Retiring in 2027: Teachers' Pension Dates, April Increase and Early Retirement
Retiring from teaching in 2027? The resignation deadlines, when to apply, what the April 2027 increase (3.5% / 5.1%) means for you, and what retiring early would cost.
Independent guidance, not affiliated with the DfE, Teachers' Pensions or any teaching union.
Short answer
Read before you rely on this
The reduction is permanent — and the tables are the 2019 GAD set
Pension if you retire at 57
£15,840
88.0% of your unreduced pension, for life
Pension you give up each year
£2,160
versus waiting until 60
Automatic lump sum
£47,520
Reduced by the same factor
Your details
Which arrangement is the service in?
Final salary, Normal Pension Age 60. After McCloud you may hold more than one — run each separately.
From your Benefit Statement — the unreduced figure, before any early-retirement reduction
At age 57
Compare every retirement age side by side, with the break-even age
See, for each age from 55, what you would receive and the age at which waiting for the unreduced pension has paid more in total.
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Every retirement age compared
| Age | Factor | Annual pension | Lump sum | Waiting pays more from age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 0.811 | £14,598 | £43,794 | 78 |
| 56 | 0.845 | £15,210 | £45,630 | 79 |
| 57 | 0.880 | £15,840 | £47,520 | 79 |
| 58 | 0.918 | £16,524 | £49,572 | 79 |
| 59 | 0.959 | £17,262 | £51,786 | 80 |
| 60 | 1.000 | £18,000 | £54,000 | — |
Break-even compares total pension and lump sum received to each age, ignoring tax, inflation indexation (which applies to both) and the value of having the money earlier.
This tool applies the published whole-year GAD factors to the pension figure you enter. It does not model retirement part-way through a year (the published tables are monthly), career average deferred members, ill-health retirement (no reduction applies), lump sum commutation, State Pension bridging, tax, or the 2028 change to the minimum pension age. Your Teachers' Pensions quote is the figure that counts. Not financial advice.
Leaving dates and deadlines
| Leave on | Resign by | Apply to Teachers' Pensions | Teaching on 1 April 2027? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 December 2026 | 31 October 2026 | around the end of June 2026 (now overdue) | No |
| 30 April 2027 | 28 February 2027 | around the end of October 2026 | Yes |
| 31 August 2027 | 31 May 2027 | around the end of February 2027 | Yes |
The resignation dates come from the Burgundy Book and apply to teachers other than headteachers; academy contracts can differ. See our resignation dates guide. Applying about six months ahead gives Teachers' Pensions time to process any McCloud remedy choice before your first payment.
Before or after 1 April 2027?
Teach on past 1 April 2027 and the career average pension you have built is revalued as an active member by 5.1%. Retire before then and it receives the pensions increase instead, 3.5%, and a pension that started part way through the year may get only a part-year increase. On £10,000 of career average pension the active revaluation is worth £510 a year against at most £350. Leaving at Easter or in August also adds the extra months of pensionable service. Neither effect comes close to the early retirement reduction, so decide the age first and the month second.
Free tool What does April 2027 add to your pension? Enter your pension and see the new figure from April, teaching, deferred or retired.The age 57 change in 2028
The Normal Minimum Pension Age rises from 55 to 57 on 6 April 2028. Teachers' Pensions has said members with service before 4 November 2021 keep the right to take early retirement from 55, but that some policy details are still being worked through. If you are 55 or 56 and weighing up 2027 against 2028, check the current position with Teachers' Pensions. Our early retirement factors guide sets out what has been published.
Your checklist
- Get your latest Benefit Statement and check your service record for gaps.
- Work out the reduced pension and lump sum at the age you plan to go (the calculator above).
- If you have service between 2015 and 2022, look at your McCloud remedy choice.
- Resign by the Burgundy Book deadline, or your contract's own date.
- Apply to Teachers' Pensions about six months before your retirement date.
Have final salary service between 2015 and 2022?
Frequently asked questions
Should I retire before or after April 2027? +
If you are still in pensionable service on 1 April 2027, the career average pension you have built is revalued as an active member, by 5.1% (September 2026 CPI of 3.5% plus 1.6). If you have already retired, your pension instead gets the pensions increase of 3.5%, and a pension that started part way through the year may get a part-year increase. For most people the difference is small next to the early retirement reduction, which is why the age you go matters more than the month.
When do I need to resign to retire in 2027? +
Under the Burgundy Book, teachers other than headteachers resign by 31 October to leave on 31 December, by 28 or 29 February to leave on 30 April, and by 31 May to leave on 31 August. Academy contracts can differ, so check yours.
How early should I apply to Teachers' Pensions? +
Teachers' Pensions asks for retirement applications about six months before your retirement date, so that McCloud remedy choices can be made and paid on time. For an August 2027 retirement that means around the end of February 2027.
Can I still retire at 55 after April 2028? +
The Normal Minimum Pension Age rises from 55 to 57 on 6 April 2028. Teachers' Pensions has said members with service before 4 November 2021 keep the right to take early retirement from 55, but has also said some policy details are still being worked through. If your plan depends on going at 55 or 56 after April 2028, check the current position with Teachers' Pensions. Our early retirement guide covers this in detail.
How much does retiring early cost? +
Your pension is reduced for life by an actuarial factor for each year you take it before your Normal Pension Age. The calculator at the top of this page applies the published GAD factors to the pension on your Benefit Statement, and shows the automatic lump sum where your arrangement has one.
Related guides
TPS Early Retirement Reduction Factors
The GAD factors and the age 57 change in detail.
Teachers' Pension Increase April 2027
What September 2026 CPI adds to your pension.
TPS Phased Retirement Explained
Draw part of your pension and keep teaching.
Teacher Resignation Dates Explained
Every Burgundy Book deadline for 2026/27.