Help with pension refund (civil service)

bobstar_3

Hi, I am new to your forum but am hoping someone might be able to help me clarify if a refund of my pension contributions for a period of employment with Customs & Excise (HMCR) is correct.

I work for Customs an Excise for about 14 months on a FTA contract (fixed term appointment). During this time I paid into the civil service pension. I recently decided to try and get a refund of MY contributions that I paid in. After what seems like an eternity of writing letters, phoning, photo copying payslips etc. I have finally received a letter with a break down of my refund that I will soon be paid.

The refund I will receive is £344 out of my Gross contributions refund amount of £822. This seems like a lot of deductions, I was expecting to be taxed but The CEP deduction with the tax is more than 60% of the total.

Is this correct? As this seems quite high to me.

Any help much appreciated, many thanks in advance.

weemee

I can't help but I'm in a very similar situation.

Andy_L

http://www.civilservice-pensions.gov.uk/upload/assets/www.civilservice_pensions.gov.uk/lpcp_1.pdf

pg4 They deduct the tax & (as its a contracted out scheme) the cost of reinstating your S2P entitlement

bobstar_3

Thanks for the link Andy L but they sent me that really unhelpful booklet with some paper work I had to fill in and return (Confirm address, marital status etc)

I know I am a newbie on this matter but they refer to SP2 in the help leaflet and my breakdown mentions CEP ( I think these are old an New versions of the same thing) this is confusing.

The other point I can’t find an answer to (after searching on the internet) Why don’t they give you an idea of what % this CEP deduction of the gross amount will be (or a breakdown of how they work it out) in advance. As this could possibly affect your decision in deciding if you want a refund of your contributions.

When I first contacted this department to arrange this they advised me I would receive back my contributions less tax (tax being about – 25%) . I have had to conduct all my correspondence by post as they have NO EMAIL (I think this is not true). Which has managed to draw this process over 14 months.

After phoning again today to point this out and asking for a explanation of the CEP deduction I was told “It’s not are fault, it’s the government innit”

Lastly my favourite part of the booklet that they sent (and in Andy L’s link above) is the part where they advise.. If you have a complaint about your membership of premium or classic plus which you have been unable to sort out with your pensions administrator, you can ask them for the booklet “If you have a complaint about your pension”