NHS Scotland Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme
Scottish Ministers established a special temporary scheme that provided death in service benefits for relevant persons working for, or providing services on behalf of, an NHS Scotland Health Board, Special Health Board, NHS National Services Scotland (Common Services Agency) and Healthcare Improvement Scotland, called the NHS Scotland and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme 2020.
Changes to Commutation provision in the Police Pension Scheme 1987
From 1 April 2022, we are changing how retirement lump sums are calculated for 1987 Scheme members who are aged 50 or over and have between 25 and 30 years’ service. Currently, these members can commute up to 2.25 times their annual pension. This is being changed so they can commute up to 25% of their annual pension instead. This change will not apply retrospectively to retirements pre 1 April 2022.
Cyber Security Resilience
In line with guidance being provided to other UK governmental agencies and departments, the SPPA is highlighting a need to increase cyber security resilience in response to potential malicious incidents related to tensions in Ukraine. We are reaching out to our suppliers and raising awareness on our external channels using the following message:
Guaranteed Minimum Pension
We have been working with Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to make sure that pension information we hold for members of our schemes matches their records. This work has identified that some pension payments from the SPPA have been incorrect. This relates to a part of the pension called Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP) and how the cost of living increases, known as index linking, have been applied to it.
MyPension Online - Multi-Factor Authentication
We are introducing Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) to the MyPension website on 3 November 2021. What is Multi-factor Authentication? MFA improves on traditional security methods by adding an extra step when logging in to an online account. Logging in with MFA involves:
Goodwin Ruling - Survivor benefits update
The Goodwin case identified that male survivors of opposite-sex marriages and civil partnerships are treated less favourably than survivors in same-sex marriages and civil partnerships. We are working on a method of calculating family benefits service to address this sexual orientation discrimination. Scheme rules will be changed to ensure that:
Cost Control Mechanism and Discount Rate Methodology Consultations Launched
Cost Control Mechanism and Discount Rate Methodology Consultations Launched HM Treasury published two public consultations on 24 June 2021, seeking views on proposals to make changes to the cost control mechanism in public service pension schemes, and secondly on the appropriate methodology for setting the discount rate used in scheme valuations. The consultations will run for eight weeks and are available to view at the links below: Cost control mechanism
Important update on your Pension: The Government's Approach to the 2015 Remedy
The UK government’s announcement Following the public consultation held in 2020, the UK government has now set out its approach to remedying the age discrimination found in the 2015 pension reforms. Having considered the response to the consultation, the UK government has decided to implement a ‘deferred choice underpin’ which was the approach favoured by the majority of respondents.
Important update on your Pension: The McCloud/Sargeant judgement and the 2015 Remedy
What is it? The McCloud/Sargeant judgements refer to the 2018 Court of Appeal ruling that found part of the protections included in the CARE reforms unlawfully discriminated against younger members of the Judicial and Firefighters’ pension schemes, as only older scheme members were allowed to remain in the final salary schemes.
NHS Scotland Additional Voluntary Contribution (AVC) Scheme - transfer from Equitable Life to Utmost Life and Pensions
Equitable Life closed to new business in 2001 but the NHS Scotland AVC Scheme with Equitable Life remained open because it was established before the closure. As a result, members of the NHS Superannuation Scheme (Scotland) who had previously paid contributions to Equitable were permitted to continue in the AVC Scheme with them.