A quick guide to the Police Pension Scheme 1987

The Police Pension Scheme 1987 (PPS) was introduced in 1987 and applied to all serving police officers who joined the service until 6 April 2006, unless they decided to opt out.

It’s a statutory pension scheme based on the Police Pensions Regulations 1987 (as amended), made under the Police Pensions Act 1976 and was designed to offer police officers financial security both in the time up to retirement and beyond. The Police Pension Scheme 1987 closed to new members on 6 April 2006.

The main terms of this scheme are:

  • Dual accrual rate of 1/60 of final salary for each year of service for the first 20 years and then an accelerated rate of 2/60 of final salary for each year of service thereafter
  • Maximum pension of 2/3 final salary with an option to commute part of the pension for a tax-free lump sum
  • Retirement option on completion of 30 years’ service or 25 years’ service for members over 50
  • A deferred pension age of 60 years
  • Immediate pension and lump sum payment to any officer at any age who is granted ill-health retirement
  • A lump sum death grant of two times pay
  • A pension for a widow, widower or surviving civil partner, normally of half of the officer’s pension entitlement
  • Dependent children under the age of 23 may qualify for a pension.

Your pension calculator

Your pension estimates and annual statements

Further reading

Police Pension Scheme 1987 guide

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