PPS 2015 · PPS 2006 · PPS 1987 · McCloud Remedy
Police Pension Scheme UK (2026/27): Contributions, CARE Rules & How Much It Pays
Every serving UK police officer now builds future pension in the Police Pension Scheme 2015 (PPS 2015), a Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) scheme backed by a 35.3% employer contribution. Here is how the 2026/27 contribution tiers work, how your annual pot builds up at 1/55.3 plus CPI + 1.25%, how PPS 2015 compares to the legacy 1987 and 2006 schemes under the McCloud remedy, and who administers your pension.
Member contribution (E&W)
12.88% – 14.22%
Scotland: 13.7% flat rate
Force contribution
35.3%
Of pensionable pay on top
CARE accrual & uplift
1/55.3 / yr
Revalued at CPI + 1.25% in service
Normal Pension Age
Age 60 (active)
Reduced from 55 · SPA if deferred
Interactive Tool
Police Pension Calculator →
Model your annual PPS 2015 pension at age 55–60 and your 12:1 tax-free lump sum.
Retirement Rules
Police Retirement Age UK →
Why “30 years and out” ended, retiring at 55 vs 60, deferred SPA rules & ill-health retirement.
Annual CPI Uprating
Pension Increase April 2027 →
How retired and deferred police pensions are uprated each April by September CPI.
2015 Remedy
McCloud Remedy Guide →
2015–2022 rollback, Remediable Service Statements (RSS) & choosing 1987/2006 vs 2015 at retirement.
1. The Three UK Police Pension Schemes: PPS 1987 vs PPS 2006 vs PPS 2015
Since 1 April 2022, all serving police officers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland accrue their pension in the 2015 CARE scheme. The two legacy final-salary schemes (PPS 1987 and PPS 2006) are closed to future service, but any service you built in them before April 2022 remains protected and linked to your current final salary when you retire.
| Feature | PPS 1987 (Old Scheme) | PPS 2006 (New Scheme) | PPS 2015 (Current CARE) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who joined it | Joined before 6 April 2006 | Joined 6 April 2006 – 31 March 2015 | All new entrants from 1 April 2015; all serving officers from 1 April 2022 |
| Scheme type | Final salary | Final salary | Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) |
| Annual accrual rate | 1/60th for first 20 yrs + 2/60ths for next 10 yrs (max 40/60ths = 2/3rds at 30 yrs) | 1/70th per year (max 35/70ths = 50% at 35 yrs) + automatic 4× lump sum | 1/55.3 (1.81%) of each year's pensionable pay, no cap on years |
| In-service revaluation | Linked to final pensionable salary at retirement | Linked to final pensionable salary at retirement | CPI inflation + 1.25% every April while serving |
| Normal Pension Age (active) | Any age with 30 yrs' service, or age 50 with 25 yrs, or 55–65 by rank | Age 55 | Age 60 (statutory under PSPA 2013 s.10(2)) |
| Earliest reduced pension | Age 50 (with 25 yrs, unreduced) | Age 55 (actuarially reduced if leaving earlier) | Age 55 (~4.5%/yr reduction; exempt from 2028 rise to 57) |
| Deferred pension age (if you resign) | Age 60 | Age 65 | State Pension Age (66–68) |
| Tax-free lump sum | Commutation up to 2.25× pension (GAD age-dependent factor, often ~15–20:1) | Automatic tax-free lump sum equal to 4× annual pension | Optional commutation at £12 cash per £1 pension given up (up to ~4.28× pension) |
2. Police Pension Contribution Rates 2026/27 (Tiers & Net Monthly Cost)
In England and Wales, PPS 2015 member contributions are split into three tiers (effective 1 April 2026). Unlike income tax, pension tiers are not marginal: once your pensionable pay crosses a threshold, the higher percentage applies to your entire pensionable salary. Because contributions are taken under a net pay arrangement before income tax is calculated, you automatically receive income tax relief at 20% (basic rate) or 40% (higher rate).
