McCloud Remedy Calculator
Legacy scheme or 2015 CARE — which wins your remedy period?
Enter your pre-2015 and post-2015 service to model how the Deferred Choice Underpin (DCU) is likely to compare your legacy (1987/2006) and 2015 CARE pension for the remedy period — the same "McCloud Delta Engine" used in our full Pension Command Centre.
Not for you? Email us within 14 days of purchase for a full refund, with no reason needed and even if you have used the tool. Read the policy.
Your pension estimate
Estimate your own police pension from the 1987, 2006 and 2015 schemes at the age you plan to retire, including the McCloud remedy and your lump sum. The estimate is free.
- Updated August 2026
- Anonymous
- No login
- 14-day refund on the paid breakdown
ExampleExample officer: answer the questions above, or change the details below, to see yours
- Pension a month, before tax
- £3,710
- £44,518 a year, today's money
- Take-home a month, rough
- £2,968
- After a flat 20% tax
- Tax-free lump sum
- £0
- None unless you give up some pension
- Retirement age
- 60
- 1987 scheme, then 2015
Explore your results
Tap a tab to see more.Choose a tab to see more, or use the Next button at the foot of each one. You have opened 1 of 8.
Tabs with a lock: part is in the full breakdown
More of your figures
Each card opens the tab that explains it.
McCloud remedy
7 years
in the 2015 to 2022 remedy period. See which scheme pays more for them.
More in the full breakdown
Annual Allowance
About £14,425
pension input for a year, against the £60,000 limit.
More in the full breakdown
Retire earlier or later
At 60
Try another age and every figure updates.
More in the full breakdown
Tax-free lump sum
£0
Move the slider to try other amounts.
Open Lump sum
Your pension in detail
- A month, before tax
- £3,710
- A year, before tax
- £44,518
- After tax, rough
- £2,968 a month
After tax takes a flat 20% off. Your real tax depends on your tax code and any other income.
What this income would cost privately
Illustration£1,268,758
Rough cost of an inflation-linked annuity paying the same.
- Salary equivalent Rough pre-tax salary to match it
- £64,551
- Private pension pot Rough pot size needed
- £1,424,570
Based on: 1987 scheme, then 2015, age 35, 16 years served (5 before April 2015, 11 since), £45,000 basic pay, retiring at 60. Change
Includes the service you have so far and future service to 60, with pay rising 2.5% a year, in today's money (2% inflation). Not included: overtime, allowances, the State Pension, career breaks or part-time hours.
Estimate from your inputs, not a forecast or financial advice. Your pension administrator's figures are the official ones.
May 2026: 1987 scheme lump sum factors have changed, so lump sums from 1987 service may be lower than older quotes.
Police pension alert
April 2027 pension increase: the figure is out on 21 October
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Tax-free lump sum
£0
With 0% of your pension given up.
May 2026 change: 1987 lump-sum factors are lower after the SCAPE update (GAD table in force from 21 May 2026, by your retirement age). Treat this as an estimate until your administrator issues official figures.
1987 factor change on your figures
- Old 1987 factor (April 2023)
- 21.40:1
- Current 1987 factor (May 2026)
- 20.61:1
- Blended with 2015 service
- 12.82:1
Estimated cash pressure
Move the slider to see it
This model uses the GAD 1987 commutation factor for your retirement age (20.61:1 at 60, in force from 21 May 2026), down from 21.40:1 under the 3 April 2023 table. Official administrator factors by exact age and month override this estimate.
May 2026 lump sum change · Updated August 2026
1987 commutation factors have changed
If you have 1987 service, your tax-free lump sum may be lower than older quotes after the May 2026 factor change. Move the slider to see the effect on your figures.
Update: the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) has confirmed it is taking independent legal and actuarial advice to explore challenging how the change was implemented. No outcome has been announced, and this calculator still uses the current published factors.
McCloud remedy comparison
Legacy against the 2015 scheme, for your 2015 to 2022 years.
Service from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2022 is covered by the Deferred Choice Underpin: you choose legacy or 2015 scheme benefits for that period when you retire. This calculator treats up to 7 of your years since April 2015 as the remedy period. McCloud remedy explained.
In the full breakdown
See whether legacy or the 2015 scheme pays more for your 2015 to 2022 years
From your inputs: 7 years in the remedy period, on top of 5 years of 1987 scheme service before April 2015.
Difference a year: worked out, in the full breakdown
- Both options for your remedy-period years, in pounds a year, from your own inputs
- Which set of rules comes out ahead on your figures
- Unlimited AI questions about the choice, and the PDF report
6 months' access to every tab. No auto-renewal. No reason needed for a refund.
