Entitlement to benefits under the TPS
19 June 2008
When will I become entitled to benefits?
Your entitlement to benefits depends on which type of benefit is to be paid. A summary of the different types of retirement and the entitlement dates in each case is as set out below:
For Age retirements, "entitlement" arises:
- on attaining Normal Pension Age (NPA) if you are out of service or
- the day after leaving pensionable employment if you are over NPA.
For Premature retirement benefits, entitlement arises on the day following the cessation of pensionable or excluded employment.
For Actuarially Reduced Benefits and Elected Further Employment "entitlement" arises:
- the day after leaving pensionable or excluded employment where the application is made whilst in service or
- if you are out of service, the date you specify on your application form provided that the date is a period of at least 6 weeks from the date you sign the application.
For ill-health retirement, "entitlement" arises:
- the day after leaving pensionable employment where it is determined that the member is permanently incapacitated or
- if out of service, the later of the date of leaving pensionable employment, the date the member became incapacitated or 6 months before the date of the last of any medical reports considered by Teachers’ Pensions in determining whether you had become incapacitated.
For phased retirement, "entitlement" arises:
- for members remaining in pensionable employment, from the date that there is a relevant reduction in salary of 25% compared with the salary earned in the 6 months prior to phased for in service phased retirement. A member has up to 6 months from the last day of leaving the last employment to find further pensionable employment at this reduced rate. An application for phased retirement must be received within 3 months of starting pensionable employment at the reduced salary rate,
or, - for members not returning to pensionable employment but who remain in the educational sector, from the first day the member secures new employment in the educational sector outside of employment covered by the Teachers’ Pensions Regulations Please note this does not include non-pensionable teaching employment e.g. agency supply, excluded employment or employment in a non accepted school. Here the out-of-service member must have a relevant reduction in salary of 25% compared with the salary earned in the 6 months prior to leaving pensionable employment. A member has up to 6 months from the last day of leaving the last employment to find further pensionable employment at this reduced rate. An application for phased retirement must be received within 3 months of taking up the new employment.