Hertfordshire Fire Pension Board

Transcription

1 Hertfordshire Retired Firefighter newsletter INSIDE Fire Pension Board New State Pension Pensions Abroad Member Self Service January 2016

2 Hertfordshire Fire Pension Board The Hertfordshire Fire Pension Baord has been established in accordance with recent changes to the Public Sector Pension Act The Board will assist and support the management and governance of the Firefighters Pensions schemes and comply with regulations and other legal and regulatory requirements. Further information about the Board and its work in supporting the management and governance of the Pension schemes including agenda and minutes of meetings is accessible from: Further information about the Hertfordshire Fire Pension Board can be found on our website at: The Employer representatives are nominated by the Employers, the Member (employee) representatives are selected via an application process. We advertised for applications for the Member representatives in the Summer. We can confirm who the Employers and member representatives of the Board are; Employer Representatives: Richard Thake Ian Couper Member Representatives: Neville White Tom Morey

3 Introduction of the new State Pension From April 2016 anyone who is still in a contracted out pension scheme will start to pay full National Insurance, an increase of approximately 1.4%. This will go towards building up a proportion of the new flat rate state pension. This will not affect anyone who has already reached their state pension age or who is no longer in contracted out employment. Anyone who is within 10 years of their state pension age is strongly encouraged to obtain an estimate of their state pension details. Find out how to get this information here: Children in receipt of a pension If you are over the age of 17 and have left full time education and have not been awarded your pension for life please contact Herts LPFA to update your current circumstances on: Tel: or

4 Paying Pensions Abroad Pension payments may be made to a foreign bank account if a pensioner moves overseas following their retirement. Pensioners who wish to have their pension paid to an overseas bank should be aware that the overseas bank may levy a charge for overseas payments and fluctuations in foreign exchange rates will impact on the value of the pension payment received. To reduce charges arrangements can be made to pay pensions on a quarterly or annual basis. If payment is required into a foreign bank account, then you should write to confirm the bank details. For bank accounts within the Eurozone, we need an IBAN and BIC/Swift number. For bank accounts outside the Eurozone a bank account number, all necessary routing codes and the BIC/Swift number are required. Please note that foreign bank accounts cannot be updated online. Pension payments to foreign bank accounts are made via Western Union. Please note that foreign bank accounts cannot be updated online. If you would like to discuss this, please contact Herts LPFA Pensions Payroll on: Tel: Fax: or Keep in touch with us... Don t forget... Pensions can be paid quarterly, in arrears, should you prefer and this may help to minimise bank charges. Please keep Herts LPFA informed should you become reemployed, move property or change bank accounts. Failure to do so may result in the late payment of your pension. Changes of this nature must be submitted to Herts LPFA in writing and signed by you, quoting your pension number and national insurance number.

5 Member Self Service Did you know that you can now take control of your FPS pension online? What is Member Self Service? The Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue member self-service system provides provides instant access to view personal and financial information about your pension securely online. What can the online system do? Our secure system now allows you to: View and update personal details and changes of address Update your bank account details View your pension payslips View your P60s To register or access your account visit: To access your secure online pension records please follow the instructions overleaf. Step 1 - Complete the registration form online at; Step 2 - LPFA will send you a unique activation code Step 3 - Once you have been issued your activation code, you can go online and set up your username and password

6 Pensions Payroll Team LPFA Hertfordshire Pensions Payroll If you have any queries regarding your pension, please call a member of the Payroll Team on the local rate number: Tel: (8.30am - 5pm) Fax: LPFA Hertfordshire Pensions Team General Enquiries: (8.30am - 5pm) Fax: Hertfordshire County Council Post Point CHO 033, County Hall Pegs Lane, Hertford SG13 8DQ