Rule of 85 is a protection that applies if you joined the LGPS before 1 October 2006. It protects your pension benefits built up to 31 March 2008, making them payable without early reduction between 60 and 65 years of age, depending on when your Rule of 85 date has been met.
Your Rule of 85 date is the point at which your age in addition to your LGPS membership (in whole years) reaches 85.
If you work part-time, your membership counts towards the rule of 85 at its full calendar length.
For example, if you have been an LGPS member for 24 years, your rule of 85 date will be your 61st birthday. 24 + 61 = 85
The protection applies from when you're 60, even if your Rule of 85 date is earlier.
The pension built up between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2014 is paid without reduction from age 65. Pension built up from 1 April 2014 is paid unreduced from your State Pension age.
If eligible for Rule of 85 protection, taking your pension before your State Pension age usually means your pension will include a mixture of reduced and unreduced benefits.
Please note that when your take your pension you must take it in full. You cannot take each part separately.
The only way the Rule of 85 can protect your pension built up to 31 March 2008 from reduction before you reach 60, is if your employer decides to switch on the rule for you. This would come at a cost to your employer and for this reason employers have the discretion whether to allow it.
Your Rule of 85 date was shown on your active annual benefit statement up until 2018.
My Pension Online allows you to calculate your pension estimates from age 55 onwards. The calculations will include any rule of 85 protection and the appropriate early retirement reductions, which will help you plan for the right time to access your LGPS pension.