The SPCB does not operate a retirement age policy. This means that there is no upper age limit beyond which you would be automatically retired and you are free to continue in employment for as long as you wish subject to the normal rules concerning Performance, Attendance and Conduct.
It is important to note however, the difference between state pension age and normal pension age (NPA) and that the retirement policy does not affect the age on which you may retire and have immediate access to your Civil Service Pension benefits. Currently these are:
The Human Resources Office will write to you at least 12 months before you reach pension age to remind you of the scheme rules so that you can think about the options open to you.
It will be your responsibility to inform us of your intended retirement date. However, you must inform the Human Resources Office at least 3 months before your planned retirement date to ensure the necessary actions are taken to pay your pension on time.
Partial retirement is a potential option which, subject to the SPCB approving your application, allows you to move gradually from work into retirement rather than moving overnight from full-time work to full-time retirement. This may work well for you as it allows you to adjust to a new lifestyle. It can also work well for the SPCB as it allows us to retain your skills while making space to bring on other employees or develop less experienced staff.
Whilst working on a partial retirement basis you will continue to build up further pension entitlement in your current scheme on a pro-rata basis in accordance with the number of hours you work until you finally retire.
It allows you to draw on some or all of your pension benefits and remain in work. In order to do this, you must reduce your pensionable earnings (including additional allowances or shift pay) by at least 20 per cent and the change must be permanent. This will require reshaping your job in a way which meets both your needs and the continuing needs of the business. Knowing what partial retirement options are available to you will help you in your thoughts and planning for your future working life.
Having a clear understanding of what will work for the role and your immediate and wider team and what will not, is an important step in the process of determining whether and how flexible/partial retirement working arrangement can be successful.
To help you reshape your existing role you should:
Discuss your request for flexible retirement with your manager before making a formal request. This will give them the opportunity to understand the reasons for your request.
If you wish to apply for partial retirement you should follow the procedures as set out in our Flexible Working Procedure. Any variation to your working arrangements will require the approval of your group/office head.
Your line manager will consider your request by thinking through the service needs and workload management implications, alongside your personal needs. Remember the aim is to make changes which maintain or improve performance and wellbeing – your own and that of your direct reports and immediate/wider team.
To do this, your line manager will consider the following things:
Where the arrangement proposed cannot be accepted for business needs, your line manager may propose an alternative, such as:
As parliamentary business and individual circumstances are continually changing, working arrangements will be reviewed regularly and any issues that arise will be dealt with as soon as possible.
All partial retirement arrangements will be reviewed annually to ensure they are meeting the needs of the individual and the SPCB. If the arrangement is not working for one or both parties, then the original decision should be reconsidered and alternative options set out above should be explored.
Advice should be sought from the HR Office in these circumstances.
Further information about partial retirement can be obtained by reading the booklet Partial Retirement – A Guide for Scheme Members or by phoning the My Civil Service Pension Helpline on 0300 123 6666.
You are strongly advised to fully consider your pension arrangements before making your decision to retire. Further information about your pension benefits under the classic, classic Plus, premium, nuvos and alpha schemes can be obtained by phoning the My Civil Service Pension Helpline on 0300 123 6666 or visiting their website at Civil Service Pension. If you have a Partnership Pension you should phone your pension provider direct.
Retirement may seem like a lifetime away for some, for others it may be within the next few years. Regardless of your age, you only get one chance to prepare for it. If you are thinking about retirement, it can be helpful to be prepared and take some time to think about your retirement options and the choices you'll need to make.
Start by having a conversation with your manager to identify some development options that will work for you and refer to the resources available in SP learning
under My Career. These will then be considered as per any other request for learning and development in relation to you as well as the wider needs of the team and the Scottish Parliament.