suggest this. It did mention permission is needed for another non-USS scheme that non-academic staff may be in.

I’m in the fact-finding phase at the moment and don’t want to flag my possible intentions to them just yet!