Minimum age 55 to retire on reduced NHS pension. What is the likelihood of the minimum age going up?

[Cheeseandbeansontoast]

I'm 51 and am laying down long term plans pension wise.
I work for the NHS and if I've got this right, I can retire on reduced pension at 55.

That's what I plan to do, but I keep having these nightmares about being ready to set the ball rolling, only to find the minimum age increases. Can this happen?

You should have a personal government gateway login that will let you look at your own pension and details. Although I have not managed to get my login to work yet. Do you remember getting sent one a while ago? Otherwise look up government gateway and try to get one.
Does your nhs organisation run 'retirement planning' workshops - if you are thinking of going at age 55 it could be worth you attending one to find out how this will work, and make sure you will be able to manage on the income you get. Good luck.

Sunseed, I have savings and a private pension plan to buffer the 55/67 age gap, and I was going to look into joining an agency for a couple of days a week to bump up the reduced pension. My eyes have been opened, oh well

Queen, I thought it was all NHS workers, clinical or non-clinical. that could apply for the early retirement??? Where can I find that information? Xx

Seconds!I've got a gateway account now, up to now I've checked that there are no gaps in my NI payments over the years. None, thank God.

I need to check the pension bit, ran out of time to study it closely the last time.

Thanks for your advice, all xx

Yes, but please bear in mind that you won't get the 'full' State Pension of £155pw if you've been in the NHS pension scheme for yonks.

Until very recently, you were paying a lower rate of NI contributions than those who weren't in the NHS pension scheme; contracting out was par for the course for final salary pension scheme members, so you're one of many.

When calculated, your State Pension will include a Contracted Out deduction in respect of the years in which you paid the lower rate of NI. It will effectively reduce the number of full years you have under your belt. So you won't necessarily have the 35 years of 'full' NI contributions needed for the full State Pension, even if your NI record says you're paid up to date.

Apply for a State Pension forecast via form BR19. That way you'll see the actual contracted out deduction levied.

Can't stress enough that you should seek proper regulated financial advice when making major life decisions, particularly when it involves early retirement etc.

You're right uncomfortablebadger, I'll apply for one.

Thanks for the advice on here, ive just looked my record up also as i was contracted out on LGPS.. and it seems that they never corrected a mistake they made way back in 1995 on my NI.(credited my payments to someone else!!) Luckily I still have all the correspondence, so I have put in a claim now to get it sorted out.

According to my records even though I have 42 years (eek!) NI contributions its still not enough fro the £155 pension because on the contracting out and il need to pay another 7 years to do so (?!!! so much for 35 years eh? ) .. however if they get my NI record right it will give me a couple of more years and i'll only be 6 yrs short if I retire this year at 60 as I want to ..

I need to find out if I can pay in for those next 6 years or not .. (and if its worth it if i do ). At present it looks like I will be £30 a week worse off on state pension .. Really annoying because I didnt realise that I was 'contributed out' on my LGPS pension.. (supposedly that supposed to make it up , but quite frankly it wont do so ) .. Just another body blow after they put the pension age up from 60 to 66 in 4 short years and i got vwell and truly caught (being mid 50s and female..).