Annual Allowance check
HMRC pension input method, one tax year (2026/27). A rough estimate.
Estimated pension input amount
About £14,425
Before any carry forward from the previous three years, which often covers a one-off spike.
No promotion assumed. to see what it adds.
Taper: your allowance only falls if threshold income is over £200,000 and adjusted income over £260,000; this estimate does not test it.
Rough estimate using HMRC's method with the 3.8% CPI uplift for 2026/27, the new pay applying for the whole year, no carry forward and no McCloud recalculation of earlier years. It is not a pension savings statement. How the annual allowance works for police pensions.
In the full breakdown
See how your £14,425 splits, and what a promotion adds
Set an expected promotion under More options and the full breakdown shows what it adds to this estimate.
- The split between your 1987 and 2015 schemes
- What a promotion would add, against the same year without it
- Any excess over the allowance, with an illustrative charge
6 months' access to every tab. No auto-renewal. No reason needed for a refund.
Try a different retirement age
Every figure on the page updates. You are retiring at 60.
The 2015 scheme pays in full from 60, or reduced from 55. Legacy schemes have their own rules.
When your pension is paid
Before tax, in today's money.
- From age 60£3,710 a month
Your 1987 legacy pension is payable immediately at any age because you would have 41 years' service (30 needed, counting your 2015 scheme service too).
In the full breakdown
See the early-payment check for retiring at 60
2015 scheme pension at 60: reduction worked out in the full breakdown
- The Government Actuary reduction on your 2015 scheme pension at your target age
- What waiting until 60 would add a year
- What happens if you leave before 55 (deferred to State Pension age)
6 months' access to every tab. No auto-renewal. No reason needed for a refund.
Inflation stress test
Your pension if inflation runs at 5% a year while your pay rises stay at 2.5%.
Your assumption (2% CPI)
£44,518
a year, today's money
At 5% CPI
Change your own inflation and pay rise assumptions under Pay in Your details.
In the full breakdown
See your pension if inflation runs at 5%
- Your pension at 5% CPI next to your own assumption, in today's money
- Whether your pay rises keep pace, from your own inputs
6 months' access to every tab. No auto-renewal. No reason needed for a refund.
Pension sharing order
A rough estimate of how a pension debit reduces your pension. It does not replace the administrator's own debit calculation.
How a pension sharing order works
Before a pension can be split, the administrator works out its Cash Equivalent Value (CEV). A sharing order moves the agreed share of that value to your former partner, and your own pension is reduced by a pension debit.
In the full breakdown
Model a pension sharing order on your own figures
- Enter the CEV from your administrator and the split in the order
- See the pension debit come off every figure on the page
6 months' access to every tab. No auto-renewal. No reason needed for a refund.
Ask the AI about your figures
PolicePay AI answers using the numbers in this calculator. One free question.
Your question and your calculator figures is sent to Google's Gemini AI service. They are saved with your account if you are signed in. Keep it general and leave out names and contact details. Privacy policy.
How police pensions work
The rules behind the figures above, in plain English.
How is the 2026 police pension calculated?
UK police pensions after 1 April 2022 are calculated solely under the 2015 CARE Scheme rules. Active members accrue 1/55.3 of their pensionable basic salary each year. This accrued ‘slice’ is added to a career average pot and revalued annually by CPI + 1.25% until retirement at the Normal Pension Age (NPA) of 60.
The McCloud remedy (2015 to 2022)
Service between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022 is subject to the Deferred Choice Underpin (DCU). This means you will choose between legacy (1987/2006) or reformed (2015) benefits for that period at the time you retire.
This calculator uses standard 2015 scheme rules for all service since April 2015, and its McCloud comparison treats up to 7 of those years as the remedy period. Your administrator's remedy statement uses your exact dates. Planning a remedy decision? Understand both the legacy and 2015 scheme outcomes before choosing.
Contingent decisions (CD-RSS) and late appeals
Following the McCloud judgment, the Home Office acknowledged that many officers opted out of the police pension scheme due to the uncertainty and legacy discrimination surrounding the 2015 CARE transition. Under the Contingent Decisions framework (often called CD-RSS), eligible officers can apply for retrospective reinstatement.
Post-2026 processing and appeals
While the primary March 2026 window for Contingent Decisions has closed, late appeals are still possible if you were not adequately notified. Additionally, for officers who submitted claims prior to the deadline, forces are currently working through significant backlogs. It is worth understanding what you are owed now so you can check the administrator's statement when it arrives.
