The earliest retirement benefits can be paid is the minimum pension age.

Please note, retirement benefits aren’t paid automatically, and the appropriate application form (PDF, 314 KB) (This link opens in a new window) must be completed to receive the benefits.

Ill-health Retirement

As a Pension Credit Member, you can apply for a Serious Ill-health Commutation (where we pay five years’ worth of pension as a lump sum) as part of an Ill-health Retirement application. You would need to submit an Ill-health Retirement application (PDF, 678 KB) (This link opens in a new window), providing evidence of a limited life-expectancy of less than a year.

Once you’ve applied for retirement, the process for your application is:

• We’ll acknowledge receipt of your application
• We’ll then calculate and authorise your pension for payment
• Once completed we’ll send your Award Papers in the post.