Civil Service Pensions Podcast
The Civil Service Pension Scheme is one of the best workplace pension schemes in the UK public sector. But what makes it so good? We want members of the scheme to feel informed and empowered when it comes to planning for their financial future, but we know that pensions can feel complicated and difficult to understand. This podcast aims to make things simple - whether you're working or retired, if you've left the Civil Service - or even if you're thinking about joining the Civil Service - there's something for everyone. Hosts Rob Walker and Emily Eccles from MyCSP (the scheme administrator for Civil Service Pensions) take things back to basics. Their conversations will help you get to grips with your pension and even make some informed decisions about your future. No question is too small and no answer is too complex. Each episode explores different aspects of the scheme. With expert guests and members talking about their life experiences and perspectives, and how these events have affected their views on retirement and their pension. Each informative episode could help you think about your pension in different ways. Many people believe that a pension is something to think about later in life, or something to get round to dealing with eventually. That just isn't true. It’s never too early to start saving or planning for your future beyond work. Your pension is one of your most valuable assets and the decisions you make now can have a huge impact further down the line. It is a crucial personal financial benefit and your ticket to living your best life when you're no longer working. It's key to making your retirement years as fulfilling and rewarding as possible. From learning the basics, we explore a number of topics surrounding pensions and the scheme itself. Our first series features case studies of members in their 20s and 30s through to retirement, as well as discussions around the Gender Pension Gap, discovering how common life events can affect your ability to save for the future and the steps you can take to boost your pension. Even if you've never worked for the Civil Service before, this podcast is full of useful information and advice for anyone with a workplace pension. We hope you enjoy it. To find out more about the scheme, visit www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk
Episodes
In our final episode of the season, we reflect on the events, activities and highlights of this year.
Mick Mulligan, Head of Engagement and Cathryn Murray, Training & Engagement Manager join us to talk about some of our successes in 2025, as well as a look forward to what 2026 holds for the scheme.
From live events, to education and tools, Mick and Cathryn highlight some of the exciting things ahead for members and employers al...
Michelle Storer, Senior Training Consultant for Civil Service Pensions, returns to the podcast to talk us through the annual Pension Increase.
She explains what PI is, how it works and who qualifies for it.
We also discuss some frequently asked questions from members, and some common misconceptions about this yearly increase.
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Kevin Hughes, a policy expert from Cabinet Office, returns to the podcast to talk us through the latest position when it comes to 2015 Remedy (McCloud).
From Immediate Choice and Deferred Choice Underpin, to Annual Benefit Statements and the Retirement Modeller, Kevin explains what impacted members need to do, and when they’ll make their choice.
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Redundancy can involve significant change and uncertainty. Liliana Gonzalez from the Civil Service Pensions Training Team returns to the podcast to share information for those affected by it. She explains the implications of redundancy on pensions and outlines the operation of the Civil Service Compensation Scheme.
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Some describe the idea of retiring abroad as “the ultimate dream”. But how does it work, practically speaking?
Rob and Emily chat to MOJ’s Lara Muñiz-Fernández about her plans to retire abroad and the preparations she’s making.
We’re also joined by Peter Spain, Head of Pensions Policy and Technical from Cabinet Office, who sheds some light on the technicalities of retiring overseas, how p...
Planning for retirement – how does the state pension fit in?
On his first podcast appearance, Joe McLaughlin from the Civil Service Pensions Training Team talks to us about the State Pension, how it works, and the vital role it can play in your retirement finances.
We talk about how to track your State Pension as it builds up, how to give it a boost and things you’ll need to consider when you come to claim it, suc...
Cilla Christmas, Valuation and Strategic Review Manager for Civil Service Pensions returns to talk us through the Retirement Living Standards, originally created using research conducted by the Loughborough University.
These standards are a great starting point when it comes to planning your financial future, setting out a “minimum”, “moderate” and “comfortable” standard of living. If you&r...
Season 4 of the Civil Service pensions Podcast is here, with new topics, new guests and some familiar voices too. Discussing everything from retirement living standards, the role of the state pension and retiring abroad, Emily and Rob bring you eight fresh episodes to help you feel informed, empowered and in control when it comes to planning your financial future. Whether you’re approaching retirement now or just getting star...
