Estimated Pension Benefits and Annual Benefit Statements (ABS)
Administrators of occupational pension schemes have a legal duty to provide scheme members with regular details of their pension benefits.
We automatically produce Annual Benefit Statements (ABS) for Scottish Teachers pension scheme members who are currently in active employment. Members who have left Scottish Teachers employment with preserved benefits and are below their normal pension age can contact the SPPA to request up to date information.
Accessing your annual benefit statement
If you're in active employment, you can register for our online service where you can access and print copies of your annual benefit statement.
Your annual benefit statement estimates your pension benefits accrued up to the end of the most recent financial year based on your pensionable service and / or salary details as confirmed by your employer.
Calculators
As well as annual benefit statements we have a range of calculators that can be used by members still in active employment. These can be used to estimate to future dates and scenarios of your choice.
2015 Remedy
On 1 April 2022 the Scottish Teachers' Superannuation Scheme was closed to any future pension build-up and members were moved into the reformed 2015 pension scheme.
Eligible members will have the chance to choose between their legacy or reformed scheme benefits when they retire. This choice will be for the period between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022. From 2024, your annual benefits statement (ABS) will show a dual estimate of both the legacy and reformed schemes to help you make your choice.
Your 2022 ABS does not include a dual estimate but, a remedy calculator is available to use if you'd like to compare your legacy and reformed scheme benefits.
Deferred members
Find out more about Deferred benefits
If you haven't reached your minimum pension age, or won't be claiming your pension within the next 12 months, we can only provide an estimate of your pension’s current value. If you intend to claim your pension before your normal pension age, the estimate will take into account any applicable reduction for early payment.
Ill health retirement
If your HR or Occupational Health department consider ending your employment on the grounds of ill health, we can provide an estimate of what your benefits may be.
If you've already left employment with your benefits preserved in the scheme, and you're too ill to carry out any form of employment we can also provide an estimate of the benefits you're likely to receive.
Ill health retirement benefits will only be paid subject to your application being assessed and approved by an independent medical adviser. Find out more about Ill Health Retirement.
Premature retirement due to redundancy or interests of efficiency of the service
If you've reached your minimum pension age and you're due to leave the scheme through redundancy or in the interests of efficiency of the service, your employer can ask SPPA for an estimate of your potential benefits.
In all the scenarios above, we will take any relevant information on your record, such as protection of pay or service breaks into account when calculating your estimate.
Authorising a financial adviser to contact SPPA
If you are in active employment and require information for your financial advisor, please access your annual benefit statement online.
If you have left Scottish Teaching employment
We are able to accept requests from financial advisers as long as they can provide a mandate, signed by you authorising the release of the requested information.
Pension lump sum choice
If you have decided to retire but are unsure whether to convert some of your annual pension into an additional tax free lump sum, please tick further information in section 4 page 10 of your application form. The SPPA will then provide exact information for you to make a decision prior to your pension being put into payment.
Projected pension estimates
The SPPA does not provide estimates projecting your possible pension benefits to a future date for the use of financial advisors or for mortgage purposes.