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Got a pension from a previous job? You may be able to transfer it into your teacher's pension, but there's a deadline to be aware of. Read more: ow.ly/hn8J50ZY3tY

Employers – please read our October bulletin. It contains important information about upcoming changes. Read our bulletin: ow.ly/TkaF50ZWhsP

Not sure how your teacher's pension works? You’re not alone. Many members have questions. Learn the basics: ow.ly/NZV850ZWgZa

Members - when was the last time you engaged with your pension? Examples include: 👉 Reading our emails or social media 👉 Using a pension calculator 👉 Logging into My Pension Online 👉 Contacting us 👉 Talking pensions with your Employer

As part of our move to a new administrator, the way Benefit Statements are provided will change. We recommend downloading copies of your current and previous statements before 6pm on 21 October 2026. Download yours today: ow.ly/N09R50ZVQCZ

Our services will be temporarily unavailable from 6pm on 21 October to 2 November as we move administrators. Read more: ow.ly/CLcG50ZUZ94

Members - before we change administrators, please make sure your details are correct and up to date on My Pension Online. Check today: ow.ly/MWZz50ZTRTz

New to teaching, or know someone who is? It’s possible to buy out the actuarial reduction that would normally be applied to your pension if you retire before your Normal Pension Age. Find out more: ow.ly/8OKl50ZSfgU

As part of our move to a new administrator, the way we provide Benefit Statements will change. For your records and peace of mind, we recommend downloading copies of your current and previous Benefit Statements before 22 October 2026. Read more: ow.ly/jTo750ZQB8u

Administration of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme will move to a new administrator on 1 November 2026. As part of this change, our website, phone lines, My Pension Online and secure webchat will be temporarily unavailable from 22 October until 2 November. Read more: ow.ly/pwNn50ZQ5FC

If you’ve followed our posts this week, have they helped improve your understanding of your teacher’s pension, even just a little?👇

🔔 That's the bell for #PensionAwarenessWeek! Thanks for being part of the conversation this week. We hope you've come away feeling more informed about your teacher’s pension.

We've spent the week helping you understand your pension. Now, let's help you protect it. Pension scams are designed to look genuine, which is why it's important to stay vigilant. Before making any decisions about your pension, ask yourself: 🔍 Was I contacted unexpectedly? 🔍 Is who I’m dealing with genuine? 🔍 Am I being pressured to act quickly? 🔍 Does the offer sound too good to be true? If the answer to any of these is yes, take a step back and check before you act. Your teacher's pension is one of your most valuable benefits. Don't let a scammer get their hands on it. You should consider getting independent financial advice before making any major decisions about your pension. Find out more: ow.ly/py9z50ZGwAj

We've shared lots of key information about your teacher's pension this week. 👉 Check our profile @TPScheme to catch up. #PensionAwarenessWeek

Some members assume their State Pension and teacher's pension are the same thing, but they're not. Your teacher's pension is provided through the Teachers' Pension Scheme and is built up each month through contributions from your salary. It's designed to provide a regular income in retirement. Your State Pension is paid by the government and is based on your National Insurance record. In retirement, you may be entitled to receive both, depending on your circumstances. However, they're separate benefits, paid by different organisations and they may start at different ages. It's also important to remember that your Normal Pension Age (NPA) in the Teachers' Pension Scheme may be different from your State Pension Age as well. You can check your teacher's pension benefits through our portal My Pension Online and obtain a State Pension forecast through the Gov website. Understanding the difference between the two can help you plan ahead and build a clearer picture of the income you could receive in retirement. Visit our website: ow.ly/aup550ZGwpV

Yes. There are several ways you can build up more pension benefits to help increase your income in retirement. Your options are: Additional Pension – This allows you to buy extra pension benefits on top of those you build up through the Scheme. It can be paid for through monthly contributions or a one-off lump sum. The cost depends on factors such as your age and how much additional pension you want to buy. Any additional pension purchased is index-linked while you work and in retirement. Faster Accrual – This allows you to pay higher contributions in a Scheme year (1 April to 31 March) to build your pension up at a faster rate. Instead of the standard accrual rate of 1/57th, you can choose to build up benefits at 1/55th, 1/50th or 1/45th. An election must be made before the Scheme year takes effect. Buy Out – This allows you to buy out the reduction that would apply if you retired before your Normal Pension Age (NPA). The option is only available within the first six months of joining the Scheme. Depending on your NPA, you can buy out up to three years of reduction. It’s a long-term commitment and the cost can change throughout your career. Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) – This is an additional retirement savings arrangement that sits alongside your teacher’s pension. The Department for Education has an arrangement with Prudential, although you can choose another provider. Before making any decisions, it's important to understand how each option works and whether it's right for your circumstances. Please seek Independent Financial Advice before making any financial decisions. Learn more about each option: ow.ly/eCc550ZGwik

Missing service is when a period of pensionable service isn't shown on your employment history, even though you contributed to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme during that time. It's important to check for this regularly. We use this information to produce your Benefit Statement, which shows the pension you've built up so far and what it's currently worth. Missing service could mean your Benefit Statement doesn't reflect the full value of your pension. It could also affect the benefits you're entitled to receive when you retire and may cause delays when your pension is calculated. If you spot missing service, please: ✅ Contact the employer you worked for during that period and ask them to update your record ✅ If they no longer have records of your employment, please provide them with evidence such as payslips, P60s, or information from HMRC ✅ Once the employer updates your record, the changes will be reflected in your employment history and Benefit Statement. Find out more: ow.ly/zxBS50ZGwcN

Yes, you can return to teaching after taking your teacher's pension. In fact, if your new employment is pensionable in the Teachers' Pension Scheme, you may build up additional retirement benefits that you can claim later. Before returning to work, it's important to understand how it could affect your pension: ✅ If you return to teaching, your employer will let us know ✅ In some cases, we may ask you to complete a Certificate of Re-employment so we can understand more about your employment arrangements ✅ Depending on the type of pension benefits you're receiving, returning to work could affect your pension if your re-employment earnings exceed certain limits ✅ The rules are different depending on how and when you retired ✅ Any pensionable service built up after returning to work will be in the career average scheme and could provide you with additional retirement benefits that you can claim later. Thinking about returning to teaching after retirement? Make sure you understand how re-employment could affect your pension before making any decisions. Find out more: ow.ly/6OYj50ZGw98

Once retired, your teacher's pension will be paid monthly in arrears into your nominated bank account. The payments are usually made on the day before the day of the month you were born. For example, if you were born on 7 September, you’ll usually be paid on the 6th of every month. Depending on when your pension starts, your first payment may only cover part of a month, with your first full monthly payment arriving the following month. You should also know that: ✅ Any lump sum is usually paid when your pension starts ✅ Tax is deducted before your pension is paid and can be seen on your monthly payslips ✅ You can view an online P60 each year via My Pension Online, showing the pension you've received and the tax you've paid ✅ Your pension increases each April to help protect it against rises in the cost of living. Understanding what happens when your pension starts can help you plan ahead and avoid any surprises. Find out more: ow.ly/6k0a50ZGw53