Retirement Policy and Procedure

Update - May 2011

Between 6th April and 30th September 2011, the Government phased out the Default Retirement Age (DRA). The default retirement age was abolished completely from 1st October 2011.

The last date on which a member of staff can be given notice of retirement was 5th April 2011. For those staff, the University's previous Retirement Policy will apply:

Pre-6th April 2011, the normal expectation was that staff would retire on reaching their contractural retirement age, as set out in their Terms and Condtions of Employment. The normal contractural retirement dates were as follows:

a) for non-teaching staff: the end of the month in which their 65th birthday falls;

b) for teaching staff: 30th September following their 65th birthday (in order to allow completion of teaching-related responsibilities for the academic year).

In accordance with the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006, the University will consider requests from employees to continue working beyond their normal retirement date, in line with the University procedure.

These arrangements will now only apply to members of staff whose 65th birthday falls before 1st October 2011.

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From 6th April 2011

There is no contractual or default retirement age.

Members of staff can voluntarily retire at a time of their choosing and draw any occupational pension they are entitled to under the rules of their pension scheme.

The University's pension schemes - USS and DUPS - will still retain a default pension age at which pension benefits are payable. If you are a member of one these schemes, pensions staff in Payroll will contact you no less than three months before you reach 65 to progress your options with you.