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Boosting your pension

Providing more pension for yourself

If you think that your income when you retire may not be enough, it is often better to do something about it sooner rather than later. This is particularly important if you would like to be able to retire early. Small regular payments from an early age may be less painful than trying to boost a small pension just a few years away from retirement. Under the different Northern Ireland Civil Service schemes, you have a number of options.

Options for members of classic, classic plus, premium and nuvos

The option to purchase added years has now been replaced by added pension.

Options for those with a partnership pension account

  • You can increase the level of your regular monthly contributions whenever you like with 3 months’ notice. There is no limit to the amount you can contribute to your partnership pension account. You can use the ready reckonerA link to an external website.  PCSPS(NI) take no responsibility for the content of external websites. available from PCSPS website, to find out how the total amount that will be paid into your account varies for different ages, pensionable earnings and contribution levels.
  • You can also make extra contributions whenever you like during the year, but your employer will not pay matching contributions. The best way of making extra contributions is to send a cheque to your provider.
  • You can invest in a stakeholder pension and can contribute up to 100% of your taxable earnings or £3,600 whichever is the higher to a stakeholder pension.

Other options

Of course, there are many other savings options open to you. For example, there are ISAs (individual savings accounts) where holders can access their money before they retire if they need to. In addition, many people see buying their family home as an investment for the future. For advice and an opportunity to discuss your retirement planning, consider seeing an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). (You may have to pay for any adice you receive from an IFA).

Find out more

For more detailed information, see the following scheme booklets:
You can also contact the Member Administration Section. Their number is in the contact us section.
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