NHS pension - what age ?

[DinosaurDiana]

I finally managed to get into my NHS pension recently to look at it.
I thought I could take my pension at 55, as I know others older than me have, yet my 1995 pension says 60 and the 2015 says 67.
Does anyone know ?

The public sector pensions have retirement ages which are the ages at which you can take the full pension. 60 and state retirement age, as you mention are usual for the parts accrued at different stages.

You can take them early from 55 (for the NPA60 one) and depending on your age now, from 10 years before state retirement age (which is going up to 67/68 so you might not be able to take that part until 57/8 depending on when you hit 55) BUT your monthly pension will be actuarially reduced as you will receive it for more years.

I retired the day after my 55th birthday under 1995 scheme in 2019. I'd been in the scheme since I started training in 1988 with a short break in NHS service. I was an RGN throughout my career.
I actually found the pensions service very easy to deal with. I had my lump sum in my account on the Monday after retiring on the Saturday.

I had some years off being a SAHM. I wonder if this was decided whilst I wasn’t employed by the NHS ?

I think you need continuous service to get special status (retire at 55)?

You would still have received information about your pension changes as a deferred member (not active member).

Quite possibly the people you knew bridged the gap to go at 55 by using private pension or savings.