How Much Will My
Police Pension Be?
Plain-English modelling of your retirement income across the 1987, 2006 and 2015 Police Pension Schemes — with real examples.
Summary Modelling
How much your police pension will be depends on your scheme (1987, 2006 or 2015), length of service and final or average salary. A constable retiring after 30 years in the 1987 scheme could receive around two-thirds of final salary, while 2015 scheme pensions are calculated using a career average formula with retirement age 60.
Independent financial explanation. Not regulated financial advice.
The Three Things That
Decide Your Pension
Your Scheme
Are you in the 1987, 2006, or 2015 CARE scheme? Each has radically different accrual rates and retirement ages.
Service Length
How many years of qualifying service have you completed? Every year increases your annual payout.
Pensionable Pay
Higher ranks or longer periods at top pay increments significantly increase the base value of your calculation.
The fundamental shift in police pensions moved from Final Salary (where your pension is based on your pay on the day you leave) to Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE), where every year's salary is averaged and adjusted for inflation.
1987 Scheme
Worked Examples
The 1987 scheme is a final salary arrangement with "double accrual" after 20 years. This means your pension grows faster in the final decade of your career.
- Accrual Rate: 1/60th per year (first 20 yrs)
- Double Accrual: 2/60ths per year (years 21–30)
- Maximum: 40/60ths (Two-thirds of final pay)
£48,000 × 0.583 = £27,984 per year.
2006 Scheme
Worked Examples
The 2006 scheme improved the automatic lump sum but adjusted the annual pension calculation and removal of double accrual.
- Accrual: 1/70th per year (Linear)
- Normal Pension Age: 55
- Automatic Lump Sum: 4x annual pension
2015 CARE
Worked Examples
The 2015 scheme uses Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE). Every year, 1/55.3 of your pay is added to your 'bucket', which is then revalued for inflation.
Salary £45,000 ÷ 55.3 ≈ £813 accrued per year.
What If You
Retire at 55?
In the 2015 scheme, the Normal Pension Age is 60. Retirement at 55 is permitted, but your annual income is subject to Actuarial Reduction because it must be paid out for longer.
This reduction is permanent. Your pension does not "reset" to the full amount when you turn 60. It remains at the reduced level, increasing only by annual inflation (CPI).
What If You Leave
After 20 Years?
Leaving before you reach retirement age results in a Preserved Pension. Your bucket of accrued value remains in the scheme, revaluing for inflation until you hit your scheme's deferred pension age.
Preserved 2015 Scenario:
- Service: 20 Years
- Accrual: 20 × £813
- Annual Income: £16,260
This preserved amount is typically NOT payable until you reach State Pension Age (SPA), unless you qualify for Ill-Health Retirement.
How Much Lump Sum
Can I Take?
Commutation allows you to surrender part of your annual pension for a tax-free lump sum. This is a permanent trade-off between immediate cash and guaranteed annual income.
What About
McCloud?
The McCloud Remedy addresses age discrimination found in the 2015 pension reforms.
Affected officers (those in service before April 2012 and still in service after April 2015) will be given a choice for the Remedy Period (2015–2022). You can choose whether to have legacy (1987/2006) or reforms (2015) benefits for those seven years.
What Happens If
I'm Dismissed?
A common fear is that dismissal means losing your entire pension. In reality, Accrued Pension Rights are property and are generally protected.
The Real Terms
Value of Your Pension
Unlike private sector pensions, your police pension is Index Linked. This means once it goes into payment, it increases every April in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
The Inflation Shield
If inflation is 5%, your pension increases by 5%. This protects your purchasing power indefinitely, a feature that is extremely expensive to buy in the open market (annuities).
Government Backed.
Inflation Protected.
In the private sector, achieving this level of guaranteed income would require a savings pot often exceeding £1,000,000.
Scenario Comparison Table
Structural Framework Differences
| Feature | 1987 Scheme | 2006 Scheme | 2015 CARE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal Pension Age | 30 Yrs Service / Age 50 | Age 55 | Age 60 |
| Accrual Basis | Final Salary (Double Accrual) | Final Salary (Linear) | Career Average (1/55.3) |
| Lump Sum | Optional Commutation | 4x Pension (Automatic) | Optional (£1 : £12) |
| Early Access | Yes (After 25/30 yrs) | N/A (Minimum 55) | Yes (From 55 w/ Reduction) |
Explore Your Retirement Strategy
Don't rely on guesswork. Use our specialized tools and authority guides to model your specific circumstances.
Model Your Exact Pension
Use our Police Pension Calculator to estimate your annual income under the 1987, 2006 or 2015 scheme — including early retirement reductions and McCloud impact.
Calculation FAQS
How much will my police pension be after 30 years?
In the 1987 scheme, 30 years of service typically yields a pension of two-thirds (40/60ths) of your final salary. In the 2015 CARE scheme, 30 years would accrue a pension based on 1/55.3 of your annual salary for each year served, revalued by inflation.
How much is a police pension after 20 years?
After 20 years in the 1987 scheme, your pension would be 20/60ths (one-third) of your final salary. In the 2015 scheme, you would have accrued approximately 36% of your average career earnings (20 ÷ 55.3), which remains preserved until your normal pension age.
Can I retire at 55 and how much will I get?
Yes, 2015 scheme members can retire from age 55, but the pension is subject to an actuarial reduction (often 20-30%) for being paid early. Legacy 1987 scheme members may retire after 30 years or from age 50/55 depending on their specific circumstances.
What is the maximum police pension?
In the legacy 1987 scheme, the maximum pension is 40/60ths (two-thirds) of final salary, achieved after 30 years. There is no technical 'maximum' in the 2015 CARE scheme, as you continue to accrue 1/55.3 of your salary for every year you remain in service.
Is the police pension better than private pensions?
Generally, yes. The police pension is a 'defined benefit' scheme offering a guaranteed, inflation-linked income for life. Private sector 'defined contribution' schemes carry investment risk and rarely offer the same level of guaranteed value or high employer contributions.
Does McCloud increase my pension?
The McCloud Remedy allows eligible officers to choose between their legacy and reformed scheme benefits for the period 2015-2022. For many, choosing legacy benefits for this period will result in a higher pension value due to faster accrual rates.