The Police Pension Scheme covers police officers in England and Wales, and through parallel arrangements in Scotland (administered by SPPA) and Northern Ireland (administered by PSNI Pensions Branch). There are three generations: PPS 1987 (final salary, with the unique ‘double accrual’ that reaches two-thirds of final pay after 30 years), PPS 2006 (final salary, automatic 4× lump sum, NPA 55), and PPS 2015 (career average, NPA 60). McCloud applies to anyone who served between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022. The contribution structure changed on 1 April 2026.
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Police Pension Scheme: PPS 1987, 2006 and 2015 explained for 2026/27
The full plain-English guide for this scheme, what it is, how the sections fit together, what you contribute and what you get out.
What members usually ask
- Which scheme am I in?
- Depends on when you joined and your age on 1 April 2012. Pre-April 2006 joiners were in PPS 1987 by default; new entrants 2006 to 2015 went into PPS 2006; everyone since 1 April 2015 has joined PPS 2015. McCloud has rolled most pre-2022 service back into the legacy scheme by default.
- What changed on 1 April 2026?
- The PPS 2015 contribution structure was redesigned. Tiers are now 12.88% / 13.88% / 14.22% based on actual pensionable earnings (not FTE annualised pay), with thresholds at £37,035 and £79,588. Most officers see a small rise of around 0.44%. Scotland kept a flat 13.7%.
- How does ill-health retirement work?
- PPS 2015 has a two-tier structure, lower-tier if you’re permanently unfit for police duties, enhanced upper-tier if you’re permanently unfit for any regular employment. Police injury benefits under the Police (Injury Benefit) Regulations 2006 sit alongside the pension and are entirely separate; they are tax-free and paid in addition.
- What is McCloud doing for police officers?
- Service between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022 has been rolled back into your legacy scheme (PPS 1987 or PPS 2006) by default. You make the choice at retirement between legacy and 2015 (CARE) benefits for that period, on the basis of your Remediable Service Statement.
Latest in this scheme
Police Pension
Police Pension: PPS 1987, 2006 & 2015 explained (2026/27)
How the three police pension schemes (PPS 1987, 2006 and 2015) actually work in 2026/27, contribution rates, double accrual, McCloud, ill-health and injury benefits,…