How your pension is calculated
Minimum and maximum retirement ages
Retirement and mid-career planning seminars
Pension contributions
You pay contributions towards your HSE pension and lump sum through your salary. These contributions are shown on your payslip.
PRSI class A
You pay PRSI class A if you were recruited after 6 April 1995.
Your PRSI contributions as an employee in PRSI class A go towards your state pension (contributory). The Department of Social Protection (DSP) pays this pension.
Class A contributions: 3% of pensionable pay, plus 3.5% of net pensionable pay.
PRSI class D
You pay PRSI class D if you were recruited before 6 April 1995.
Your PRSI contributions as an employee in PRSI class D do not go towards or qualify you for a state pension (contributory).The HSE pays your full pension (employees paying PRSI class A receive part of their pension from the HSE and the rest (state pension) from the DSP).
Class D contributions: 6.5% of pensionable pay.
Related content
Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) - gov.ie
Getting an estimate
Employees recruited before 1 January 2013 (HSE Pension Scheme)
Calculate an estimate of your pension using the pension estimator - nss.hse.ie
The calculator shows an estimate of your pension scheme benefits at a future retirement date. It is an estimate and not a guarantee of future benefits.
You can also request an estimate of your retirement pension benefits.
Fill in the Pension Benefit Estimate Application Form (Word, 40 KB, 3 pages).
Send it to your pension area office.
Note: pension estimates are dealt with in order of priority due to the significant backlog of these requests in all pension area offices. The average turnaround time for estimates is about 12 months.
Employees recruited after 1 January 2013 (Single Scheme)
A pension benefits statement is sent to you by the end of June each year.
You can also use the single scheme estimator tool - gov.ie.
To learn more about your benefit statement watch Single Public Service Pension Scheme (video).
Pension benefits
- lump sum payment (tax-free up to €200,000)
- monthly pension
- pension benefits for spouses, civil partners, and qualifying dependent children following staff member's death in service or after retirement. This applies if you're a member of the widows' and orphans' pension scheme or spouse and children's pension scheme
Factors that affect pension benefits
- reduced working hours
- unpaid leave (for example, shorter working year, special unpaid leave, unpaid leave for medical care)
- career breaks
- parental leave
- temporary rehabilitation remuneration (TRR)
- injury at work grant
How your pension is calculated
Your pension area office calculates your pension benefits.
HSE Pension Scheme
Your benefits are based on:
- your basic salary, plus
- an average of your best 3 consecutive years of pensionable allowances in the last 10 years, if applicable
- your total pensionable years' service
Single Scheme
Your benefits are based on your career average earnings:
- a monetary amount is banked towards your benefits each pay period
- amounts accumulate annually
Minimum and maximum retirement ages
The minimum pension age is the earliest age at which you can start to get your benefits.
Minimum and maximum pension ages depend on your employment start date in the public sector.
Start date before 1 April 2004
Minimum retirement age is 60. Maximum retirement age is 70.
Start date on or after 1 April 2004 and before 1 January 2013
Minimum retirement age is 65. No maximum retirement age.
Start date on or after 1 January 2013
Minimum retirement age is the same as the state contributory pension (currently 66). Maximum retirement age is 70.
How to apply for your pension
You should apply for your pension 3 months before your retirement date.
Fill in the retirement form HR107(a) and leaving form HR106.
Send your completed retirement form HR107(a) to your pension area office.
Your line manager should return your completed leaving form HR106 to your local HR or Personnel Administration department.
Your retirement date is inclusive of any annual leave owing to you. You can only get paid for annual leave owing to you if you are retiring on ill-health grounds. Your local occupational health department will provide a report recommending you retire on ill health grounds, if you meet the criteria.
Contact your pension area office if they have not confirmed your retirement date in writing before you retire.
Pension payments
Your pension area office calculates your pension payment.
Your pension payments cannot be calculated until after your final salary payment. You will receive your pension payment 6 to 8 weeks after your final salary payment.
Pensions are paid monthly, on the last working day of the month.
Payment of arrears
Your first monthly pension payment will include any pension arrears due to you from the date of your retirement.
For example:
- your retirement date is 15 June
- your first pension payment on 31 July would include your pension payment for July, plus pension payment due to you from 16 to 30 June
Retirement and mid-career planning seminars
Retirement planning seminar
1-day retirement planning seminar to help you plan for your retirement.
Mid-career planning seminar
3-hour seminar to help you plan your future working life in the HSE.