Fury as now teachers forced to wait 2 more years for pension after age change

Changes to the state pension age being mean teachers will now have to work an additional two years before they can retire. A freshpetition on the Parliament website is urging the government to provide updated guidance regarding the early retirement rights of teachers.

The Department for Education has acknowledged that a significant number of teachers will be affected by the extended wait for retirement. Presently, teachers can opt for early retirement at 55, but this will change by 2028, forcing them to delay retirement until 57, sparking complaints about unfairness and disrupting retirement planning.

The petition states: "The state pension age will change to 67 in 2028 and therefore the minimum early retirement age will change to 57. Teachers with final salary pensions who started teaching before the pension changed to career average have a given early retirement age of 55, rather than this being tied to state pension age".

"As both pension schemes must be taken together according to current rules, we feel there is a need for further guidance - one scheme has a right to access at 55, the other 57 and yet new rules say they must be taken together."

Carolyn Bramall, the creator of a new petition, has voiced her concerns and told the Express: "The pension age change in just 3 years is going to cause an issue for teachers who wish to retire early. Teachers were promised the right to retire early at a set age, 55, in our original pension scheme but current rules say we must take all our pensions together if we retire early and our new career average pensions are linked to the state pension age which, in April 2028 becomes 57."

"Our promised right to retire at 55 then becomes impossible without intervention from the government. This guidance has been pending for many years and I find it ridiculous that we are told to plan for our retirement and yet this is currently impossible for teachers who wish to take early retirement after 2028."

The National Education Union has weighed in on the matter: "The 'minimum normal pension age' (the minimum age at which private pension rights can be taken) is set to increase from 55 to 57 from 6 April 2028. This is an over-riding legislative change from the Government intended to link the age at which people can take private pension rights to the state pension age (which will be 67 from 6 April 2028 under current legislation).

"There are exceptions which allow some groups to keep a 'protected pension age' at 55. This includes final salary rights in the Teachers' Pension Scheme, as the right to take a pension at 55 was set out in scheme regulations. The position is less clear with career average rights, but the NEU's current understanding is that these do not carry a protected pension age. To take pension rights at 55 from 6 April 2028, you must have been in the TPS before 4 November 2021."

A Department for Education spokesperson commented: "Teachers are at the heart of this government's mission to break down barriers to opportunity, and a guaranteed income in retirement is one of the rewards teachers deserve for their hard work.

"The change in pension age applies to all UK-registered pension schemes, including the Teacher Pension Scheme. We are aware of how the changes will impact members and we will be issuing communications setting out our position shortly.

"Our Teacher Pension Scheme is a key part of recruiting and retaining the best and brightest teachers. We're already seeing thousands more teachers in secondary and special schools in England compared to last year, more people accepting teacher training places in STEM subjects this autumn and more teachers forecasted to stay in the profession - the best retention rates in nearly a decade."

The DfE highlighted that The Finance Act 2022 raises the normal minimum pension age (NMPA) from 55 to 57, effective from 6 April 2028. This adjustment applies to all UK registered pension schemes and is not a change specifically made to TPS rules.

It contests the suggestion that teachers with final salary service have a set normal minimum pension age (NMPA) of 55. According to officials, the final salary scheme (pre-2015) does have a designated minimum pension age of 55, but this does not extend to any service in the career average scheme.

The career average scheme has a minimum pension age that rises in line with the state pension age. The department said it is aware that this increase to the minimum age will cause an issue for those members who have both final salary and career average service, and wish to retire between 55 and 57, as current rules do dictate that members who retire early must take all benefits owed at that point.

The department said it is considering the implications of the changes to NMPA and how those changes will impact members of the TPS. Identifying the appropriate changes to pension scheme rules is complex and the department must be satisfied that any changes made are compliant with legislation and would not run a high risk of legal challenge. The department expect to issue communications on this issue shortly.

To view and back the petition click here.