Use this civil service pension calculator to estimate the pension you will get from the Civil Service alpha. Enter your age, pensionable pay and any pension already built up, and it projects your yearly pension at retirement in today’s money, with the maximum tax-free lump sum.
Your estimated pension
- Pension a year
- –
- A month (before tax)
- –
- From future service
- –
- Maximum lump sum
- –
| Pay | Pension built up |
|---|
In the example, someone aged 35 earning £40,000 who stays in the scheme until 67 builds up a pension of about £29,696 a year in today’s money, or £2,475 a month before tax.
How to use the civil service pension calculator
- Enter your age and the age you plan to take your pension.
- Enter your pensionable pay. If you work part time, use your actual pay.
- Add the pension you have already built up in this section of the scheme, from your annual benefit statement.
- Set pay rises above inflation, for example 0.5% to 1% for incremental pay progression.
How the alpha scheme works
Most civil servants build pension in alpha, a career average scheme. Each year you earn 2.32% of your pensionable earnings as pension, which is increased each April in line with inflation (CPI) while you are a member. Your Normal Pension Age is your State Pension age, or 65 if later.
Contributions and extras
Members pay between about 4.6% and 8.05% of pay, depending on earnings, before Income Tax. You can buy added pension or pay extra to bring forward your pension age (Effective Pension Age). Partnership pension accounts are an alternative for some members.
Classic, premium and nuvos
If you were in an older section, such as classic, premium or nuvos, you also have final salary or other benefits, and the McCloud remedy gives a choice for service between 2015 and 2022. Enter only alpha pension as “already built up”.
Civil Service alpha pension examples
| Pensionable pay | 10 years | 20 years | 30 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| £25,000 | £5,800 | £11,600 | £17,400 |
| £35,000 | £8,120 | £16,240 | £24,360 |
| £45,000 | £10,440 | £20,880 | £31,320 |
| £60,000 | £13,920 | £27,840 | £41,760 |
The civil service pension calculator keeps everything in today’s money so you can compare the result with your current pay and living costs. Run the civil service pension calculator again after each annual benefit statement to keep your plan up to date.
Lump sum options
You can usually give up some pension for a tax-free lump sum, at £12 of lump sum for every £1 a year of pension given up. The most you can take is roughly 4.3 times your yearly pension. In the example, that is about £127,268, leaving a pension of £19,090 a year.
Related pension calculators
Check when your State Pension starts with the state pension age calculator, and see the tax on your pension income with the pension tax calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much civil service pension will I get?
Each year in alpha adds 2.32% of your pay. Thirty years on £40,000 gives about £27,840 a year in today’s money.
Can I take my civil service pension early?
Yes, from 55 (57 from April 2028), with a reduction. The civil service pension calculator gives an approximate reduction of 5% a year.
Is there a lump sum?
Alpha has no automatic lump sum, but you can give up pension for one at £12 for every £1 of yearly pension.
Does the civil service pension rise in retirement?
Yes, in line with CPI each April.
About this calculator
This civil service pension calculator uses the scheme rules published by Civil Service Pensions, checked on 9 November 2026. It shows figures in today’s money and does not include earlier final salary sections, added pension or survivor benefits. Your annual benefit statement and the official scheme calculator give exact figures.