Answer a few questions and get a warm, professional letter telling your employer you are retiring. It works out your last working day from your notice period and reminds you what to sort out for your pension. Free, with nothing to sign up for.
When to hand in a retirement letter
There is no default retirement age in the UK, so you choose when to retire and your employer can't make you retire because of your age. You give notice the same way as for any resignation: the notice in your contract, or at least one week if your contract says nothing.
Many people talk to their manager first and then hand in the letter the same day, so the conversation and the formal notice match. Notice usually runs from the day after you hand it in.
Retirement letter examples
Retirement letter after many years
Three months' notice, with a handover and a pension question.
21 October 2026
Dear Sarah,
Please accept this letter as formal notice that I will be retiring from my position as Head of Finance at Northbank Services. I am giving three months' notice, in line with my contract, so my last working day will be 21 January 2027.
After 22 years with Northbank Services, this was not an easy decision, but I feel the time is right for me to retire.
I have been proud to work here, especially being part of the team that opened the Leeds office, and I am grateful for the support I have had from you and the team.
Before I leave, I will do everything I can to make the handover smooth, including documenting my work and helping to train whoever takes over my responsibilities.
Please could you let me know what you need from me for my pension and my final pay, including any holiday I have built up and not taken.
I would very much like to stay in touch, and I wish you and the team every success in the future.
Yours sincerely,
Pat Ellis
Short retirement letter
The facts and a thank you.
21 October 2026
Dear Sarah,
Please accept this letter as formal notice that I will be retiring from my position as Head of Finance at Northbank Services. I am giving one month's notice, in line with my contract, so my last working day will be 21 November 2026.
After much thought, I have decided that the time is right for me to retire.
I am grateful for the support I have had from you and the team during my time here.
Before I leave, I will do everything I can to make the handover smooth, including documenting my work and helping to train whoever takes over my responsibilities.
I wish you and the team every success in the future.
Yours sincerely,
Pat Ellis
Retirement letter offering to stay involved
For someone open to part-time or consultancy work.
21 October 2026
Dear Sarah,
Please accept this letter as formal notice that I will be retiring from my position as Head of Finance at Northbank Services. I am giving three months' notice, in line with my contract, so my last working day will be 21 January 2027.
After 22 years with Northbank Services, this was not an easy decision, but I feel the time is right for me to retire.
I have been proud to work here, especially being part of the team that opened the Leeds office, and I am grateful for the support I have had from you and the team.
Before I leave, I will do everything I can to make the handover smooth, including documenting my work and helping to train whoever takes over my responsibilities.
If it would help, I would be happy to talk about ways I could stay involved after I retire, such as helping on a part-time or consultancy basis.
Please could you let me know what you need from me for my pension and my final pay, including any holiday I have built up and not taken.
I would very much like to stay in touch, and I wish you and the team every success in the future.
Yours sincerely,
Pat Ellis
Questions people ask
How much notice do I need to give to retire?
The notice in your contract, the same as resigning. If your contract says nothing, the legal minimum is one week once you have worked there for a month.
Can my employer make me retire?
Not because of your age: the default retirement age was abolished in 2011. An employer can only set a retirement age in rare cases where they can justify it.
Do I have to give a reason?
No. Saying you are retiring is enough. Many people add a thank you and an offer to help with the handover.
When should I claim my State Pension?
You can claim it up to four months before you reach State Pension age. It doesn't start automatically.