Actuarial Reductions - LGPS Advice

hyubh

woolly_wombat wrote: »

I think your employer has realised that they have a problem, which they are erroneously trying to circumvent by trying to con you out of your rights.

The current LGPS early retirement rules, as outlined in the link provided by xylophone, are very clear

Yes. Moreover, as a police authority/PCC, the employer should know full well what the rules are because it will be form one of the larger organisations in its local LGPS fund - it's not like a small charity that has one leaver every few years, and so might understandably not realise the implications of making someone in their late 50's/early 60's redundant.

hyubh

jamesd wrote: »

I wouldn't necessarily want normal LGPS terms to be used for the pension at the CAA-mandated effective normal retirement age.

Well an employer can't just bend the rules of the LGPS (a statutory, multi-employer scheme) to fit its purposes - the normal pension age for a member's benefits will be the scheme's normal pension age.

I might even go with, at the time of hire, specifying NRA to be 60 with actuarial reduction from LGPS normal level, so it's known and agreed at the outset.

Yes, however from the pension fund's point of view it would still be a resignation at 60 followed by an employee-instigated retirement.

pandora205

As an LGPS contributor just a point about the lump sum - there is no more addition to this post 2007 (I think), the rest is all pension, so there cannot be a reduction. Ours have all be frozen at the 2007 lump when the pension arrangements changed anyway and do not change any more.

BobQ

While normally joining a union when you have a problem is not likely to get you help immediately any more that you would get house insurance when your house was on fire. However, you can afford to wait a few months and ask such questions then.

If they require you to end employment at 60 then what do your rules say about redundancy pay? They cannot make you draw your pension if the pension scheme's normal retirement age is 65.

EC_Driver

Thanks again for all your comments. Some real food for thought. I shall post back as the saga progresses. At the moment I am awaiting a reply from the HR Manager, XXXX in relation to my letter of complaint.

I will continue at present, without the back up from a union and see how far I can progress this. Employing a solicitor at this stage could prove dis-proportionally expensive for the three of us and something we could not afford.

xylophone

In the meantime, what is the answer to the question posed in my post 12?

EC_Driver

xylophone wrote: »

When you started the job, what were you told about how and when your pension would be paid? Were you give a scheme booklet?

To answer your questions in reverse order: No scheme booklet received when I started the job.
To quote from my original contract "16. Pensions. XXXX Police facilitates Police Staff in joining the Local Government Superannuation Scheme. A contracting out certificate is in force for the Local Government Superannuation Scheme."

Apologies for not replying direct to your post earlier.

xylophone

Apologies for not replying direct to your post earlier.

No apology required!:) It was really just a reminder to check
your documentation (on the basis that if the pension situation had actually been set out when you took the job, you'd be in a weak position complaining now)?

Your employer "facilitated" joining the LGPS - how exactly?

When you joined, did you check any available information about your pension benefits and when your pension would be payable?

hyubh

xylophone wrote: »

Your employer "facilitated" joining the LGPS - how exactly?

The police authority/PCC will be a 'scheduled body' of a local LGPS fund, and as such, have auto-enrolled eligible support staff unless an individual chose to opt out.

EC_Driver

hyubh, you're correct. Exactly as it was for us.