Answers · UK 2025/26

What is the Civil Service Alpha pension scheme?

Alpha is the main Civil Service career average pension since 2015. You accrue 2.32% of pay each year (approximately 1/43rd), revalued by CPI. Normal Pension Age is the State Pension Age (67). Employee contributions range from 4.6% to 8.05%, with employers paying around 28.97%. It replaced the older final salary schemes (Classic, Premium, Nuvos).

Last updated: 10 June 2026Last reviewed: 10 June 2026How we verify

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Alpha is the career average revalued earnings (CARE) pension scheme for most Civil Service employees who joined after 1 April 2015 or who were moved from legacy schemes. Each year of membership you accrue a pension of 2.32% of your actual pensionable earnings for that year (this is approximately 1/43.1th). The annual slices are revalued each April by CPI to protect their value in retirement. The Normal Pension Age (NPA) is linked to the State Pension Age, currently 67. Employee contributions are tiered: 4.6% on earnings up to £23,100; 5.45% on £23,101-£45,500; 7.35% on £45,501-£77,000; and 8.05% above £77,000. Employer contributions are approximately 28.97%. Worked example: a civil servant earning £35,000 for 25 years accrues 2.32% x £35,000 x 25 = £20,300 per year (before revaluation). At retirement you can take a tax-free lump sum -- in Alpha you can commute at 12:1 (£12,000 lump sum for each £1,000 of pension surrendered). Death in service provides a lump sum of two times pensionable pay plus a partner pension. Alpha replaces four older schemes: Classic (final salary, 1/80th accrual, automatic lump sum), Premium (final salary, 1/60th, no automatic lump sum), Classic Plus (hybrid), and Nuvos (career average, 2.3% per year, NPA 65). Members with legacy scheme service retain those accrued benefits separately. The McCloud remedy affects those active before April 2012 who were in service after April 2015, potentially allowing them to compare legacy vs Alpha benefits for the remedy period (1 April 2015 to 31 March 2022). Annual allowance charges can arise for high earners -- the pension input amount is the increase in the capital value of Alpha benefits (opening value CPI-adjusted vs closing value) multiplied by 16.