Police Scotland
Pension Calculator
Work out your Police Pension Scheme (Scotland) 2015 pension at the Scottish accrual rate of 1/56.1, with the flat 13.7% contribution, pension age 60 and, if you were in the 1987 or 2006 scheme, both McCloud remedy options.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 22 October 2026 · Scotland unless stated
Each year in the 2015 Scottish scheme builds 1/56.1 of that year's pensionable pay, revalued by prices plus 1.25% while you serve and paid in full from 60. A constable on £48,940 builds £872.37 of pension a year; a new constable on £34,001 builds £606.08. You pay a flat 13.7% of pensionable pay and the employer pays 38.7%.
Your details
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Your 2015 Scottish scheme pension
At age 60, a year
£30,909
£2,576 a month, today's money, before tax
One more year at £48,940
£872.37
pay / 56.1, before revaluation
You pay this year
£6,705
13.7% of pensionable pay, before tax relief. The employer adds £18,940 (38.7%).
| Built so far (estimated) | £7,851 |
| That pension after 20 more years of revaluation (1.25% a year above prices) | £10,066 |
| Built from now to age 60 | £20,843 |
| Total 2015 Scottish scheme pension | £30,909 |
| Same service at the England and Wales rate (1/55.3), for comparison | £31,356 |
Payable in full from 60. Figures are in today's money and before income tax. Any lump sum you take in exchange for pension and the factor SPPA uses, are not modelled.
How this is worked out
- Each year in the Police Pension Scheme (Scotland) 2015 builds 1/56.1 of that year's pensionable pay (regulation 49(4) of SSI 2015/142). England and Wales officers build 1/55.3.
- While you serve, each year's slice is revalued by the change in prices plus 1.25% (the regulation's “index adjustment”). We show everything in today's money, so that is 1.25% a year.
- You pay a flat 13.7% of pensionable pay from 1 April 2025 (regulation 160 as amended by SSI 2025/58). The employer pays 38.7% until 31 March 2027 (SPPA).
- Normal pension age is 60. Deferred pensions are linked to State Pension age (SPPA).
- Not modelled: early payment reductions, commutation for a lump sum, tax, ill-health or survivor benefits, part-time breaks and the Annual Allowance. SPPA's statement and retirement quote are the official figures.
Until October 2026 our site worked out Scottish officers' 2015 scheme pension at the England and Wales rate of 1/55.3, which overstated it by about 1.45%. This calculator uses the Scottish rate of 1/56.1 throughout. For England and Wales service use our England and Wales police pension calculator.
The scheme rules this calculator uses
Every rule below is from the Scottish regulations or the Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA), which runs the scheme.
| Rule | Police Scotland (2015 Scottish scheme) | England and Wales (for comparison) |
|---|---|---|
| Accrual | 1/56.1 of pensionable pay a year (reg 49(4)) | 1/55.3 |
| Revaluation while serving | Change in prices plus 1.25% a year | CPI plus 1.25% |
| Member contribution | Flat 13.7% from 1 April 2025 (reg 160, SSI 2025/58) | Tiered by pay |
| Employer contribution | 38.7% (1 April 2024 to 31 March 2027) | Set separately |
| Normal pension age | 60 | 60 |
| Deferred pension age | Linked to State Pension age | Linked to State Pension age |
| Administrator | SPPA | Each force's administrator |
The 2015 scheme opened to new members on 1 April 2015. The 1987 and 2006 schemes closed in 2022 and everyone has built 2015 scheme pension since 1 April 2022 (SPPA). The Police Scotland pension explained guide covers all three schemes.
