Civil Service Classic Pension - claiming late

honestcove

Dear all - having read the Classic Scheme Guide I am unclear what happens if you first claim the Classic Pension at say aged 62 instead of 60. Some of the posts here suggest that the 2-yrs worth of pension that could've been claimed but wasn't is lost, but some say that those 2-yrs is paid as a single lump sum. Could anyone please point me to a easily accessible and reliable document that clarifies this please?

Isthisforreal99

Depends if you are still working for CS or not.

horsewithnoname

if you have left the civil service then you will get your pension from the age of 60 so you would get the two years as a lump sum.if you are still working in a job within the civil service pension scheme you will only get your pension from the date you request it to be paid.
This is because all schemes except for the new Alpha scheme were considered deferred salary so you can only get it paid once, either as salary or pension, just not both.

Yorkie1

On this thread, started by someone else, I did a couple of worked examples depending on whether you are still working in the CS or not.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81938990#Comment_81938990

honestcove

Thanks all - quite clear now i.e. no arrears if still a working Civil Servant and part retired (claiming alpha).

Isthisforreal99

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81997541#Comment_81997541

So you are partial retired and only claiming Alpha? Any reason why you opted for Alpha over Classic when you partially retired? You could have take your Classic in full at 60 but abatement may have been a factor?