For our final minisode of Season 3, Rob and Emily chat to Rosie Geeves, Head of Member Services, and Dean Norman, Senior Pensions Administrator about what happens to your pension when you die.
The idea of losing a loved one, or what we’d like to happen after we die, are difficult topics to discuss - particularly when we need to deal with paperwork, formalities, or even financial complications during an emotional time.
Rosie ...
In our penultimate episode of this season, Rob sits down with guests to explore the role employers play in the Civil Service Pension scheme.
Andy Jones (Cabinet Office), Louise Ibbetson (DWP) and Lara Muniz Fernandez (MOJ) share their perspectives on the scheme and discuss their experiences of supporting members to get the most out of their Civil Service Pension.
The group explore the role of an employer and their r...
In this minisode, Emily and Rob are joined by Michelle Storer, Training Consultant, to discuss partial retirement.
Partial retirement enables active members to take some of their pension and tax-free lump sum while continuing to work. It’s a great way to ease yourself into your post-work years, or work for longer without needing to work full-time – whatever is right for your circumstances.
Michelle talks us through the part...
This week, Emily and Rob sit down with guests to explore the impact that a break in service – whether it’s a career break or a job opportunity outside the civil service – can have on your pension.
Karen returned to the Civil Service in 2014 after a short break. She came back to a new role, and a new pension.
Karen tells us about her decision to come back to the Civil Service, and how the Civil Service Pension was part of th...
In this minisode, Helen Shrimpton, Training Consultant, talks about why it’s never too early to be thinking about your pension, even if retirement feels decades away.
We know that some of our younger, millennial members are less likely to be thinking about this part of their financial future, which is unsurprising given that pensions can feel complicated and not relevant at their stage in life.
Patrick’s journey has taken him from his commute into work, to continuing a beloved hobby in his post-work years – all on the back of a motorcycle!
Having spent his career as a meteorologist working for the Met Office, he’s been spending his retirement years delivering life-saving services as a blood bike rider.
In this episode, he tells us about his career and his work with charity Freewheelers EVS, the charity providing this hidd...
Minisode: New webinar for 2015 Remedy (McCloud)
In this minisode, Emily Wilson, Senior Training Consultant, returns to the podcast to tell us about new training available for members about 2015 Remedy (McCloud).
If you’re impacted by 2015 Remedy (McCloud) but unsure about what it means or how it affects you, the new 2015 Remedy Pension Power webinar is a free, one-hour refresher. It covers what the 2015 Remedy is, how to find out i...
Our latest episode of the Civil Service Pensions podcast is available now.
This week, we discuss what to expect from the retirement process if you’re affected by 2015 Remedy (McCloud). Chris, who recently took early retirement, talks about the decision she made when making her choice for the seven-year Remedy period (1 April 2015 – 31 March 2022). She explains the steps she followed and how Remedy affected her reasons to retire.
We...
This week, we chat to Liliana Gonzalez, Training Consultant, who walks us through the retirement process step by step, with tips and advice on what to consider at every stage.
It’s important to remember that your pension will be your income after you retire, and so you should consider how much you will need to live on.
If you’re approaching retirement and you want to know about the process involved, we hope you’l...
In our second episode of Season 3, Cilla Christmas, Valuation & Strategic Review Manager and Co-Chair of the Carer’s Network returns to the podcast to talk about what caring responsibilities can mean for your pension and retirement planning.
From drawing on personal experiences of caring responsibilities to exploring the statistics around carers in the Civil Service, Cilla talks us through what it means to be a carer and how to...
In the first minisode of this season, Kelly Freaney, Senior Training Consultant joins us to talk about what it means to be a dual member. Whether you’ve had a break in service or if you’re impacted by 2015 Remedy (McCloud), Kelly talks us through everything you need to know about your pension, how to keep track of all your benefits, and what to consider when it comes to retirement planning.
Listen to this episode using the embedded...
When Gillian retired on her 60th birthday, she went home and wept. After a career which took her all over the world, she felt cut adrift and needed a new purpose in life.
Now, 20 years later, she’s a published author and has taken up a whole new line of work as a Registrar of Marriages.
From spending nine years as an Assistant Purser with P&O aboard Canberra and Oriana cruise ships, to a fulfilling 30 years of service with the ...
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