Teachers and NHS Estimates
17 January 2020
If you’re looking for a Teachers or NHS Estimate, please refer to our Online Services and Website Calculators. If you have requested an estimate and are waiting for your figures please note that we are currently experiencing exceptionally high volumes and are working through these as quickly as possible. We’d like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Voluntary Scheme Pays election forms due by 17 January 2020
10 January 2020
Members who wish to apply for Voluntary Scheme Pays (VSP) for 2018-19 must have their election forms to the SPPA no later than 17 January 2020, otherwise SPPA cannot guarantee that they will be processed ahead of the HMRC deadline of 31 January 2020 and members may then be charged late payment interest by HMRC as a result.
New NHS pensions measures
19 November 2019
New pension measures for NHS Scotland staff have been announced From 1 December 2019, a new interim policy will give eligible NHS staff the option to get employer pension contributions paid as part of their basic pay. This will be available to all NHS staff who can evidence that they are likely to breach the Annual Allowance in the 2019/20 financial year and generate a tax charge as a result. What do I need to do?
Avoid Pension Scams
04 September 2019
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and The Pensions Regulator (TPR) are joining forces again this summer to warn the public about fraudsters targeting people’s retirement savings. This warning comes as new research suggests that 42% of pension savers, which would equate over 5 million people across the UK, could be at risk by pension scammers. Research found that those who consider themselves smart or financially savvy are just as likely to be persuaded as anyone else. Four simple steps to protect yourself from pension scams:
Court of Appeal Judgment - Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
23 July 2019
The Court of Appeal has recently upheld an appeal by Mrs Jane Langford, the unmarried partner of Air Commodore Green who died in 2011. Under the rules of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS), Mrs Langford was unable to claim an unmarried partner benefit from the AFCS as she remained married at the time of AC Green’s Death. The Court of Appeal has ruled Mrs Langford should be eligible to receive benefits.
Annual Allowance 2018-19
10 July 2019
Your guide to Annual Allowance provisions for the 2018/19 tax year (for General Medical Practitioners 2017/2018 tax year) The amount of tax relief on pension contributions is limited to an Annual Allowance of £40,000 in each tax year – with further ‘tapered’ reductions for people who earn over £110,000.
Changes to Survivor Benefits
02 July 2019
SPPA is undertaking an exercise to identify any pensions paid to survivors of same sex marriages or civil partnerships and review those where the scheme member had pre 1988 (1990 in the police) service that was not used in the award. SPPA will contact individuals whose survivor pensions have been revised to arrange for the revised rate and any arrears to be put into payment. For further information please see your pension scheme circular which can be found under Scheme Governance and Legislation - circulars. Date added 2 July 2019.
UK Government appeal rejected by Supreme Court
28 June 2019
Scottish Ministers respect the decision of the Supreme Court to refuse the UK Government’s appeal in the McCloud and Sargeant cases. Occupational pensions policy is reserved to the UK, and the UK Government is now required to make remedial proposals to the Employment Tribunal. We will publish more information as it becomes available. In the meantime, SPPA will continue to administer pension schemes in line with the existing regulations. Background
Mixed Sex Civil Partnerships
26 June 2019
The Scottish Government announced on 25 June 2019 that it will introduce legislation both in the Scottish and UK Parliaments that will extend the availability of civil partnership to mixed sex couples. The date mixed sex civil partnerships will be available will be determined by the legislative timetable but SPPA will introduce changes to scheme regulations to reflect the change when introduced.
Auditor General for Scotland’s s23 report on the Scottish Public Pensions Agency
25 June 2019
On 25 October 2018, the Public Audit and Post Legislative Scrutiny Committee considered the Auditor General’s initial section 22(3) report on the implementation of a new IT system for SPPA. Because of ongoing discussions between SPPA and the contractor that consideration was limited to financial aspects. On 25 June, the Auditor General published a section 23 report which highlights key messages critical of how the IT project was managed and again detailing the associated costs.