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Retirement: Public Sector

Asked by Mr Richard HoldenConservativeTreasuryTabled Answered 22 July 2024UIN 455

The question

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what compulsory retirement ages exist in the public sector; what changes have been made to compulsory retirement ages in the public sector in the last ten years; and whether the Government plans to (a) introduce and (b) change mandatory retirement ages in the public sector.

Answered by Darren Jones

The judiciary have a compulsory retirement age of 75, which was increased from age 70 by the Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022.

For the Armed Forces, each service has responsibility for setting retirement ages but in all cases, there is discretion to extend service beyond this age.

There are no compulsory retirement ages in the NHS, Teachers, Police, Fire, Local Government or Civil Service public service workforces.

The Police previously had a compulsory retirement age of 60 for constables, sergeants and inspectors, and a compulsory retirement age of 65 for higher ranks, although officers could serve beyond these ages with agreement. The Police Pension Scheme Regulations 2015 (SI 2015, No.445) introduced new pension arrangements from 1 April 2015 that no longer provide compulsory retirement ages.

The government has no plans to introduce or change mandatory retirement ages for the public service workforces.

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