Tel: 0800 012 1117

Maximum Pension Age

Maximum Pension Age (MPA) applies to all active members of the Fund.

Maximum Pension Age

This is the age at which you normally stop contributing and earning benefits, although you have the option to continue as normal if you want to.

MPA is separate to the maximum membership rule that applies to some members. 

Maximum Pension Age for members paying into 1970 Section

The Maximum Pension Age for members in the 1970 Section can vary from age 57 to age 65, depending on rank.

AgeRank
57Constable and Sergeants
60 Ranks above Sergeant up to Chief Superintendent
65Ranks above Chief Superintendent
Working past Maximum Pension Age

If you are still working for BTP when you reach your MPA, you have 3 choices.

You can either:

  • Tell your employer that you want to extend your MPA. If your employer agrees, you will continue to pay contributions and increase your membership in the usual way until you reach your extended MPA or leave work. You will also keep your death in service cover while you remain employed.

  • Stop paying contributions and stop increasing your membership. With this option, you will also keep your death in service cover, while you remain employed.

    When you leave work, your benefits will be calculated using your membership and salary at the date you reached your MPA. Those benefits will then be increased by 4% for every 6 months between the date you reached your MPA and the date of your retirement. Any annual pension increases that would have been applied if you’d retired at MPA would also be added.

  • Take your benefits whilst still employed, as long as your employer agrees to this. You will no longer contribute to the Fund and you will earn no more benefits towards your Fund pension. You will not be covered for death in service from the Fund, so you should check your future cover with your employer.

Maximum Pension Age for members paying into 2007 Section

The Maximum Pension Age for members in the 2007 Section is age 60 or age 65, depending on rank.

Age Rank
60Constables, Sergeants, Inspectors, Chief Inspectors
65Superintendent or senior
Working past Maximum Pension Age

If you are still working for BTP when you reach your MPA, you have 2 choices.

You can either:

  • Tell your employer that you want to extend your MPA. You will continue to pay contributions and increase your membership in the usual way until you reach your extended MPA or leave work. You will also keep your salary death in service cover while you remain employed.
  • Stop contributing and building membership. Your benefits will be payable at your MPA. With this option, you will lose your death in service cover.

Maximum Pension Age for members paying into CARE Section

The Maximum Pension Age for members in the CARE Section is age 60.

Working past Maximum Pension Age

If you are still working for BTP when you reach your MPA, you have 2 choices.

You can either:

  • Tell your employer that you want to extend your MPA. If your employer agrees, you will continue to pay contributions and increase your membership in the usual way until you leave work. You will also keep your death in service cover while you remain employed. 
  • Stop paying contributions and building membership. With this option, you will keep your death in service cover while you remain employed.

You can take your benefits while you are employed or when you leave work.

Your benefits will be calculated using your membership and salary at the date you reached your MPA. Those benefits will then be increased by late retirement factors between the date you reached your MPA and the date of your retirement.

Your benefits will be higher when you eventually come to take them because you will have had late retirement uplifts applied, to reflect that you will likely be receiving your pension for a shorter period of time.