Tier 1 · Up to £37,035
12.88%
Covers Constables on PP1 to PP4 (outside London) and part-time officers whose actual pro-rated pay sits at or below £37,035. Net cost after 20% tax relief: ~10.30%.
Tier 2 · £37,036 – £79,587
13.88%
Covers Constables from PP5 to PP7 (and all Met Constables from PP2 upwards once £3,260 London Weighting is included), plus all Sergeants and Inspectors.
Tier 3 · £79,588 and above
14.22%
Covers Superintendents, Chief Superintendents and Chief Officers. Net cost after 40% higher-rate tax relief: ~8.53%.
| Rank & Pay Point (E&W 2026/27) | Pensionable Pay | Tier Rate | Gross Deduction / mo | Real Cost After Tax Relief / mo | Force Top-Up (35.3%/yr) | Pension Built That Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constable PP1 (starting) | £32,256 | 12.88% | £346/mo | £277/mo | +£11,386/yr | +£583/yr for life |
| Constable PP3 | £34,971 | 12.88% | £375/mo | £300/mo | +£12,345/yr | +£632/yr for life |
| Constable PP4 (top of tier 1) | £36,336 | 12.88% | £390/mo | £312/mo | +£12,827/yr | +£657/yr for life |
| Constable PP5 (tier 2) | £39,057 | 13.88% | £452/mo | £361/mo | +£13,787/yr | +£706/yr for life |
| Constable PP7 (top of scale) | £52,014 | 13.88% | £602/mo | £452/mo | +£18,361/yr | +£941/yr for life |
| Sergeant PP4 (top of scale) | £58,176 | 13.88% | £673/mo | £407/mo | +£20,536/yr | +£1,052/yr for life |
| Inspector PP0 (starting) | £66,000 | 13.88% | £763/mo | £458/mo | +£23,298/yr | +£1,193/yr for life |
| Chief Superintendent (top) | £119,838 | 14.22% | £1,420/mo | £549/mo | +£42,303/yr | +£2,167/yr for life |
3. How Much Does a Police Pension Pay After 20, 25, 30 or 35 Years?
Each year in PPS 2015 adds 1/55.3of that year's pensionable pay to your pot, and every April while you remain an active officer the entire pot is revalued by CPI inflation + 1.25%. Because of that +1.25% real-terms compounding, a 30-year career builds roughly 65% of your career-average pay in today's money (far more than the simple 30 ÷ 55.3 = 54.2% sum without revaluation).
| Service Length | Illustrative Career-Avg Pay | Full Annual Pension at Age 60 (Today's Money) | Option B: Max Tax-Free Lump Sum (12:1) | Option B: Residual Annual Pension |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 years | £42,000 | £16,760/yr (£1,397/mo) | £71,829 tax-free | £10,774/yr |
| 25 years | £44,000 | £22,658/yr (£1,888/mo) | £97,105 tax-free | £14,566/yr |
| 30 years | £46,000 | £29,354/yr (£2,446/mo) | £125,803 tax-free | £18,870/yr |
| 35 years | £47,000 | £36,145/yr (£3,012/mo) | £154,908 tax-free | £23,236/yr |
Figures computed by our PPS 2015 projection engine in today's money assuming steady real-terms pensionable pay and active in-service revaluation of CPI + 1.25% to Normal Pension Age 60. Drawing early at 55 reduces the annual pension by ~20–22.5% — see police retirement age UK.
4. The McCloud Remedy & Your Remediable Service Statement (RSS)
When PPS 2015 was introduced in April 2015, older officers close to retirement were allowed to stay in their final-salary 1987 or 2006 schemes while younger officers were moved into CARE. In the landmark McCloud / Sargeant ruling, the Court of Appeal held that this transitional protection was unlawful age discrimination.
Who Is Eligible
Officers who were in pensionable service on or before 31 March 2012 and still serving on 1 April 2015 without a disqualifying break of more than 5 years.
The 7-Year Remedy Period
Covers service between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022. On 1 October 2023, all affected service in this window was rolled back into your legacy scheme (PPS 1987 or PPS 2006).
