Thinking of Flexible retirement?

Flexible retirement allows a member, who is 55 or over, to draw some or all of their pension benefits while still working and paying into the LGPS. Not all employers have policies that allow flexible retirement.

You can find more details of flexible retirement here.

Contact your employer

Not all employers offer flexible retirement so you will need to speak to HR or your line manager to find out:

  • if flexible retirement is allowed by their policy and
  • if they are prepared to offer it to you.

To be eligible for flexible retirement you must:

  • be age 55 or over,
  • have 2 years or more membership of the LGPS,
  • reduce your hours or grade in line with your employer's flexible retirement policy, 
  • have your employer's consent to take flexible retirement. 

Your employer:

  • may have a process that you should follow,
  • has the discretion to allow or refuse a request for flexible retirement. Their decision should be in line with their published flexible retirement policy.
  • can ask for a pension estimate on your behalf. You cannot do this yourself because your employer's consent would be needed for you to take flexible retirement.

Note: The government sets the earliest age at which you can access your pension savings under normal circumstances. This is currently age 55 as indicated above - however it is rising to age 57 from 6 April 2028.

If your employer agrees to your flexible retirement

If your employer agrees to your flexible retirement they will:

  • give you a Retirement declaration form to complete and send to us,
  • send the information we need to calculate your pension.
What to expect

It will take us around six weeks, from the date that we receive your completed retirement declaration form and the information from your employer, to start paying your pension.

However, it could take longer if your employer asked for an estimate, if we are waiting for information or if you paid AVCs. Your pension will be paid from the date that you started working at your reduced hours or grade.

You will receive the pension you had built up so far - however, your pension may be reduced if you take it before your normal pension age (NPA). See: Taking your pension early.

Following flexible retirement, your employer will enrol you into the LGPS again, and you will build up another pension which can be paid when you leave your job. The current LGPS rules will apply to the new pension membership - so it will be reduced if you choose to take it before the later or age 65 or your state pension age.

Useful information