Civil Service Compensation Scheme Question

drummersdale

Hi not sure if anyone can offer any advice or if it’s the wrong forum.  I am 60 next February and there is a possibility of Voluntary Redundancy on Civil Service Compensation Scheme terms in the near future.  I took partial retirement (2.5 days a week) at the beginning of August after completing almost 41 years service.  Most of my service was in Classic but am currently in Alpha.  The CSCS mentions Normal Pension Age as one of the criteria governing the terms (as well as minimum pension age in some instances). So given I am in Alpha currently is my NPA 67 years of age (my state pension age)?  It makes a big difference to the calculations as if it’s treated as 60 (Classic NPA) then I would effectively get around 6 months salary but if it’s Alpha NPA then I would expect to get more given my length of service.  As I mentioned at the beginning this may not be the right forum as it’s not necessarily pension related so if not, apologies.

MouldyOldDough

It appears to depend on what your normal pension age is classed as

If its 66 - then YES

If its 60 - then NO

I take it that they mean "pension from CS" ?

https://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/your-pension/work-life/redundancy/

drummersdale

Thanks @MouldyOldDough that’s the crux of it - this is lifted off the CS pensions website too

“You can claim your full, unreduced pension any time after your pension scheme’s retirement age – known as the Normal Pension Age (NPA):

• alpha - State Pension age, or 65 (whichever is higher at the time you retire)
• nuvos - 65
• classic, classic plus, and premium - 60

Which would suggest that if in Alpha - which all Civil Servants are now - that my current NPA is 65 or higher (67 in my case) so I might be eligible for more than the flat 6 months.

Only time will tell I suppose.

MouldyOldDough

I got 8 years pay, 13 years ago from the old rules on a classic pension but that is no longer possible, aged 46 with 28 years service 

drummersdale

Yes I expect them to get less generous as the years progress especially if the Government can get changes to legislation through to change the rules 

Bearhop

Hi drummersdale, I am presently in a similar situation to the one you were in last year. I am 61, now in Alpha, I took all my classic benefits. Would you be able to share what happened in your case? I confess I am finding the guidance about partially retired staff facing voluntary redundancy lacking in detail! It would be most helpful to have a real life comparison!
thanks 

Suzycoll

Bearhop said:

Hi drummersdale, I am presently in a similar situation to the one you were in last year. I am 61, now in Alpha, I took all my classic benefits. Would you be able to share what happened in your case? I confess I am finding the guidance about partially retired staff facing voluntary redundancy lacking in detail! It would be most helpful to have a real life comparison!
thanks 

hi Bearhop 

 I am in a similar situation . Have taken the  following paragraph form civil service pension website compulsory-redundancy-guidance-for-staff-2010-terms-v-february-2019-mb-v3.pdf (civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk)

Example 9 – Redundancy after partial retirement Caspar is aged 66. He took partial retirement a couple of years ago when he went part time. Caspar has a total service of 43 years accumulated over 44 years and his full time equivalent rate of pay is £15,000. Caspar will receive compensation reflecting his entire service, not just the period after his partial retirement. Caspar’s compensation will reflect the deemed minimum (£23,000) and he will receive: £11,238.64 (6 x £23,000/12 x 43/44) or a payment worked out according to the statutory redundancy rules if this is greater. 

It is a bit confusing though. Hope it helps?

Suzycoll

drummersdale said:

Thanks @MouldyOldDough that’s the crux of it - this is lifted off the CS pensions website too

“You can claim your full, unreduced pension any time after your pension scheme’s retirement age – known as the Normal Pension Age (NPA):

• alpha - State Pension age, or 65 (whichever is higher at the time you retire)
• nuvos - 65
• classic, classic plus, and premium - 60

Which would suggest that if in Alpha - which all Civil Servants are now - that my current NPA is 65 or higher (67 in my case) so I might be eligible for more than the flat 6 months.

Only time will tell I suppose.

hi Drummersdale. Please see mine and Bearhop posts. Any update on your previous situation would be appreciated. thanks 

drummersdale

Hi @Suzycoll and @Bearhop firstly please accept my apologies - I literally have only just noticed that I had messages otherwise I would have responded earlier.  Unfortunately I am unable to offer any wisdom as the VR scheme I was hoping to take place didn't - so I am still here doing my 2 & a half days a week on partial retirement.  I hope that you both managed to get the answers you needed as pensions (especially civil service ones) seem so complicated and lacking in clear information.