What one year of service builds
The quickest way to see the scheme is one year at a time. These are the pension slices one full year builds at 1 April 2026 pay (PNBS Circulars 2026/01 and 2026/02), before revaluation and what the same pay would build at the England and Wales rate.
| Rank and pay point | Pay | Scotland (pay / 56.1) | At 1/55.3 | Difference a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constable, on commencing service | £34,001 | £606.08 | £614.85 | £8.77 |
| Constable, pay point 5 | £45,064 | £803.28 | £814.90 | £11.62 |
| Constable, pay point 11 (top) | £54,597 | £973.21 | £987.29 | £14.08 |
| Sergeant, pay point 4 (top) | £61,036 | £1,087.99 | £1,103.73 | £15.74 |
| Inspector, pay point 5 (top) | £74,853 | £1,334.28 | £1,353.58 | £19.30 |
Each slice is pension for life, revalued every April while you serve. Ten years at the top of the constable scale builds about £9,732 of pension a year before revaluation.
Worked examples
Hypothetical officers, not real cases. Today's money, pay growth of 2.5% a year (2% for the sergeant), CPI of 2%, serving to 60, pension built so far estimated as today's pay x years / 56.1.
| Officer | Pay now | Years so far | Pension at 60 a year | At the England and Wales rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New constable, 25, joins now, serves to 60 | £34,001 | 0 | £28,911 | £29,329 |
| Constable, 38, pay point 8, 9 years in | £48,940 | 9 (estimated) | £33,651 | £34,138 |
| Sergeant, 45, top of scale, 11 years in | £61,036 | 11 (estimated) | £32,470 | £32,940 |
The last column shows what the old 1/55.3 figure would have said. The difference is small each year but it adds up over a career and it matters most for officers deciding when to retire or how much to put into an Additional Voluntary Contribution.
If you were in the 1987 or 2006 scheme: the McCloud remedy
Choose your legacy scheme in the calculator and it shows both remedy options. From 1 October 2023 SPPA moved eligible members back into their legacy scheme for 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2022. When you retire you choose, for that whole period, either legacy (final salary) benefits or 2015 Scottish scheme (CARE) benefits. Your combined Annual Benefit Statement and Remediable Service Statement (ABS-RSS) shows both; deferred members get a DB-RSS on the Engage portal.
- 1987 scheme: 1/60 of final pay for each of the first 20 years, then 2/60 a year (SPPA). The calculator caps it at 30 years.
- 2006 scheme: 1/70 of final pay a year, normal pension age 55 (SPPA). The calculator caps it at 35 years.
- Contributions: the rates differ between the schemes, so SPPA adjusts what you paid for the remedy period. It can be owed either way.
The calculator compares annual pension only. Lump sums, the ages each part is paid from and contribution adjustments also differ. Read the full McCloud remedy guide for Police Scotland.
What this calculator does not model
- Early payment reductions. If you take your 2015 pension before 60, SPPA reduces it by a factor we do not hold for Scotland.
- Lump sums. Commutation factors are set for the scheme and are not in our facts file.
- Tax. Pension in payment is taxable; Scottish Income Tax applies if you live in Scotland.
- Ill-health and survivor benefits. See our Police Scotland ill-health and injury guide.
- Part-time service and breaks. Enter your statement figure and your actual pensionable pay.
- The Annual Allowance. High earners and officers promoted late should check it with SPPA.
Check your own figures
- Find your latest Annual Benefit Statement (or ABS-RSS) on SPPA's Engage portal and enter the 2015 scheme pension figure.
- Check your pensionable pay on your payslip: basic pay plus any pensionable allowances such as on-call.
- If you were in the 1987 or 2006 scheme, read both remedy options on your ABS-RSS before you plan a retirement date.
- Ask SPPA for a retirement quote before you decide anything. Its figures are the official ones.
- The Scottish Police Federation (or ASPS for superintendents) can help with questions about your scheme.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the Police Scotland pension calculated?
The Police Pension Scheme (Scotland) 2015 is a career average scheme. Each year you build 1/56.1 of that year's pensionable pay. While you serve, each year's slice is revalued by the change in prices plus 1.25%. The total is paid from 60, the scheme's normal pension age.
What is the accrual rate for the Police Scotland pension?
