Missing APCs - local government pension

housebuyer143

Hi,

I have been making additional contributions for months and I called the pension provider who tell me they have no record of these, and to call payroll.

I speak to payroll who tell me they have provided and paid all the correct money and info to the pension provider and there is nothing further they can do.

I called back pension provider and they literally sound like they haven't got a clue, telling me that everything is fine until I pointed out I had an email from them to say it wasn't. She ended the call with she will have to speak to payroll 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ 

I feel like this is ridiculous. What is the next step as my payroll have told me there is nothing they can do and pensions just seem dumb stricken! 

xylophone

https://www.lgpsmember.org/your-pension/paying-in/paying-more/additional-pension-contributions/

I have been making additional contributions for months

And you can see this on your payslip?

I called back pension provider and they literally sound like they haven't got a clue, telling me that everything is fine until I pointed out I had an email from them to say it wasn't. She ended the call with she will have to speak to payroll 

Which local authority is providing your pension?

If you do not hear from the administrator within a week of the telephone call, write and request an explanation.

hrjanger

I had similar issues about 6 months ago with AVC contributions to Prudential. Apparently many others have had similar delay issues due to problems with their IT systems (if that's any consolation). I sent numerous messages via their secure messaging systems and got standard unhelpful responses. Ultimately made formal complaint about the delays and "lost" contributions that were sent from payroll and received £250 compensation from Prudential. Fortunately all sorted in the end but have recently varied my monthly contributions so will see what happens. 

housebuyer143

xylophone said:

https://www.lgpsmember.org/your-pension/paying-in/paying-more/additional-pension-contributions/

I have been making additional contributions for months

And you can see this on your payslip?

I called back pension provider and they literally sound like they haven't got a clue, telling me that everything is fine until I pointed out I had an email from them to say it wasn't. She ended the call with she will have to speak to payroll 

Which local authority is providing your pension?

If you do not hear from the administrator within a week of the telephone call, write and request an explanation.

Thanks, yes it's on my payslip.
LA is Cardiff Council 👍 

I'll give them a call in a week. Should I expect payroll to help me with this? I mean they have the proof it's been paid to the pension provider, something I haven't got - feel like they are just saying we have done our bit and then leaving me to it. 

xylophone

I had similar issues about 6 months ago with AVC contributions to Prudential.

Other posters mentioned problems with the Pru but the OP is not making AVCs - he is making APCs, that is, buying more scheme pension.

https://www.cardiffandvalepensionfund.org.uk/members/how-to-increase-your-benefits/#ARC

If you are an active member of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), you can purchase an additional amount of annual pension.  The additional pension will be added to your ‘base pension’ and paid every year for the whole of your retirement. This is known as an Additional Pension Contributions (APCs) contract.

The maximum amount of additional annual pension that can be purchased is £7,579.  However, you will need to provide a medical report from your doctor to confirm you are currently in good health – if your doctor charges for this service, you will need to cover this cost.

How will the additional contributions be collected?

The extra pension contributions are deducted from your salary each month. You can select the length of your contract, but it must be in ‘complete years’ and the contract must end before your Normal Pension Age (NPA). You also have the option to pay for the additional pension as a ‘one off lump sum’.

You can stop your APC contributions part way through the contract. However, you will only be credited with the proportion of extra pension that you have paid for.

Should I expect payroll to help me with this? I mean they have the proof it's been paid to the pension provider, something I haven't got - feel like they are just saying we have done our bit and then leaving me to it. 

Payroll has done its bit in making the payments and you yourself have proof of this via your payslip.

Could I just ask why you were querying the payments in the first place? What I mean is, as far as you were aware, the payment plan had been set up and you could see the payments on your payslip - did you receive an email from Admin stating that the expected payments had not been received?

housebuyer143

xylophone said:

I had similar issues about 6 months ago with AVC contributions to Prudential.

Other posters mentioned problems with the Pru but the OP is not making AVCs - he is making APCs, that is, buying more scheme pension.

https://www.cardiffandvalepensionfund.org.uk/members/how-to-increase-your-benefits/#ARC

If you are an active member of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), you can purchase an additional amount of annual pension.  The additional pension will be added to your ‘base pension’ and paid every year for the whole of your retirement. This is known as an Additional Pension Contributions (APCs) contract.

The maximum amount of additional annual pension that can be purchased is £7,579.  However, you will need to provide a medical report from your doctor to confirm you are currently in good health – if your doctor charges for this service, you will need to cover this cost.

How will the additional contributions be collected?

The extra pension contributions are deducted from your salary each month. You can select the length of your contract, but it must be in ‘complete years’ and the contract must end before your Normal Pension Age (NPA). You also have the option to pay for the additional pension as a ‘one off lump sum’.

You can stop your APC contributions part way through the contract. However, you will only be credited with the proportion of extra pension that you have paid for.

Should I expect payroll to help me with this? I mean they have the proof it's been paid to the pension provider, something I haven't got - feel like they are just saying we have done our bit and then leaving me to it. 

Payroll has done its bit in making the payments and you yourself have proof of this via your payslip.

Could I just ask why you were querying the payments in the first place? What I mean is, as far as you were aware, the payment plan had been set up and you could see the payments on your payslip - did you receive an email from Admin stating that the expected payments had not been received?

No, I am just untrusting 🤣 I couldn't see them on my online account and so queried it with them. Glad I did as seems no one was going to notice.

AlanP_2

What online account? The online portal for our LGPS pensions does not update until ~August after the end of the previous tax year once everything has been reconciled and the relevant CARE pension calculated. Never used APC option so that may work differently.

Can I just check are you purchasing additional DB pension (APC) or are you contributing to the AVC scheme alongise the LGPS DB scheme? AVC providers will typically have an online portal.

housebuyer143

AlanP_2 said:

What online account? The online portal for our LGPS pensions does not update until ~August after the end of the previous tax year once everything has been reconciled and the relevant CARE pension calculated. Never used APC option so that may work differently.

Can I just check are you purchasing additional DB pension (APC) or are you contributing to the AVC scheme alongise the LGPS DB scheme? AVC providers will typically have an online portal.

I'm buying APCs for sure and the website does update each month with a running total of your current pension value 👍 
Turns out APCs only show on the statement though, not the online account - just to confuse everyone 🤣

squirrelpie

Does that mean your problem is resolved?

housebuyer143

squirrelpie said:

Does that mean your problem is resolved?

Not yet, but I did get an email to say they found the money - my employer didn't complete the form to say the money was an APC so they didn't know. 

housebuyer143

It gets better! I got the form that they wanted and I emailed to them with the date I applied in September, but they can't accept a back dated form 😡😡 
Now waiting on a supervisor to ring me as I can't date the form today as they have had money since September, but can't date it September because the form should have been sent to them in September! 

Why did they go and tell me to get a form they won't accept!