How your Teachers Pension works
On this page:
- Your pension scheme information and key features
- Contributions
Your pension scheme membership
Access to a high quality occupational pension scheme is an important and valuable benefit for the teaching profession. As a scheme member, you get an excellent package of pension benefits which are index linked and guaranteed by the Government.
For example, once you have accrued two years' service you’ll be entitled to receive a pension payable for life when you retire. Further benefits include the ability to transfer in previous pension rights, early retirement options should you become too ill to work and death benefits for your dependants that start from the day you join the scheme.
All teachers are automatically enrolled into the scheme from the start of their teaching employment in Scotland (or re-employment) and the contributions you make receive tax relief. Although enrolment is automatic, scheme membership is not compulsory and you can opt out if you choose.
About the Scottish Teachers 2015 Scheme
The Scottish Teachers’ Pension Scheme 2015 replaced the previous scheme on 1 April 2015. All new teachers in Scotland are now automatically enrolled in the scheme when they take up a teaching post. Additionally, if you’ve previously been a member of one of the earlier Scottish teachers’ pension schemes you will have been transitioned to the 2015 scheme already
The Teachers' 2015 scheme is a high quality workplace pension scheme that offers defined benefits at retirement and protection for your dependents based on your career average earnings.
Key features
- Benefits accrued on a Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) basis.
- Normal pension age linked to your State Pension Age.
- Pension accrual rate of 1/57th of pensionable earnings each year.
- Benefits for active members revalued each year using the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) plus 1.6%.
- Benefits for preserved members increased using the CPI each year.
- Valuable death benefits for your dependents.
- Option to take part of your pension and continue working.
- Option to purchase additional pension.
- Flexibility to choose to pay a higher contribution rate in return for a higher accrual rate.
- Option to buy out the actuarial reduction if retiring from age 65 and before state pension age.
- Option to take some of your pension as a tax-free lump sum.
Pension estimates and your Annual Benefit Statement
Information about keeping track of your pension and annual benefit statements.
Joining the 2015 Scheme
Information for Joining the scheme
Leaving Teaching or opting-out of the scheme
Learn more about what to do if you want to stop paying into your pension pot or are thinking about leaving Teaching employment
Transferring another pension into the Teachers' 2015 scheme
A step-by-step guide to help you transfer another pension into the Teachers' 2015 scheme.
Death benefits
Information for members and dependents in the event that a scheme member dies whilst still in service or after retirement.
Paying for additional pension benefits
Find out how to contribute more into your pension scheme so that you can increase your entitlement when you retire.
Normal Retirement Age
You can use the state pension age calculator to find out when you will be able to retire from the 2015 scheme without an early retirement penalty.
About the Scottish Teachers' Superannuation Scheme
About the Scottish Teachers' Superannuation Scheme
The Scottish Teachers’ Superannuation Scheme provides final salary related retirement benefits to its members as well as valuable death benefits for their dependants. The scheme closed to new members from 1 April 2015 with existing members transitioning to the Scottish Teachers Pension Scheme 2015.
Key features:
- Normal pension age of 60 for members who joined prior to 1 April 2007
- Normal pension age of 65 for members who joined on or after 1 April 2007
- minimum Pension age of 55
- Pension based on your reckonable service and final pensionable salary
- Pension based on 1/80th of your reckonable service for each year of service if you have a normal pension age of 60
- Pension based on 1/60th of your reckonable service for each year of service if you have a normal pension age of 65
- Tax free lump sum option at retirement (automatic for members with a normal pension age of 60)
- Death benefits payable to your legal spouse, registered civil partner, qualifying partner and dependent children from the date of your death.
- Phased retirement arrangements.
Contributions
Your Teachers' 2015 Scheme Contributions
Your Teachers' 2015 Scheme Contributions
The amount you pay towards your pension scheme depends on your current level of salary. Your pension contributions are deducted from your monthly salary by your employer and you receive income tax relief on your contributions.
Your employer contributes an amount equal to 26% of your pensionable pay into the scheme on your behalf.
Current contribution rates for the Scottish Teachers' Pension Scheme 2015 are shown in the table below:
Actual pensionable pay for the eligible employment for 2023/2024 | Contribution percentage rate from 1 April 2024 |
| Up to and including £34,286 | 7.35% |
| £34,287 to £46,155 | 8.88% |
| £46,156 to £54,728 | 9.90% |
| £54,729 to £67,975 | 10.61% |
| £67,976 to £92,693 | 11.73% |
| £92,694 and above | 12.14% |