1/56.1 of pensionable earnings a year for the 2015 Scottish scheme (regulation 49(4) of SSI 2015/142; SPPA). England and Wales officers build 1/55.3, so the same pay builds about 1.4% less pension in Scotland.
Can I use the England and Wales police pension calculator for Police Scotland?
It will overstate your 2015 scheme pension, because it uses 1/55.3 and the England and Wales tiered contribution rates. This calculator uses the Scottish 1/56.1 and the flat 13.7% contribution.
How much do Police Scotland officers pay into their pension?
A flat 13.7% of pensionable pay from 1 April 2025, replacing the old tiered rates (SSI 2025/58 amending regulation 160). Contributions are taken before income tax. The employer pays 38.7% of pensionable pay until 31 March 2027.
What is the Police Scotland pension age?
Normal pension age in the 2015 Scottish scheme is 60. If you leave the service before retirement, a deferred 2015 pension's payment age is linked to your State Pension age (SPPA). The 2006 scheme's normal pension age is 55; the 1987 scheme's deferred pension age is 60.
Does overtime count towards my Police Scotland pension?
No pension contribution is taken from overtime and it does not build pension in our calculators. On-call payments are different: the PNBS handbook (section 4.3) says all on-call payments are reckonable as pensionable.
What is the McCloud remedy for Police Scotland officers?
Officers in the 1987 or 2006 scheme who were moved to the 2015 scheme have their service from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2022 treated as legacy service again (from 1 October 2023). At retirement you choose legacy or 2015 scheme benefits for that period. SPPA shows both on your ABS-RSS.
Does this calculator include a lump sum?
No. You can usually give up some pension for a tax-free lump sum, but the factor SPPA uses is not in our facts file, so we leave it out rather than guess. SPPA's retirement quote shows your options.
Why is my Annual Benefit Statement figure different?
Your statement uses each year's actual pay and the actual revaluation applied each April. Without it, we estimate past pension as today's pay x years / 56.1, which can be higher or lower. Enter the statement figure for a better result.
Is the Police Scotland pension calculator free?
Yes. It is free, needs no account and runs in your browser. We do not sell a Police Scotland pension report: our paid pension tools model the England and Wales schemes, so we do not offer them to Scottish officers.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 22 October 2026. Rules and figures change, so check the source for the date you are reading this. Where we could not confirm something from an official or independent source, the page says so rather than guessing. Spotted something out of date? See our corrections policy.
- Police Pension Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2015, SSI 2015/142 (as made) : reg 49(4): 1/56.1 accrual; definition of index adjustment (prices plus 1.25%) (accessed 22 October 2026)
- SSI 2015/142 regulation 160 (as amended by SSI 2025/58) : flat 13.7% member contribution from 1 April 2025 (accessed 22 October 2026)
- SPPA: How your police pension works : 1/56.1, normal pension age 60, deferred pension age linked to State Pension age, 38.7% employer rate, legacy scheme rules and contribution rates (accessed 22 October 2026)
- SPPA: Police remedy, I'm paying into a pension : remedy period, move back to legacy from 1 October 2023, choice at retirement, ABS-RSS (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Pensions (Remediable Service) (Scotland) Regulations 2023, SSI 2023/239 : the Scottish remedy regulations (accessed 22 October 2026)
- PNBS police officer handbook, section 4.3 On-call Allowance : on-call payments reckonable as pensionable (accessed 22 October 2026)
- PNBS Circulars 2026/01 and 2026/02 : pay points from 1 April 2026 used in the calculator (accessed 22 October 2026)
On this topic elsewhere
More in this guide series
Police Scotland calculators and related guides
Disclaimer
PolicePay.co.uk is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority, the Police Negotiating Board for Scotland, the Scottish Police Federation or the Scottish Public Pensions Agency. This page is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Pay and conditions are set through the PNBS and approved by Scottish Ministers and SPPA's figures are the only official pension figures, so check the PNBS handbook, your payslip and your Annual Benefit Statement before relying on anything here. Details are as checked on 22 October 2026.