Normal Pension Age

The Normal Pension Age is the age that you can retire from HSC employment and have your pension paid without reduction. The actual age that applies to you will depend on which section of the Scheme you are in and your status.

 1995 Section
The 1995 Section’s Normal Pension Age is 60. If you work beyond age 60 your pension will be paid when you eventually retire.

If you have one HSC job you must retire from the job for at least 24 hours to qualify for your pension.

If you have two or more concurrent pensionable jobs in the HSC you are only required to retire for at least 24 hours in one of them provided that the remaining job(s) total 16 hours or less per week. However, you must cease to be pensionable in all your other job(s). If you are retired prematurely due to redundancy or interest of efficiency of the service, you should read the additional information in the Early Retirement section..

You may not rejoin the Scheme once you are in receipt of a pension. (Unless it is an Ill Health Retirement Pension and you are under age 50).

If you have Special Class status your normal pension age is 55. Further information on this can be found in the Special Class Status factsheet available in the scheme factsheets section of the website.

If you wish to take some or all of your pension before you are 60 it will be reduced because it will be paid for longer. Further details on this are included in the early retirement section.

Once you reach your 75th birthday you can no longer be a Scheme member and you will be entitled to receive your retirement pension from that date without a break in employment.

The maximum pension membership is 45 years. If you reach 45 years membership before your normal pension age your benefits will be deferred and paid to you when you choose to retire.

 

 2008 Section
The 2008 Section’s Normal Pension Age is 65.

If you work beyond age 65 your pension will be paid when you eventually retire and it will be increased because it is being paid later.

You must stop work in all your jobs for at least 24 hours to qualify for all your retirement benefits, but a 24 hour break is not required if you partially retire.

If you wish to take some or all of your pension before you are 65 it will be reduced because it will be paid for longer. Further details on this are included in the early retirement section.

Once you reach your 75th birthday you can no longer be a Scheme member and you will be entitled to receive your retirement pension from that date without a break in employment.

The maximum pension membership is 45 years. If you reach 45 years membership before your normal pension age your benefits will be deferred and paid to you when you choose to retire.

Late Retirement

If you remain in employment after the Normal Pension Age, you may continue to earn benefits as long as you stay in the Scheme, up to age 75 (65 if you have Special Class Status) or until you reach 45 years Scheme membership. Your pension benefits will be based on your pensionable pay and membership when you do eventually retire. At age 75 you become entitled to your benefits without having to have a break in your employment.

 1995 Section
 There are no provisions to increase any of your benefits because they are paid late.

 

 2008 Section
 When you take your benefits after age 65, any of your pension earned before age 65 will be increased to take account of the fact that it is being paid later than your Normal Pension Age.