Compulsory Retirement Ages
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.035760
I note you seek access to the following information:
For absolute clarity I will re-phrase my questions to aid my understanding so there is no ambiguity regarding the capping, as I am still a bit confused.
With respect to your overall response, specifically, where ill health is concerned, the 1987’s original Compulsory Retirement Ages (55yrs old for Constables & Sergeants, and age 60 for Inspectors) are the previous rules that are still actually applied in practice now in 2024, despite the change in 2006 when the CRA’s for all federated ranks was decreed to be 60 years old - can you confirm this is in fact the case now in 2024?
What was the purpose of changing the CRA to age 60 years for all federated ranks?
Why was this done and what benefit was achieved in enacting this change?
So to assist my understanding and with respect to the scenario previously provided in Q1 of my original submission if this was an officer of Sergeant rank who was being ill health retired 2 months after their 55 birthday then based on your responses to my previous questions, they receive no enhancement whatsoever of their original 27/60 pensionable service, so none of the 7/60 will be applied to this officer as they have reached their original CRA age of 55yrs old as they have already maximised their cap?
Conversely, if this officer in Q1 was of Inspector rank, who is ill health retired after their 55th birthday, then taking cognisance of their actual 23.5 yrs pensionable service in the 1988 NPS, which equates to 27/60s - therefore being mindful of the cap which is a maximum of 40/60th and this officer’s relevant CRA is 60 yrs old, then this officer does in fact receive all of the 7/60 enhancement available as the total, 34/60, would still be under the cap (40/60) for their rank?
A3 would appear to have a mathematical error - should this be 27/60 and not 7/60?
What is the difference in the following terminology of often used in the 1988 PPS literature - Voluntary Retirement Age and Compulsory Retirement age?
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I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
With respect to your overall response, specifically, where ill health is concerned, the 1987’s original Compulsory Retirement Ages (55yrs old for Constables & Sergeants, and age 60 for Inspectors) are the previous rules that are still actually applied in practice now in 2024 , despite the change in 2006 when the CRA’s for all federated ranks was decreed to be 60 years old - can you confirm this is in fact the case now in 2024?
As per the previous response the CRAs you have quoted above to not apply to the Met Police.
In respect of the 1987 Police Pension Scheme (1987 PPS ), which was closed to all new joiners from April 2006, the regulations are based on the pre-October 2006 CRAs – these historic CRAs are still applicable today for the calculations of benefits within the 1987 PPS.
What was the purpose of changing the CRA to age 60 years for all federated ranks?
This was a Home Office decision based around when officers could be required to retire on account of age, not in respect of pension scheme regulations. Longer life expectancy, a greater level of fitness amongst more mature officers, etc are likely to have a played a part.
Why was this done and what benefit was achieved in enacting this change?
Please see above.
So to assist my understanding and with respect to the scenario previously provided in Q1 of my original submission if this was an officer of Sergeant rank who was being ill health retired 2 months after their 55 birthday then based on your responses to my previous questions, they receive no enhancement whatsoever of their original 27/60’s pensionable service, so none of the 7/60 will be applied to this officer as they have reached their original CRA age of 55yrs old as they have already maximised their cap?
Correct.
Conversely, if this officer in Q1 was of Inspector rank, who is ill health retired after their 55 birthday, then taking cognisance of their actual 23.5 yrs pensionable service in the 1988 NPS, which equates to 27/60’s - therefore being mindful of the cap which is a maximum of 40/60th and this officer’s relevant CRA is 60 yrs old, then this officer does in fact receive all of the 7/60 enhancement available as the total, 34/60, would still be under the cap (40/60) for their rank?
As per the previous response the CRAs you have quoted above to not apply to the Met Police.
A3 would appear to have a mathematical error - should this be 27/60 and not 7/60?
Disagree. The maximum enhancement as per A3 is 7/60s – subject to capping. If this maximum of 7/60s was applied this would give a total accrual 27/60s.
What is the difference in the following terminology of often used in the 1988 PPS literature - Voluntary Retirement Age and Compulsory Retirement age?
The Voluntary Retirement Age is the age you can retire of your own accord with immediate access to pension benefits i.e. before age 50 with 30 years’ service or age 50 with 25+ years’ service.
Compulsory Retirement Age is the age you could be required to retire on account of age, this age increased in October 2006 but as mentioned above for the purpose of the PPS 1987 regulations the pre October CRAs are applied when calculating entitlement to benefits.