Why this matters
Buying back this “lost” service reinstates your legacy rights for the remedy period. You will have to pay the owed pension contributions (with tax relief and interest to take into account), and for many officers the final salary link in the 1987 or 2006 scheme is worth more than the buy-back cost. Your administrator's figures show whether that is true for you.
Police pension divorce: pension sharing orders (CEV)
During a police pension divorce, the pension is often the largest single financial asset, frequently exceeding the value of the marital home. Courts typically resolve this by issuing a Pension Sharing Order (PSO), which mandates a strict percentage split of the officer's pension rights.
What is a Cash Equivalent Value (CEV)?
Before a pension can be split, the administrator must calculate its Cash Equivalent Value (CEV). This actuarial figure represents the total capitalized value of your future pension benefits in today's money. If a court orders a 50% split, exactly half of your CEV is transferred out of your police pension and into a separate, independent scheme for your ex-spouse (known as a pension credit).
The true cost of a pension split
A Pension Sharing Order does not just reduce your final retirement payout; it creates a massive “debit” against your record. Many officers mistakenly believe they can simply work a few extra years to cover a 50% split. In reality, because of the geometric weighting of legacy schemes, replacing a 50% CEV loss often requires 7 to 9 years of additional full-time service.
How to use this tool for divorce planning
To see the effect on your figures, open the Pension sharing tab in the calculator and select “Yes” for a pension sharing order. Enter your official CEV value (from your pension administrator) and the split % in the order. This input is part of the full breakdown: it shows a rough estimate of how the pension debit reduces your pension. It does not replace the administrator's own debit calculation.
How police pensions are calculated
The statutory formulas and logic used across the three national police pension schemes.
- Typical retirement
- Age 50 to 60
- Depends on scheme and total years served.
- Accrual basis
- CARE vs final salary
- Post-2015 uses Career Average (CARE).
- Pensionable pay
- Base salary
- Overtime is almost always excluded.
Legacy scheme
Police Pension 1987 Scheme
The 1987 scheme is a final salary arrangement known for its 'double accrual' feature, allowing officers to reach a full pension in just 30 years.
- Accrual
- 1/60 per year
- Max service
- 30 years
- Lump sum
- Up to 3x pension
- Retirement
- 30 years service
Worked example
- Final salary
- £48,000
- Service
- 30 years
- Annual pension
- £24,000
(30/60ths)
Newer scheme
Police Pension 2006 Scheme
The 2006 scheme introduced a longer service requirement (35 years) and a different lump sum structure, while maintaining final salary benefits.
- Accrual
- 1/70 per year
- Max service
- 35 years
- Lump sum
- 4x pension (automatic)
- Retirement
- Age 55
Worked example
- Final salary
- £48,000
- Service
- 35 years
- Annual pension
- £24,000
- Automatic lump sum
- £96,000
Current scheme
Police Pension 2015 CARE Scheme
The 2015 scheme moved to a Career Average (CARE) model. Instead of a final salary calculation, each year's earnings contribute a 'slice' to your final retirement pot, which is revalued every year.
- Accrual
- 1/55.3 per year
- Revaluation
- CPI + 1.25%
- Max service
- Unlimited
- Normal pension age
- Age 60
Indicative slice (1 year)
- Annual salary
- £42,000
- Accrual rate
- 1/55.3
- Slice added
- £759.49
This slice is added to your pot and revalued every year until retirement.
Common questions about police pensions
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about the UK police pension regulations.
What is the normal retirement age for a police officer?
The normal retirement age is 60 under the 2015 scheme and 55 under the 2006 scheme. Legacy 1987 rules may allow earlier retirement depending on service. Many officers have 'mixed' service across these schemes, making individual retirement dates dependent on specific service history and the McCloud remedy choice.
How much is a full police pension after 30 years?
A full police pension after 30 years is typically two-thirds of final salary in the 1987 scheme, while the 2015 scheme has no maximum service cap. Under the legacy 1987 scheme, 30 years of service resulted in a 'full' pension of 40/60ths due to 'double accrual'. In the 2015 CARE scheme, you accrue 1/55.3 of your pay each year with no limit on service length.
Is the 2015 police pension good?
The 2015 CARE scheme is one of the most generous defined benefit schemes in the UK public sector, offering a high accrual rate of 1/55.3. While it moved away from the final salary model, it remains significantly more valuable than most private sector pension schemes due to the 1.25% + CPI revaluation and heavy employer contributions.
How is the police pension calculated in the UK?
Police pensions are calculated using statutory formulas based on either Final Salary (1987/2006) or Career Average Revalued Earnings (2015 CARE). The 1987 and 2006 schemes use a Service/Accrual Rate x Final Pay logic. The 2015 scheme uses CARE logic, where 1/55.3 of your pay each year is added to a pot and revalued annually.
