When Can I Retire? NHS Pension Age and State Pension Age Explained
Your NHS pension age depends on which scheme you are in and when you were born. Here is how to work out your dates.
Updated · 3 min read
Try it with your own numbersNHS Pension Age Calculator"When can I retire?" sounds like a simple question, but for NHS staff the answer depends on which parts of the NHS Pension Scheme you belong to and on your date of birth. Many people have benefits in more than one section, each with its own normal pension age.
The three sections
| Section | Normal pension age |
|---|---|
| 1995 section | 60 |
| 2008 section | 65 |
| 2015 scheme | Your State Pension age, or 65 if later |
Normal pension age is the age you can take your pension in full, without a reduction for early payment.
State Pension age
Because the 2015 scheme follows the State Pension age, it helps to know yours:
- Born before 6 April 1960: 66.
- Born 6 April 1960 to 5 March 1961: 66 plus an extra month for each month you were born after 5 April 1960. For example, someone born on 15 August 1960 reaches State Pension age at 66 years and 5 months, on 15 January 2027.
- Born 6 March 1961 to 5 April 1977: 67.
- Born 6 April 1977 to 5 April 1978: between 67 and 68, as the rise is phased in. Check GOV.UK for your exact date.
- Born after 5 April 1978: 68, under current law, with the change phased in between 2044 and 2046.
These ages can change in future, as the government reviews them regularly.
Members with more than one section
Many long-serving staff were moved into the 2015 scheme in 2015 or 2022 and have benefits in the 1995 or 2008 section as well. Each part has its own pension age. You can take them at different times, and some people take their 1995 section benefits at 60 while continuing to work and build 2015 benefits.
The McCloud remedy also gave many members a choice at retirement about whether service between 2015 and 2022 counts in the older section or the 2015 scheme. Your NHS Pensions statement will show the options.
Taking your pension early
You can take your pension before your normal pension age, from the minimum pension age of 55 (rising to 57 from April 2028), but it is reduced because it will be paid for longer. The reduction can be significant, so get a quote first. Some members can buy out part of the reduction in the 2015 scheme by paying extra contributions while they work.
Working after you take your pension
You can take your NHS pension and return to work, either through retirement and return or partial retirement, where you draw part of your pension and reduce your hours. The rules on when you can rejoin and how many hours you can work have been relaxed in recent years.
Planning around your dates
Many members plan a staged retirement: taking older section benefits at 60, reducing their hours, and drawing the rest at their State Pension age. Knowing all of your dates helps you plan cash flow, especially if you want to retire before the State Pension starts.
Common questions
Does the State Pension start automatically? No. You need to claim it. The government usually writes a few months before you reach State Pension age.
Can I defer my NHS pension? You can leave the scheme and take your pension later. In the 2015 scheme, taking it after your normal pension age gives you a higher pension.
What if I have a gap in my National Insurance record? Gaps can reduce your State Pension. You can check your record and forecast on GOV.UK.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming all your NHS pension can be taken at 60 when much of it may be in the 2015 scheme.
- Forgetting that the minimum pension age is rising to 57 from April 2028.
An example with two sections
A nurse born in 1968 joined the NHS in 1992 and has 1995 section benefits up to 2015, then 2015 scheme benefits after that. Her 1995 section benefits can be taken in full at 60. Her 2015 scheme benefits have a normal pension age of 67, her State Pension age. She could take the older benefits at 60, keep working part time and take the rest at 67.
Find your dates
The pension age calculator uses your date of birth to show your State Pension age and the normal pension age for each section of the NHS scheme. To see how a lump sum would affect your pension, read the lump sum guide.
This guide explains the general rules for staff in England using 2026/27 figures. It is not financial advice. Your employer, payslip or NHS Pensions statement has the final word on your own pay.