Police Pension UK 2026: PPS 1987, 2006 and 2015 Compared
Quick answer
UK police officers have built up pension in one of three schemes: PPS 1987 (final salary, 1/60 then 2/60 accrual), the 2006 New Police Pension Scheme (final salary, 1/70, normal pension age 55), and the 2015 scheme (career average, 1/55.3 accrual, normal pension age 60). Since April 2022 all serving officers accrue in the 2015 scheme.
UK police pension schemes compared
| Scheme | Type | How the pension builds | Normal / ordinary pension age |
|---|---|---|---|
| PPS 1987 | Final salary | 1/60 of final pensionable pay for each of the first 20 years, then 2/60 for years 20 to 30 (double accrual) | Service-based: from 30 years pensionable service, or age 50 with 25 or more years service |
| NPPS 2006 | Final salary | 1/70 of final pensionable pay for each year of service, up to a maximum of 35 years | Age 55 |
| PPS 2015 | Career average (CARE) | 1/55.3 of that year pensionable earnings is added to the pension at the end of each scheme year, then revalued | Age 60 |
Police officers in the UK do not all sit in the same pension scheme. Three schemes have run over the years: the original final-salary PPS 1987, the 2006 New Police Pension Scheme (also final salary, but on different terms), and the 2015 career-average scheme that every serving officer now builds new pension in. Most longer-serving officers hold benefits in more than one of these, because their older service stayed in a legacy scheme while their newer service moved across.
The table above maps each scheme to its type, how the pension builds, and its normal pension age, so you can see at a glance how your different periods of service are treated. The headline difference is the move from final salary, where the pension is a fraction of your pay near retirement, to career average, where a slice of each year earnings is banked and revalued. Following the McCloud remedy, the period from April 2015 to March 2022 is handled under legacy-scheme terms for affected members, and all officers accrue in the 2015 scheme from April 2022.
For the wider picture of how workplace and state pensions fit together, see our UK pensions explained pillar. To compare how other public-sector schemes work, read our guides to the Civil Service pension and the Armed Forces pension.
Frequently asked questions
How does the police pension work?
A police pension is a workplace scheme that pays a guaranteed income in retirement based on your service, with both you and your force paying contributions. Older service may sit in a final-salary scheme (PPS 1987 or NPPS 2006), where the pension is a fraction of your pay at retirement multiplied by years served. Since April 2022 all serving officers build new pension in the 2015 career-average scheme.
What is the 2015 police pension scheme?
The 2015 scheme (PPS 2015) is the current career-average revalued earnings (CARE) scheme. Each year, 1/55.3 of your pensionable earnings for that year is added to your pension and then revalued. Its normal pension age is 60. From April 2022 every serving officer accrues benefits in this scheme, whichever scheme they were in before.
How much do police officers pay into their pension?
Police officers pay a percentage of their pensionable pay, with the rate set by salary band so higher earners pay a higher percentage. When the 2015 scheme launched, the government cited average member contributions of 13.7% from April 2015. Check your latest payslip or your scheme administrator for the exact band that applies to you.
What is the McCloud remedy for police pensions?
The McCloud remedy addresses age discrimination found in how members were moved to the 2015 schemes. For the remedy period (1 April 2015 to 31 March 2022) affected officers were treated as remaining in their legacy scheme, and from 1 April 2022 all serving officers accrue in the 2015 scheme. Eligible members are offered a choice of which scheme benefits to take for the remedy period.
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General information, not financial advice. Tax rules and figures can change; check the current position on gov.uk before acting.