About Teachers’ pensions in Scotland

There are currently two pension schemes in operation for Scotland's teachers and some members have benefits in more than one of these schemes. Both arrangements are defined benefit, statutory occupational pension schemes.

Scottish Teachers' Superannuation Scheme

The Scottish Teachers' Superannuation Scheme closed to new members on 31 March 2015. Benefits in the scheme are worked out on a final salary basis and members receive a pension based on their reckonable service and final pensionable pay.

Scottish Teachers' Pension Scheme 2015

All new teachers and some lecturers in Scotland join this scheme. Additionally, most members of the Scottish Teachers' Superannuation Scheme automatically joined the scheme on 1 April 2015 unless they had protection. Benefits are worked out on a Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) basis using earnings in each year and revaluing them to take account of inflation. The normal retirement age is the member’s State Pension age.