Pension Query

Request Number: FOI/15505

Category: Finance and Procurement - Finance

Subject: Pension Query

Request and Answer:
Your request for information has now been considered. In respect of Section 1(1)(a) of the Act we can confirm that the Police Service of Northern Ireland does hold information to which your request relates. The decision has been taken to disclose the following.

Request 1
Is a police officer's pension at the point of them retiring under the 1988 PPS based on their current salary in 2025 at the point of retiring OR is it based on their salary at the point when the 1988 Scheme closed and they moved to the new CARE scheme in April 2015?

Answer
A police officer’s pension at the point of them retiring under the 1988 PPS is based on their current salary on the date of retirement, unless they have previously opted out of the pension scheme, in which case the average pensionable pay is based on the date of opting out.

PPS is a ‘final salary’ scheme, which means that your pension is calculated as a proportion of your final average pensionable pay.

This is generally earnings in your last year of service as a member of the scheme.

Your pension benefits are calculated on your average pensionable pay, which is normally your pensionable pay for your final 12 months of service.

If your pensionable pay in one of the preceding two years was higher, then this will be used instead.

Request 2
Taking cognisance of the McCloud Remedy, is a police officer's pension at the point of them retiring under the 1988 PPS based on their current salary in 2025 at the point of retiring OR is it based on their salary at the point when they moved to the new CARE scheme in April 2022 having made the choice to have legacy scheme benefits during the remedy period of 2015 to 2022?

Answer
Taking cognisance of the McCloud Remedy, a police officer’s pension at the point of them retiring under the 1988 PPS is the same as stated above.