Can I retire at 55 and take my police pension?
Yes, you can take a police pension from age 55 in the 2015 scheme, but it will be actuarially reduced for early payment. In the legacy 1987 scheme, many officers could retire at 50 or 55 with an immediate pension after 30 years of service.
What happens to my police pension if I leave early?
If you leave early with at least two years of service, your pension becomes 'deferred' and is uprated annually by CPI until your retirement age. It remains in the scheme and is protected against inflation. You stop accruing new service but do not lose the benefits already earned.
Does overtime count towards police pension?
No, overtime is non-pensionable pay in the majority of UK police forces and does not increase your pension value. Pension contributions are only deducted from your basic salary and specific pensionable allowances.
Does promotion increase my police pension significantly?
Yes. Promotion increases your pension by raising the 'Final Salary' in legacy schemes or increasing the value of annual 'CARE slices' in the 2015 scheme. In the 1987/2006 schemes, a late-career promotion has a massive geometric impact due to the Final Salary Link.
Calculation methodology and assumptions
This calculator provides independent, neutral estimates based on statutory scheme formulas. Salary growth is modelled using compound annual growth. Early retirement reductions and commutation factors assume standard Government Actuary’s Department (GAD) benchmarks. These are estimates, not guaranteed outcomes.
- Police Pension Regs 1987
- Police Pension Regs 2006
- Police Pension Regs 2015
- McCloud HO Circulars
Disclaimer: this calculator gives unofficial estimates only and is not regulated financial advice. It does not replace regulated financial advice or your force pension administrator's figures.
How the McCloud comparison works
Between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022, most officers were moved onto the 2015 CARE scheme regardless of age, while some transitional protections were later ruled unlawful age discrimination — the "McCloud" judgment. The remedy restores choice: for service in that window, you can pick whichever set of rules, legacy or 2015, gives you the better result, decided at retirement under the Deferred Choice Underpin.
This calculator runs both comparisons side by side using your inputs — current pay, years of pre-2015 legacy service and years of post-2015 service as a proxy for the remedy period — and shows which side the numbers currently favour, plus the estimated annual difference. Set the scheme selector to Mixed to see a live comparison; a pure 1987 or pure 2015 career has no remedy-period choice to model, so those selections show as not applicable.
The result is a modelled estimate, not a substitute for your official Remediable Service Statement (RSS) — administrators are still working through statements and backlogs for some members in 2026. Use this to understand the shape of your decision now, and check it against the official figures when they arrive.
Common questions
What does a McCloud remedy calculator actually work out?
It compares your pension for the 2015–2022 remedy period under two sets of rules: your legacy scheme (1987 or 2006) and the 2015 CARE scheme. The Deferred Choice Underpin (DCU) lets you pick whichever set of rules gives the better outcome for that period at the point you retire, so the calculator's job is to show which one is likely to come out ahead for your career pattern.
Do I need my exact remedy period dates to use it?
No. This tool uses your total years of legacy (pre-2015) and CARE (post-2015) service as a proxy for the remedy period, which is enough to see the direction and rough scale of the comparison. Your pension administrator will run the same comparison against your exact service record and official Remediable Service Statement (RSS) at retirement — that figure is the one that legally counts.
Is this an official McCloud calculator?
No calculator run outside your pension administrator is official. This is an independent modelling tool built on the public 1987, 2006 and 2015 scheme rules and the Deferred Choice Underpin mechanism, intended to help you understand the shape of the decision before your administrator provides exact figures.
Why does the McCloud comparison show 'N/A' for some scheme choices?
The remedy only applies to officers who had service in a legacy scheme before the 2015 reforms. If you select a pure 2015 scheme (joined after April 2015) there is no legacy slice to compare, so the comparison does not apply. Select 'Mixed' and enter your pre-2015 and post-2015 years to see a live comparison.
Does a bigger McCloud windfall mean I should choose legacy rules?
Usually, but not automatically — the DCU choice also interacts with your commutation (lump sum) options, your retirement age and any Annual Allowance tax position. A higher headline annual pension under one set of rules does not always mean the better overall outcome once those factors are included.
Related pension tools
McCloud Remedy Explained
The full plain-English breakdown: eligibility, DCU, the remedy period and the 2026 status update.
Full Pension Command Centre
Model promotion timing, Annual Allowance risk and commutation strategy alongside your McCloud position.
Pension Schemes Explained
How the 1987, 2006 and 2015 CARE schemes actually differ.
Pension Commutation Explained
Trading pension for a bigger lump sum — and how the factor changed in 2026.