classic

classic offers you a range of benefits that provide financial security in the time up to your retirement and after that. It can provide an income for you when you retire and benefits for your dependants after your death. It includes valuable life cover before you retire and can provide protection if you suffer serious ill health. There is also a range of options if you leave the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) before retirement.

Northern Ireland Civil Servants who were members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) [PCSPS(NI)] before 01 October 2002 and who chose to stay in classic, or did not choose to join another part of the of the PCSPS(NI) pension arrangements, are automatically members of the scheme. Before 01 October 2002 classic was known as PCSPS(NI). We have only used the term classic from 01 October 2002.

Your pension, together with your pay, forms part of your total benefits package. Although you do not make a contribution towards the benefits you receive under classic, salaries are set at levels that take account of the value of the benefits provided. However, you must contribute 1.5% of your pay, mainly towards the cost of providing benefits for your widow or widower after your death. These contributions are taken from your pay before we work out tax, so you will automatically receive full income-tax relief at the highest rate you pay. Also, as classic is contracted out of the State Second Pension (S2P), you pay lower National Insurance contributions.

When you retire you get a pension based on 1/80 of your final pensionable pay for each year of reckonable service and a tax-free lump sum of 3 times your pension.

For more information you can read through the sections on Joining; Leaving; Changing circumstances and Boosting your pension.

You will find more detailed information regarding the classic scheme in the booklet ‘ Your classic pension benefits explained (PDF 67.0KB)’. and the classic retirement benefits leaflet (PDF 44.4KB)

All booklets and leaflets can be found in the resources section.

If you require any further information concerning the above please contact the Member Administration Section. You can find their number in the contact us section.