To defer DB pension or ..?

Frezzer01

My other public sector DB went up by 3.8% in Apr 26 based on CPI at Sept 25 - so I guess the rate depends on the date used. The £8.5k one is based on Jan to Jan CPI. I found another booklet which stated that whilst in accrual the pension was revalued each year based on rise in the RPI. My service ended in the last quarter of 26/27 so not that long ago.

Thanks again to everyone that has commented, getting others perspectives and knowledge is a gamechanger for me.

DRS1

I don't keep close track of CPI so I looked it up on Google and found something which said that in 2025 CPI peaked at 3.8% (Jul - Sep) and ended the year at 3.4%. Interestingly the same thing said CPI for 2024 was 2.5%. Go figure - I thought it would have been over 3%.

You mention RPI "whilst in accrual". That sounds like you were in a CARE scheme. I suspect the RPI link only applied while you were an active member.

I know I am no good with figures but I don't think the last quarter of 26/7 has happened yet.

Frezzer01

All these CPIs are a bit CSI!

Yep I was in a CARE scheme and RPI applied only whilst an active member.

Ha ha - you're very good at spotting my errors - 25/26 is correct.

Now to the form filling - I'm going to take the pension I don't know how much I would gain by deferring to make losing £8.5 worthwhile - it'd take a CSI data scientist to work that out.