Paying into a pension

If you’re eligible for 2015 Remedy and still paying into a pension, you’ll be asked to make a Remedy choice when you apply to retire.

Asking you to make this choice when you retire means you’ll know exactly what you’re entitled to under each option, making it easier to make the right decision for you.

When to expect your Remedy choice

When you apply to retire, we’ll offer you a choice between legacy scheme (final salary) and reformed scheme (CARE) benefits for the pension you built up between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022. This is called the remedy period.

To help you decide, we’ll send you a choice letter, known as a Remediable Service Statement (RSS). This will show your pension benefits side-by-side in the final salary and CARE scheme for the remedy period, to help you decide which option is the right one for you.

Annual Benefit Statements

If you are eligible for 2015 Remedy, your Annual Benefit Statement (ABS) will look a little different from now on. It will be combined with a Remediable Service Statement (RSS) so that you can keep track of benefits in the alternative scheme. This statement is called an ABS-RSS. If you are not already, sign up to MSS to access your ABS-RSS when it is available.

Enquiries relating to my ABS-RSS

Why does my ABS look different this year?

If you are eligible for the 2015 Remedy, your Annual Benefit Statement or ABS looks a little different. It’s been combined with a Remediable Service Statement or RSS, into a new document called an ABS-RSS.

What is a Remediable Service Statement?

A Remediable Service Statement, sometimes shortened to an RSS, is a statement which must be provided to you if you are eligible for the 2015 Remedy to enable you to make an informed choice about your benefit options for remediable service when you retire.

What is remediable service?

Remediable service is any pensionable service that occurs in the remedy period, between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022, and which meets the criteria set out in the Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022.

What is the 2015 Remedy?

When public sector pensions were reformed, discrimination was found in the transitional protections offered to some older scheme members. As a result, all members who are eligible for 2015 remedy are being offered a choice of which pension benefits they want to take between the legacy (final salary) scheme and reformed (CARE) scheme for the remedy period. You can find out more on our Remedy Hub.

Why have I not received an ABS-RSS?

ABS-RSS are being issued in batches due to the volumes that are being processed. We are currently issuing statements for Active (in work) members and this is due to be completed for most members by the end of August.

If you are affected by any of the following, these won’t be reflected in the figures you find in your ABS-RSS:

Pension Sharing on Divorce
Scheme Pays If any of the following scenarios apply to you, we are unable to provide an ABS-RSS at this time. We will update our website with the expected delivery timeline:
Transferred in service in the remedy period
Added years
Added Pension

Deferred members will receive their ABS-RSS later in the year.

Lifetime Allowance (LTA) was abolished so why am I seeing LTA information on my ABS-RSS?

The LTA is still included because members with fixed or individual protection will still need to use this information.

I have received my ABS-RSS and some of the personal details are incorrect?

If your name, address or marital status is incorrect, please update your personal details in line with your employer process to ensure that your HR/Payroll record reflects your correct details.

Can I correct my email address?

You can update your email address by contacting us and providing the updated email address on our webform.

I have updated my personal information. Will my ABS-RSS be re-issued?

Your personal information will be updated but you won’t get a replacement ABS-RSS at this time. Your next ABS-RSS is due to be issued by 31st August 2025 and this will reflect the changes made as submitted by your employer.

What is the salary figure used on my statement?

We have used the salary figure provided by your employer to calculate your pension benefits. The statement provides you with estimated figures only. This information is provided by your employer, please contact your employer if you have any queries.

The service in my ABS-RSS is incorrect?

If you still think the service is incorrect, you can contact the SPPA using our contact us webform

I can’t find the answer to my question

Please use the SPPA’s webform for any other queries not already addressed.

Contributions and Remedy

From 1 October 2023, eligible members who contributed to the 2015 Care Scheme between the 1 April 2015 – 31 March 2022 (the remedy period) are being moved back to their Legacy Scheme for this pensionable period. This action is taking place to enable members to make a choice for the remedy period.

During the remedy period, you will have paid contributions at the 2015 Care Scheme rates. By moving members back to their legacy scheme for this period, you will either owe or be owed the difference in contributions due.

We are working with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and partners on a process for repaying underpaid contributions and claiming back owed contributions.

Annual Allowance

For information about the 2015 Remedy and Annual Allowance, please visit our Impacts of Remedy on Annual Allowance webpage.

I’ve received a letter about my Additional Pension

If you bought an Additional Pension arrangement, you have a choice of what happens to this for your service between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022 – this is called the Remedy period.

We need you to confirm what you’d like to do. To help you make your decision, the letter includes:

A decision guide, including a personalised table of your options
A decision form to complete and send back to us

Take some time to review your options, then sign and send your form to confirm your decision.

You have 6 months to make your decision, but please tell us when you’re ready so we can make sure you’re paid the benefits you want when you retire.

If you have more than one Additional Pension arrangement in the Remedy period, you need to make a decision for each one.

I’ve received a letter about my Early Retirement Reduction Buy Out

If you bought an Early Retirement Reduction Buy Out arrangement, you have a choice of what happens to this for your service between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022 – this is called the Remedy period.