This depends on which Scheme your part of.
Normal pension age (NPA)
NPA is the age at which you can take your pension in full without reduction.
If you take your pension at your NPA, your last day of service is the day before that date. Your benefits are paid from your birthday.
1995 Section
NPA is age 60.
If you have Special Class status (SCS) or mental health officer (MHO) status, NPA is from age 55. You must provide the whole of your last 5 years membership in a qualifying SCS or MHO role.
Your last day of service can be the day before your 55th birthday.
2008 Section
NPA is age 65.
2015 Scheme
NPA is your State Pension age (SPA) or age 65 if this is later.
Minimum pension age
Depending on when you contributed to the Scheme, you may be able to take voluntary early retirement and claim your pension before your NPA at a reduced rate.
The earliest you can take your pension voluntarily is known as your minimum pension age.
1995 Section
You do not have the option to take voluntary early retirement if you left the NHS Pension Scheme before 31 March 2000.
If you had membership between 31 March 2000 and 5 April 2006, your minimum pension age is age 50.
Your minimum pension age is age 55 if your membership started on or after 6 April 2006.
If your membership in the 1995 Section is deferred and you returned and joined the 2008 Section, your minimum pension age is age 55.
2008 Section and 2015 Scheme
Minimum pension age is age 55.
The government intends to increase the minimum pension age to age 57 in April 2028.
Annual leave
Outstanding annual leave will extend your last day of service.
If the remainder of the leave is not whole days, the amount is rounded up to the next whole day.
Any return to work restrictions will start once the annual leave has been used.
Payment when you retire
You can retire and have your pension benefits go into payment on any day of the week including the weekend or a bank holiday.