Judicial Pension Scheme 2026: How Judges' Pensions Work
Judges in England and Wales are members of the Judicial Pension Scheme 2015 (or older legacy schemes), a career average defined benefit arrangement with distinct rules following remedy litigation. Here's how it works.
Overview of judicial pensions
Judges, and certain other judicial office holders in England and Wales, are provided with an occupational pension reflecting their public office. Since 1 April 2015, most new judicial service has built up under the Judicial Pension Scheme 2015 (JUPS 2015) — a career average revalued earnings (CARE) defined benefit scheme — replacing the previous final-salary-style Judicial Pensions Scheme arrangements for new accrual.
Pension Calculator
Estimate your pension pot at retirement and projected annual income.
Open Pension calculatorLegacy schemes and transitional protection
Judges who were already serving before the 2015 reforms had various forms of transitional protection, allowing some to remain in legacy scheme arrangements for a period, or to have their earlier service protected under the older rules while later service moved into the 2015 scheme.
The McCloud remedy
A landmark legal ruling (the "McCloud" case, following similar litigation in the firefighters' pension scheme) found that the transitional protections given to older members across public service pension schemes — protecting them from moving into the new 2015-style schemes while requiring younger members to move — amounted to unlawful age discrimination.
This means many judges retiring now need to compare two different benefit calculations for the remedy period before deciding which is more favourable, in addition to whichever scheme applies to their pre-2015 and post-2022 service.
How the 2015 scheme builds up benefits
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scheme type | Career average revalued earnings (CARE) |
| Accrual | A proportion of pensionable earnings added to the pension account each year |
| Revaluation | Accrued pension revalued annually, broadly in line with earnings or prices depending on scheme rules |
| Normal Pension Age | Generally linked to State Pension age for 2015 scheme service |
| Contributions | Employee contributions deducted from judicial salary; employer contribution funded separately |
Lump sum and tax treatment
Judges can generally choose to commute part of their annual pension for a tax-free lump sum, subject to the same HMRC Lump Sum Allowance limit (£268,275 as of the 2026/27 rules) that applies to other registered pension schemes. Once in payment, the remaining annual pension is taxed as ordinary pension income via PAYE.
State Pension Forecast Calculator
Forecast your UK State Pension based on qualifying NI years and model the impact of filling gap years with voluntary Class 3.
Open State Pension Forecast calculatorAnnual Allowance considerations
Because judicial salaries and pension accrual rates can be substantial, the pension input amount for judges in a given tax year can be significant — meaning the standard Annual Allowance (£60,000 for 2026/27), and the tapered Annual Allowance for very high adjusted incomes, can be relevant considerations, potentially triggering an Annual Allowance tax charge in some years. Judges affected by this have historically had access to specific compensation arrangements addressing recruitment and retention concerns linked to pension tax changes.
How judicial pensions interact with State Pension
Judicial pension scheme membership does not replace the State Pension — judges build up entitlement to the new State Pension in the normal way through their National Insurance record, alongside their occupational judicial pension, which is paid separately and in addition.
Practical points for judges approaching retirement
- Obtain a benefit statement covering all relevant periods (legacy, 2015 scheme, and remedy period) well before making retirement decisions.
- Take the McCloud "deferred choice" seriously — the legacy and 2015 scheme calculations can produce meaningfully different outcomes depending on individual circumstances (age, salary progression, years of service).
- Consider Annual Allowance exposure in years of high pension growth, particularly around promotion or significant pay awards.
- Seek independent financial advice given the complexity of comparing legacy and 2015 scheme benefits.
Use the pension calculator as a starting point, alongside official judicial pension scheme guidance, when planning around these decisions.
Frequently asked questions
What pension scheme do UK judges belong to?
Most serving judges are members of the Judicial Pension Scheme 2015 (JUPS 2015), a career average revalued earnings (CARE) defined benefit scheme, though some judges who were already members of older legacy judicial pension arrangements before April 2015 have transitional protection or a choice of scheme for relevant service, following the McCloud remedy.
Is the judicial pension scheme contributory?
Yes, judges pay employee contributions from their judicial salary, at rates set for the scheme and reviewed periodically, similar in principle to other public service pension schemes.
What is the McCloud remedy and how does it affect judges' pensions?
The McCloud remedy addressed unlawful age discrimination found in the transitional protections given to older members when public service pension schemes reformed around 2015. Affected judges were given a choice (a 'deferred choice' at retirement) between legacy scheme benefits and 2015 scheme benefits for the remedy period (broadly April 2015 to March 2022).
At what age can a judge draw their judicial pension?
The Judicial Pension Scheme 2015 has a Normal Pension Age linked to State Pension age for most members, though some transitional and legacy scheme members retain earlier normal pension ages reflecting the rules in force when they joined.
Do judges get a lump sum as well as an annual pension?
Under the 2015 scheme, benefits are primarily an annual pension, with the option to commute part of it for a tax-free lump sum within HMRC limits, similar to other CARE public service schemes. Legacy scheme rules differ and may include an automatic lump sum.
Is judicial pension income taxable?
Yes. Judicial pension income in payment is taxed as pension income through PAYE in the normal way, and is subject to the same Annual Allowance and Lump Sum Allowance rules as other registered pension schemes, which can be particularly relevant given typically high judicial salaries.
Try the calculators
Related reading
Firefighters' Pension Scheme 2026: FPS 1992, 2006 and 2015 Explained
Firefighters can belong to one of three pension schemes depending on when they joined, plus the McCloud remedy choice for affected years. Here's how contributions, accrual and retirement ages compare.
Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) 2015 Explained: 2026 Guide
Most serving personnel now build up pension under AFPS 2015, a career average scheme with an Early Departure Payment bridging the gap before pension age. Here's how it compares with the legacy AFPS 1975/2005 schemes.
Pension Transfer Advice: Why You Need It Over £30,000 (2026 Guide)
UK law requires FCA-regulated financial advice before transferring a defined benefit pension worth over £30,000. Here's what triggers the rule, what it costs, and why you can't opt out.