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FAQ
What is the earliest age I can receive my pension?
Maternity Leave /Adoption
If you are on maternity leave/adoption leave, your Scheme membership will continue. Scheme contributions will continue to be deducted from contractual and statutory pay in accordance with normal procedures. You will continue to build up pensionable service on the same basis that you were receiving before going on maternity/adoption leave. The full range of Scheme benefits cover will continue to apply during maternity/adoption leave.
Paternity Leave
If you are on paternity leave, your membership of the Scheme will continue but you will only pay contributions relative to pay received.
Does my Pension increase in payment?
Your pension in payment increases on 1 April each year in accordance with the provisions set out in the Rules of the Scheme. Notification of the increased pension is issued to all pensioners at the end of March each year. See Pension Increases
What do I do if a member/pensioner dies?
Please contact the Pensions Office as quickly as possible. They will advise you what documentation is required and if any further benefits are payable.
How does divorce affect my pension?
Pension benefits must normally be taken into account when agreeing a split of assets of matrimonial assets on divorce. Your pension benefits can be dealt with in a number of different ways.
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Pension Attachment Orders (sometimes known as “earmarking”)
- is a requirement that you will pay a portion of your pension to your ex-spouse each month once your pension comes into payment. The Pensions Office will normally administer such an arrangement on your behalf and send the correct monthly amount to each party.
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Pension Sharing Orders
- The Order calculates the value of your pension rights at the date of your divorce and pays an agreed portion of that value to a pension arrangement in the name of your ex-spouse. The Rules of the Scheme do not permit the ex-spouses of members to retain their pension sharing benefits in the Scheme. Such benefits must always, therefore, be transferred to a registered pension provider and ex-spouses are encouraged to nominate their preferred provider.
Where Can I get help?
There are a number of areas where you can receive help and advice regarding your benefits:
- Pensions Office
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The Pensions Advisory Service (TPAS)
(TPAS) is an independent voluntary organisation with a network of local pension experts. They assist pension scheme members who consider that they may want to make an external complaint against the Trustee or employer in relation to their pension scheme.
They can be contacted at:
The Pensions Advisory Service
11 Belgrave Road
London
SW1V 1RB
Telephone No: 0845 601 2923
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk -
Pension Tracing Service
The service is provided by the Department for Work and Pensions which can help individuals trace old pension scheme if details have been lost or if the Scheme has merged or changed its name.
The Pension Tracing Service can be contacted at:
The Pension Service
Tyneview Park
Whitley Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE98 1BA
Telephone No: 0845 600 2537
+44 191 215 4491 (if calling from outside the UK)
0845 300 0169 (Text phone)
Website: www.directgov.co.uk -
Independent Financial Advice
Staff at the Pensions Office are not authorised to give financial advice. If you are not sure which pension arrangement is best for you, you should seek independent financial advice. All financial advisers must be registered with the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in order to give financial advice. If you would like help to find an Independent Financial Adviser, you can visit their website at:
www.unbiased.co.uk
If you have any queries about finding an IFA you can email your query to:
[email protected]. -
Pensions Ombudsman
The Pensions Ombudsman will normally investigate a complaint you may have about the management of a pension.
Before contacting the Ombudsman with your complaint, it is expected that you would have raised your complaint through the Scheme’s internal disputes procedures and/or with TPAS.
The Ombudsman can be contacted at:
The Office of the Pensions Ombudsman
11 Belgrave Road
London
SW1V 1RB
Telephone: 020 7630 2200
Fax: 020 7821 0065
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www. pensions-ombudsman.org.uk -
The Pensions Regulator
The Pensions Regulator is the regulatory body for occupational pension schemes in the UK. The specific objectives of the Regulator are:
- to protect the benefits of members of occupational pension schemes
- promote good administration of pension schemes
- reduce the risk associated with funding of pension schemes to avoid Schemes having to look to the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) for compensation
- Maximise employer compliance with regulations
The Regulator can be contacted at:
The Pensions Regulator
Napier House
Trafalgar Place
Brighton
BN1 4DW
Telephone 0870 6063636
Website: www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk