Generally, early distributions from a retirement account are income and you must report it on your return. In general, you can retire as early as age 50 with five years of service credit unless all service was earned on or after January 1, 2013.When you can take money from your pension pot will depend on your pension scheme's rules, but it's usually after you're 55. ERISA is a federal law that sets minimum standards for retirement plans in private industry. Hoping to access your 401(k) early? With the rule of 55, you may be able to access and take early withdrawals from your 401(k). Learn steps to take to retire early, then calculate when you might be able to leave the workforce with our early retirement calculator. You need to work at least 10 years to get any pension at all. Then to get the maximum amount you need at least 35 years contributions. The earliest you can get your State Pension is when you reach your State Pension age.