Deferred Choice at Retirement
You do not have to guess now. When you retire, your administrator gives you side-by-side figures and you choose legacy vs PPS 2015 for the 2015–2022 period — whichever is worth more to you.
What is a Remediable Service Statement (RSS)? Your force pension administrator (XPS, Equiniti, LPPA or SPPA) now issues an annual ABS-RSS (Annual Benefit Statement – Remediable Service Statement). It shows two valuations for your 2015–2022 service: your rolled-back legacy benefits (1987 or 2006) and your alternative 2015 CARE benefits, plus any contribution adjustment (because PPS 1987 contribution rates were 14.25%–15.05% vs 12.44%–13.78% in PPS 2015 during those years; any net balance after tax relief can be settled upfront or deducted from your retirement lump sum).
5. Who Runs My Police Pension? (XPS, Equiniti, LPPA, SPPA & PSNI)
While PPS 2015 rules are set nationally by the Home Office (England & Wales), SPPA (Scotland) and DOJ (Northern Ireland), your Chief Constable is the local Scheme Manager and delegates day-to-day administration, benefit statements and retirement quotes to one of five specialist pension administrators:
| Administrator | Member Portal | Forces Covered |
|---|---|---|
| XPS Administration | myownpension.co.uk | Majority of E&W forces, including Greater Manchester Police, West Midlands, West Yorkshire, Thames Valley, Kent, Essex, Merseyside, South Wales, Northumbria, Devon & Cornwall, Hampshire and Avon & Somerset. |
| Equiniti (EQ Paymaster) | metpolicepensions.com / eqpaymaster | Metropolitan Police Service, Sussex Police and Surrey Police. |
| LPPA (Local Pensions Partnership) | lppapensions.co.uk (PensionPoint) | Lancashire Constabulary, Cumbria Constabulary and Hertfordshire Constabulary. |
| West Yorkshire Pension Fund (WYPF) / Local Authority | wypf.org.uk / Kier / Peninsula | Selected county forces administered through local authority pension partnerships (e.g. Lincolnshire, Humberside, South Yorkshire). |
| SPPA (Scotland) & PSNI (Northern Ireland) | pensions.gov.scot/police · psni.police.uk | Police Scotland (SPPA — flat 13.7% contribution) and PSNI (NI Police Pension Scheme 2015). |
6. Edge Cases Every Serving Officer Should Know
What counts (and doesn't count) as pensionable pay
Your basic salary and £3,260 London Weighting (Met and City of London) are pensionable. Casual overtime, rest-day working, public holidays, the £6,819 London Allowance, South East Allowance, Detective Allowance and PSNI's NITA are non-pensionable. See allowances by force.
Maternity, parental and sick leave accrual
During paid maternity leave (including the 18 weeks of full Occupational Maternity Pay) and full-pay or half-pay sick leave, your pension continues to accrue nicely. For unpaid leave or career breaks, no pension builds unless you elect to pay voluntary contributions within the scheme time limit on return.
Salary sacrifice (Cycle to Work, car schemes, AVCs)
True salary sacrifice schemes reduce your contractual gross pay — and if they reduce your pensionable pay, they slightly reduce that year's 1/55.3 CARE slice. Added Pension purchases or standard AVCs deducted from net pay after pensionable pay is set do not reduce your main CARE accrual.
Transferring between forces (including Scotland & BTP)
Moving between any of the 43 Home Office forces in England & Wales transfers your PPS 2015 CARE pot seamlessly under the Public Sector Transfer Club. Transfers to/from Police Scotland, PSNI or the British Transport Police (BTPFP) require a formal transfer request within 12 months of joining your new force.
Frequently asked questions
Which police pension scheme am I in?
Every serving police officer in the UK now builds future pension in the Police Pension Scheme 2015 (PPS 2015), a Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) scheme. The older final-salary schemes — PPS 1987 and PPS 2006 — closed to future accrual on 31 March 2022. If you joined before April 2015, you keep the benefits you built up in the 1987 or 2006 scheme and accrue new benefits in PPS 2015 from 1 April 2022 (with the 2015–2022 period covered by the McCloud Deferred Choice Underpin).
