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Teachers’ Pension Scheme – A Brief Guide

Teachers’ Pension Scheme – A Brief Guide. October 2009. Key points. Teachers’ Pension Scheme is a final salary scheme – historically the most generous form of pension scheme in the UK.

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Teachers’ Pension Scheme – A Brief Guide

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  1. Teachers’ Pension Scheme – A Brief Guide October 2009

  2. Key points • Teachers’ Pension Scheme is a final salary scheme – historically the most generous form of pension scheme in the UK. • From 1 January 2007 the normal pension age for new members increased to 65. In return, annual pension build up improved. • Members of the scheme prior to 1 January 2007 kept a normal pension age of 60. • Improvements made to scheme in 2007 – for example protection of pension from salary reductions, phased retirement option and improvements in death grants.

  3. Pre 1 Jan 07 members Normal pension age 60. Minimum pension age currently 50, increases to 55 by April 2010. Ill Health pensions not subject to minimum age requirements. Post 1 Jan 07 members Normal pension age 65. Minimum pension age 55. Ill Health pensions not subject to minimum age requirements. Normal Pension Ages

  4. Pension build up – pre 1 January 07 members • Pension is 1/80 of final pensionable salary for each year of scheme membership. • If final salary = £30,000 and 20 years’ membership then the pension will be: £30,000 x 20/80 = £7,500 a year. • 3/80 of final salary automatically paid as tax free cash for each year of service (i.e. 3x pension).

  5. Tax free cash example – pre 1 January 2007 members • If final salary = £30,000 and 20 years’ membership then the cash sum will be: £30,000 x 60/80 = £22,500 • The 3/80 cash makes up approx 13 per cent of the value of pension rights. Members currently in teaching can convert up to 25 per cent of pension rights into cash. • Pension converted into cash at £12 of cash for each £1 of pension given up. • In this case, maximum tax free cash available = £40,178. Pension if maximum tax free cash taken = £6,027 • Calculator on Teachers Pensions Website

  6. Pension build up – post 1 January 2007 members • Pension is 1/60 of final pensionable salary for each year of scheme membership. • If final salary = £30,000 and 20 years’ membership then the pension will be: £30,000 x 20/60 = £9,000 a year. • No automatic tax free cash included. • Members currently in teaching can take up to 25 per cent of pension rights as cash. • Pension converted into cash at £12 of cash for each £1 of pension given up.

  7. Contribution rates • Employee contributions 6.4 per cent for pre and post 1 January 2007 members. • Employer contributions 14.1 per cent of salary. • Employee contribution rate comparable to equivalent private sector schemes.

  8. Final salary • Final pensionable salary is the higher of: • Average salary in the last year. • The average of the best three consecutive years in the last ten (revalued in line with RPI inflation) - this is a big improvement that protects teachers who step down late in their careers. • Before 1 January 2007, pension was based on highest average salary for any consecutive 365 days in the last three years of employment. Until 31 December 2008, pensions were worked out on the higher of the old and new measures. • Deferred members prior to 1 January 2007 who never return to teaching will have their pensions calculated on the pre 1 January 2007 basis.

  9. Members prior to 1 January 2007 - breaks in service • All pension benefits on service up to 31 December 2006 available in full at age 60. • An existing member on 31 December 2006 who leaves the scheme and returns within five years (for a certain minimum period) will have future pension build-up based on pre 1 January 2007 rules.

  10. Additional Pension • Not possible to buy added years from 1 January 2007 (existing contracts honoured). • Can buy up to £5,200 a year in additional pension in multiples of £250 (limit was £5,000 when introduced in 2007). • Pay by lump sum or by monthly deductions from salary. • Cost is not a percentage of salary, but depends on your age and the amount of pension you want to buy.

  11. Actuarially Reduced Early Retirement • Need to be 55 or over, under normal scheme pension age and have been employed on or after 30 March 2000. • ‘Actuarial Reduction’ means that the pension is reduced because it’s expected to be paid out for a longer period. • Employers can withhold consent for maximum of six months from date you ask to leave. • Amount of reduction depends on years and months pension is taken before normal pension age. Figures from tables supplied by Government Actuary’ Department. Separate tables for normal pension ages of 60 and 65. • Example: if normal pension age = 60, but the person retires at 55, the pension and lump sum paid is 77.3 per cent of unreduced amount. • ‘Actuarial enhancement’ available for post 1 January 2007 members who work beyond 65.

  12. Phased retirement • Allows a teacher to keep working but draw part of their pension benefits. • To claim, must be 55 or over, and have service in scheme after 1 January 2007. • To exercise flexible retirement, must reduce salary by at least 25 per cent for at least 12 months – can be as a result of going part time, or moving to a post with lower responsibility. • Can take up to 75 per cent of pension and keep working. Phased retirement can be exercised twice before final retirement. • Teachers taking phased retirement continue to build up service in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (unless they opt out). • Previous ‘stepping down’ arrangements discontinued (but existing contracts honoured) – effectively superseded by average of best 3 consecutive in 10 final salary rule.

  13. Ill-Health Early Retirement (1) • No change in criteria to qualify: the applicant must be unfit by reason of illness or injury and despite appropriate medical treatment be more likely than not to be incapable of serving efficiently as a teacher in any post on a permanent basis. • Two levels of benefit available – ‘Total Incapacity Benefit (TIB)’ and ‘Partial Incapacity Benefit (PIB)’. • Criterion for award of TIB is based on whether the teacher could perform a job of comparable job weight to teaching – if person only capable of stacking supermarket shelves this is clearly below the weight of a teaching post so TIB will be the appropriate award. • PIB awarded if you are permanently unable to teach, but able to do other comparable work.

  14. Ill-Health Early Retirement (2) • TIB gives an uplift to benefits of half prospective service to a person’s normal pension age. So, a 40-year-old with 10 years’ service and a pension age of 60 would be able to retire with 20 years’ service (10 + (20/2)) = 20. • PIB gives no uplift in benefits – but accrued pension is received with no actuarial reduction.

  15. Premature retirement • Premature retirement is where your employer makes you redundant or you leave in the ‘efficient discharge of the employer’s function’. The minimum age for premature retirement is • 50 • 55 or over and joined the scheme on or after April 2006. • 55 or over for all members after April 2010. • Premature retirement is at the discretion of the employer as the cost must be paid to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. • Where the employer agrees to premature retirement - pension not reduced for early payment.

  16. Death Grant • Death grant for all members of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme who die in service = three times pensionable salary. • Death grant also paid to teachers who die within a year of leaving pensionable employment who have not had ill health retirement. • Death grant goes to person or persons nominated. Important to fill out nomination form and keep it up to date. • For deaths shortly after retirement, supplementary death grant payable of difference between the pension paid up to the date of death and five times the annual rate of pension.

  17. Dependents’ Pensions • Long-term pensions payable at 1/160 of final pensionable salary for each year of survivor benefit service. • Service from 1 April 1972 (widow or dependent), 6 April 1988 (widower or registered civil partner) or 1 January 2007 (nominated unmarried partners) automatically counts. • Unmarried partners must have been in relationship for two years and be ‘financially interdependent’ at time of death. • May be able to buy back additional service before these dates – check with Teachers’ Pensions. • Spouse, civil partner and nominated partners’ pensions paid for life for retirements from 1 January 2007 (for people with service after this date) – rather than ceasing on remarriage or cohabitation. • Children’s pensions also available if: child under 17; between 17 and 23 and in full-time education or training; any age if child incapacitated and dependent on you. Amount of pension depends on number of children and any earnings they have.

  18. Teachers’ Pension Scheme That’s it!

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