What happens to your pension during a career break
When you take an unpaid career break, two things happen to your Teachers' Pension:
- Accrual stops. You are no longer paying contributions, so you do not build any new pension. Each year out costs you 1/57th of that year's pensionable pay in lost annual pension.
- Revaluation drops. Your existing accrued pension switches from the active revaluation rate (CPI + 1.6%) to the deferred rate (CPI only). The 1.6% top-up you lose each year compounds over your remaining career.
The first cost is obvious: miss three years of service, lose three years of pension building. The second cost is hidden and usually larger: the compounding effect of 1.6% less revaluation each year, applied to your entire existing pot, adds up significantly over two or three decades.
For a detailed look at how deferred revaluation works, see the deferred pension guide.
How much does a career break actually cost?
The cost depends on your salary, how much pension you have already built, how long the break is, and how many years remain to retirement. Here are three representative scenarios:
| Scenario | Break | Pension without break | Pension with break | Annual gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECT on M2 (£35,674), £2,000 accrued, 35 yrs to NPA | 2 years | £41,200 | £38,900 | £2,300 |
| Mid-career on M6 (£46,939), £8,000 accrued, 25 yrs to NPA | 3 years | £36,800 | £33,100 | £3,700 |
| Experienced on UPS 2 (£50,587), £12,000 accrued, 20 yrs to NPA | 5 years | £33,500 | £27,600 | £5,900 |
Run your own numbers in the calculator above, or compare with the full-career projection from the pension calculator.
Maternity, adoption and shared parental leave
Maternity and adoption leave are treated differently from an unpaid career break:
| Leave type | Pension accrual | Your contributions | Employer contributions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary Maternity Leave (26 weeks) | Yes — full accrual | Based on pay received | Based on full-time salary |
| Additional Maternity Leave (paid) | Yes — full accrual | Based on pay received | Based on full-time salary |
| Additional Maternity Leave (unpaid) | No accrual | None | None |
| Shared Parental Leave (paid) | Yes — full accrual | Based on pay received | Based on full-time salary |
| Unpaid parental leave | No accrual | None | None |
| Career break (unpaid) | No accrual | None | None |
During paid maternity leave your pension contributions are based on the pay you actually receive (which may be statutory maternity pay or occupational maternity pay under Burgundy Book). Your employer continues to contribute based on your full-time salary. This means your pension accrual continues at the full rate even though your cash contributions may be lower.
The maternity pay guide covers the Burgundy Book entitlements and the exact pay schedule.
Sick leave and the pension
Full-pay sick leave continues your TPS membership as normal — contributions and accrual both continue at the full rate. Half-pay sick leave also continues membership, but your contributions and accrual are based on the reduced pay. Only once you exhaust sick pay entitlement and move to unpaid absence does accrual stop entirely.
The sick pay guide explains the Burgundy Book entitlement tiers.
What happens when you return from a career break
When you return to a TPS-eligible teaching post, you rejoin the scheme immediately. There is no waiting period, no re-qualification, and no penalty. Your deferred benefits are linked back to your active record and resume receiving the higher CPI + 1.6% revaluation from that point.
You do not get back the 1/57th accrual you missed during the break — those years are permanently lost. But the higher revaluation rate on your existing pot resumes, which partially closes the gap over time.
Career break vs part-time working: the pension comparison
Some teachers consider reducing to part-time rather than taking a full break, precisely because of the pension impact. The comparison is worth making explicit:
| Metric | Full break | 0.5 FTE for 3 years |
|---|---|---|
| Accrual during period | None | 3 × (£46,939 × 0.5 × 1/57) = £1,235 total |
| Revaluation rate | CPI only (2%) | CPI + 1.6% (3.6%) — still active |
| Contributions saved | ~£12,100 | ~£6,050 saved vs full-time |
| Pension gap vs full-time | ~£3,700/yr | ~£1,400/yr |
Going to 0.5 FTE for three years costs about £1,400 a year less pension at retirement compared with full-time — roughly a third of the £3,700 gap from a full break. The part-time pay calculator can model the take-home side.
How to protect your pension during a career break
- Keep the break short. Every year out compounds the loss. If you can return after one or two years instead of three, the difference is meaningful.
- Return even briefly. Re-entering the TPS for even one year before a longer break restores the active revaluation rate on your entire pot for that year.
- Consider part-time rather than full break. Even a 0.2 FTE role maintains active membership and the higher revaluation rate.
- Buy added pension on return. The TPS Added Pension facility lets you replace some of the lost accrual. The younger you are when you buy, the cheaper it is.
- Check your State Pension. A long career break can create NI gaps. Fill them with voluntary Class 3 contributions if needed — check at gov.uk/check-state-pension.
- Consider AVCs on return. If buying added pension is too expensive, the AVC route lets you invest through the TPS via Prudential.
Career breaks and the annual allowance
When you return from a career break and resume contributing, your pension input amount for that year may be higher than normal if your salary has increased during the break. This is unlikely to trigger the £60,000 annual allowance for most teachers, but if you are on a leadership salary and return after a significant pay rise, it is worth checking. The pension contributions guide covers the annual allowance.
Frequently asked questions
Does a career break affect my teachers' pension?
Yes. You stop accruing new pension and your existing pension revalues at CPI only (not CPI + 1.6%). A typical 3-year break costs £3,000–£4,000 less annual pension at retirement.
Do I keep my pension if I leave teaching?
Yes. Your accrued pension stays in the TPS as a deferred benefit, revaluing by CPI each year until you draw it. It is never lost.
Is maternity leave a career break for pension purposes?
Paid maternity leave is not a break — you continue accruing pension. Only the unpaid portion of Additional Maternity Leave (if any) stops accrual.
Can I buy back the pension I missed during a career break?
You cannot buy back service directly, but you can purchase Added Pension (up to £8,366.52/yr in 2026/27) to boost your benefits. The cost depends on your age at purchase.
How long can I be on a career break and still rejoin the TPS?
There is no time limit. Whether you leave for 2 years or 20, you can rejoin the TPS immediately on returning to a TPS-eligible post.
Does unpaid leave affect my pension?
Yes. Any unpaid leave — whether a career break, unpaid parental leave, or unpaid sick leave — stops pension accrual and switches your pot to deferred revaluation.
Should I opt out of the TPS to save money?
Almost never. The employer contribution alone (28.8%) makes the TPS extremely valuable. Even if cashflow is tight, staying in part-time is almost always better than opting out entirely.
What about supply teaching during a career break?
If you work as a supply teacher through an agency, you may not be enrolled in the TPS — many agencies use other pension schemes. Direct supply work for a school that offers TPS membership would maintain your active status.
Sources
Related tools and guides
teacher pension guide
How the Teachers' Pension Scheme works in 2026/27: CARE accrual at 1/57th, contribution tiers, revaluation, NP
Deferred Teachers' Pension: What Happens If You Leave
What happens to your teachers' pension if you leave teaching: deferred benefits, CPI revaluation, drawing earl
Leaving Teaching: The Financial Guide
Leaving teaching? What happens to your Teachers' Pension, notice dates, holiday pay and references — plus the
Teacher Maternity Pay: The Full Guide
Teacher maternity pay explained: the Burgundy Book scheme week by week, who qualifies, statutory rates from Ap
Teachers' AVC Calculator
Project your Teachers' AVC pot: monthly contributions, growth assumptions and tax relief, plus how AVCs compar
teachers' pension calculator
Project your Teachers' Pension: salary, age and pension built so far in, annual pension out at any retirement