How much do police officers pay into their pension in 2026/27?
In England and Wales, PPS 2015 member contribution rates are tiered on your whole pensionable pay: 12.88% up to £37,035, 13.88% from £37,036 to £79,587, and 14.22% on £79,588 or more. In Police Scotland, every officer pays a flat 13.7% of pensionable pay regardless of rank. Contributions are deducted before income tax under a net pay arrangement, so a basic-rate taxpayer saves 20% income tax and a higher-rate taxpayer saves 40%.
How much does the police force contribute to my pension?
In England and Wales, forces contribute 35.3% of your pensionable pay on top of your own contribution (the employer rate set from 1 April 2024 following the scheme valuation). On a constable PP7 salary of £52,014, that is £18,361 a year paid by the force toward your guaranteed retirement income.
How is the PPS 2015 CARE police pension calculated?
Each scheme year (1 April to 31 March), you bank a slice of annual pension equal to 1/55.3 (about 1.81%) of your pensionable pay for that year. Every April while you remain an active serving officer, your entire banked pension pot is revalued by Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation plus 1.25%. When you retire, all those revalued annual slices are added together to give your annual pension.
Does overtime count towards the police pension?
No. Casual overtime, rest-day working and public-holiday overtime are non-pensionable under PPS 2015. No pension contributions are deducted from overtime and it does not build CARE pension. Only basic pay and specifically designated pensionable allowances — such as the £3,260 London Weighting for Metropolitan and City of London officers — count as pensionable pay.
What happens to my police pension if I leave before retirement age?
If you leave the police with at least 2 years of qualifying service before drawing your pension, you become a deferred member. Your accrued pension remains safe and inflation-protected, but two rules change: first, a deferred PPS 2015 pension is only payable unreduced from your State Pension Age (66–68), rather than the age-60 Normal Pension Age that serving officers keep; second, while deferred it is revalued each April by CPI inflation only, losing the extra +1.25% in-service uplift. If you leave with less than 2 years of service, you can claim a refund of your contributions (less tax and an NI adjustment) or transfer the value out.
What is the McCloud remedy and the Remediable Service Statement (RSS)?
Following the Court of Appeal ruling that the 2015 transitional protections discriminated against younger officers, all officers who were in service on or before 31 March 2012 and still serving on 1 April 2015 (without a 5-year break) were rolled back into their legacy scheme (PPS 1987 or PPS 2006) for the 7-year remedy period from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2022. Your pension administrator sends you an annual Remediable Service Statement (RSS) showing the value of both options for those 7 years. At retirement, you make a Deferred Choice to take whichever scheme gives you the better benefits for 2015–2022.
What is the pension contribution rate if I work part-time?
Under the PPS 2015 regulations in force since April 2015, your contribution tier is assessed on your actual pro-rated pensionable pay, not your full-time equivalent salary. For example, a 0.8 FTE constable on PP5 receives 80% of £39,057 = £31,246 in actual pensionable pay, which sits below £37,035 and therefore pays the lower 12.88% tier rate rather than 13.88%.
Who administers my police pension (XPS, Equiniti, SPPA)?
PPS 2015 is a national statutory scheme administered locally by your force's appointed pension administrator. XPS Administration (myownpension.co.uk) runs pensions for the majority of England & Wales forces (including Greater Manchester, West Midlands, West Yorkshire, Thames Valley, Kent and Essex). Equiniti (EQ Paymaster) administers the Metropolitan Police, Sussex and Surrey. LPPA administers Lancashire, Cumbria and Hertfordshire. Police Scotland pensions are run by the Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA), and PSNI pensions by the PSNI Pensions Branch.
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Sources: The Police Pensions Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/445); Public Service Pensions Act 2013 s.10(2); Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022 (McCloud remedy); Home Office Police Pension Scheme member contribution structure consultation response (effective 1 April 2026); Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA). This guide is general information, not regulated financial advice.